Sacrament, Anointing of the sick

[Giggly_Giraffe]

Does the receiver need to willingly participate in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick?

I know a non-practicing Catholic who has dementia and just had a stroke. They are very agrivated and needed to be restrained. Family and friends make them more aggressive and crude. The family seems to act like this sacrament needs to be requested by her.

 

[pianistclare]

Does the receiver need to willingly participate in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick?

I know a non-practicing Catholic who has dementia and just had a stroke. They are very aggravated and needed to be restrained. Family and friends make them more aggressive and crude. The family seems to act like this sacrament needs to be requested by her.

Do you believe she would want it if she had her faculties?
You really should ask a priest.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Does the receiver need to willingly participate in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick?

No, an unconscious person can be Annointed.

Family and friends make them more aggressive and crude.

What does that mean? Is this person being mistreated?

The family seems to act like this sacrament needs to be requested by her.

The question is whether the person would request the Sacrament if she were capable. Err on the side of requesting the Sacrament.

 

[FrDavid96]

Does the receiver need to willingly participate in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick?

That depends on the definition of “willingly” in the sentence.

I know a non-practicing Catholic who has dementia and just had a stroke. They are very agrivated and needed to be restrained. Family and friends make them more aggressive and crude. The family seems to act like this sacrament needs to be requested by her.

And that’s the point.

If the priest has any reason to believe that the person would ask for the Anointing, then he should Anoint.

The sacrament does not need to be specifically requested, exactly because at that stage of life, many people are unable to make the request.

On the other hand, if the priest knows that the person is un-willing to receive the Anointing, meaning that if conscious he would specifically reject it, then he should not do it. This is a very high standard; that part must be made clear. The priest has to be certain because the benefit of the doubt always goes toward administering the Sacraments when there is danger of death.

 

[marymmma]

My mother is in the end stage of dementia so never knowing when she may pass, I had a priest come to the nursing home to give her the anointing of the sick. She was not able to participate but there is no doubt in my mind that she would have wanted it. My sister and I are so happy that she has had it and we don’t have that worry on our mind.