What is a serious illness?

[CMatt25]

Fr Serpa in “Ask an Apologist” answered a question by saying an Anointing Mass absolves sin but one should not be anointed unless seriously ill. I’ve known Catholics who receive an Anointing at such Masses for various ailments but not life threatening illnesses. For various aches and pains and ailments. As with much of the Catholic faith the Church wants everything black and white it can seem. Define serious.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Define serious.

Life-threatening or life-altering.

Like many things, the anointing of the sick has been badly abused in modern Catholic society. It seems priests are anointing people with hangnails. So-called “healing services” are a particularly egregious example of this abuse (the priest does not even make a superficial effort to ascertain the nature of the “illness” - he just anoints anyone who comes forward).

But I should point out that the requirement of “serious” is a matter of Canon Law, not Doctrine. Nothing in Doctrine says it is improper to anoint someone for a hangnail. But the Church does not want the anointing to be trivialized, or thought of as a “magic cure” for whatever ails you. Thus the restriction.

 

[CMatt25]

Life-threatening or life-altering.

Like many things, the anointing of the sick has been badly abused in modern Catholic society. It seems priests are anointing people with hangnails. So-called “healing services” are a particularly egregious example of this abuse (the priest does not even make a superficial effort to ascertain the nature of the “illness” - he just anoints anyone who comes forward).

But I should point out that the requirement of “serious” is a matter of Canon Law, not Doctrine. Nothing in Doctrine says it is improper to anoint someone for a hangnail. But the Church does not want the anointing to be trivialized, or thought of as a “magic cure” for whatever ails you. Thus the restriction.

Thanks. If it’s an abuse and the Church doesn’t want the Sacrament trivialized and it’s part of Canon Law, why isn’t it part of doctrine?

 

[runningdude]

Thanks. If it’s an abuse and the Church doesn’t want the Sacrament trivialized and it’s part of Canon Law, why isn’t it part of doctrine?

That is the nature of Canon Law, to safe guard the integrity of the sacraments and the orthodoxy of public teaching of Doctrine.

Example:
Doctrine: A Man with the the Holy Orders of Priest or Bishop can consecrate the Eucharist

Doctrine: Anointing of the Sick forgives all sins and beseeches God for healing if it be His Will.

Canon Law: The celebration of the Eucharist may only occur in the context of the liturgy of the priest’s rite (such as the Latin Rite Mass or an Eastern Rite Divine Liturgy).

Canon Law: Anointing of the Sick may only be administered to those with grave illness or injury, especially those who are unable to speak to make confession.

Doctrine tells us the essential nature of the sacrament. Canon law regulates how and when it is to be celebrated.