tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post9082287569698004040..comments2024-03-25T17:14:03.066-07:00Comments on The New Theological Movement: When should I receive Anointing of the Sick? or, How sick is "sick"?Father Ryan Erlenbushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-27855134039558676492016-12-13T19:30:39.353-08:002016-12-13T19:30:39.353-08:00Father Ryan, I have a question about anointing of ...Father Ryan, I have a question about anointing of the sick, my mother is a senior citizen, God willing, will turn 80 years old February 26 next year, she's been and and off of the hospital but recently I mean this month, he health is deteriorating,she was in serious condition. I am not with her because I work thousand miles away from home. I ask my brother to have my mom get the sacrament of anointing of the sick. After the priest left her hospital bed, my mom vomited a lot and she was cold, sweating, warm and chilling at the same time but she has no fever. Just 30 minutes after she feel a bit rested my family transferred her to a private hospital with a specialist doctors looking after her. In there she feels a lot better, so many improvements. Now my question is this, because this makes me think deeply into it. When she vomited after the anointing could it be possible, she was healed spiritually? When she vomit after the anointing I told my sibling it could be an evil who let her suffer and the anointing was healing her inside. Please enlighten me father. Thank you so much, I stumbled only in this side because I was looking for the anointing of the sick. I read your article about it and now I would like to ask questions but because I am new to this site I don't know how it will go. So i just ask here. Thank you FatherSly Lee Choohttps://www.facebook.com/slyleechonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-72527557667020095562016-10-25T02:06:59.550-07:002016-10-25T02:06:59.550-07:00Hi,
I'm a student and as part of my Religion ...Hi, <br />I'm a student and as part of my Religion assessment, I have to research information about the Anointing of the Sick. I have come across this website by accident, but it has turned out to be quite helpful. I was just wondering who is able to receive it? <br /><br />Thanks, Bella.<br /><br />P.S. It's due in 2 weeks! <br /><br />Thanks again!!!Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15109808526784942366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-35149758478965144092014-11-11T11:01:02.042-08:002014-11-11T11:01:02.042-08:00PK,
There is no such thing as a "non baptized...PK,<br />There is no such thing as a "non baptized Catholic" -- one isn't catholic until they have been baptized.<br />But, no non baptized person can receive anointing or any other sacrament (but baptism).Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-84282018710729993182014-11-11T09:08:46.189-08:002014-11-11T09:08:46.189-08:00Please can a non baptized Catholic receive anointi...Please can a non baptized Catholic receive anointing of the sick during a church crusade?P. Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-37849606675533235082013-02-17T13:09:26.355-08:002013-02-17T13:09:26.355-08:00There is an Anointing of the Sick service soon to ...There is an Anointing of the Sick service soon to be held at our church. Another website I read said that someone facing surgery requiring anesthesia "qualifies" for being anointed. I have cancer but I feel good (thank God). In about a month's time I will have a surgery that requires anesthesia and *may* have complications, but is a procedure performed regularly by oncologists and I am praying there are no complications. The article above here leads me to think that unless I feel that I am extremely unwell (not the case, thank God), or the surgery will be life-threatening because of feebleness (not the case) that I should reserve the anointing for a time when I am more in need. Is that how I should I think about the upcoming opportunity to have the Anointing - since I don't feel imminently unwell should I pass on the opportunity? Yes, exactly, how sick is sick?ReaderLAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-80822519807536084172011-11-03T16:13:21.375-07:002011-11-03T16:13:21.375-07:00What about chronic illness? And severe anxiety?What about chronic illness? And severe anxiety?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-39413593687379063342011-08-02T18:01:51.589-07:002011-08-02T18:01:51.589-07:00LR,
If the illness gets significantly worse, then ...LR,<br />If the illness gets significantly worse, then it would be good to receive the sacrament again.<br />If the cancer has not progressed much and your general health is staying the same, then it does not seem like another Anointing would be appropriate.<br /><br />Likewise, if your husbands heart condition gets worse -- or if his general health gets worse so as to make the heart condition significantly more complicated -- it would be good for him to receive Anointing again ... otherwise not.<br /><br />The main point is this: Anointing isn't something we just repeat regularly ... it is given specifically when we become seriously ill (i.e. "begin to be in danger of death") or when this serious illness gets significantly worse.<br /><br />Hope that helps! I will say an extra prayer for you and your husband. +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-76919277757211680592011-08-02T12:09:23.922-07:002011-08-02T12:09:23.922-07:00I hope it's not too late to ask a question her...I hope it's not too late to ask a question here, this is a topic I've never been very clear about. My question, Father, is this: what about chronic serious, life threatening conditions? For example, I've had three totally different cancers, all very serious and all in remission as I write this. If there is a general "healing service" in my parish which includes the Sacrament of the Sick, may I receive the sacrament again? I did receive it for each separate cancer before. Also, my husband suffers from a serious heart condition, which he has had for fifteen years. He was anointed once for that, is the teaching that he cannot be anointed again for the same illness?<br />Thanks in advance for your reply!<br />LRLRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359102663117899455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-37516028585195208082011-07-24T06:36:33.985-07:002011-07-24T06:36:33.985-07:00Chris,
Again, I don't know what is going on in...Chris,<br />Again, I don't know what is going on in particular circumstances ... but the CCOE is quite clear (as is the rite of Anointing itself, in the East),<br />The sacrament is for those who are "gravely ill and sincerely contrite" (CCOE 737) and individuals may receive Anointing "whenever they are gravely ill" (CCOE 738).<br /><br />The words for Anointing in the Eastern form refer explicitly to the need for physical healing ...<br /><br />Any practice of general Anointing (as a true sacrament) seems to be contrary to the CCOE, and it is most definitely contrary to the tradition of the Church ... <br />Again, I'm not sure what is happening in the situation to which you refer ... perhaps it is not the Sacrament of Anointing? Perhaps there is something else? Perhaps it is an abuse that has cropped up? <br /><br />What I do know is that, in East and West, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is reserved to those only who are "gravely ill" and who have attained the use of reason (i.e. who have sinned and are sorry for their sins).<br /><br />[your problem is with your own Code of Canon Law (which is very clear), not with my post]Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-8465435719355438852011-07-23T22:54:18.371-07:002011-07-23T22:54:18.371-07:00Apologies for missing the requirement to sign post...Apologies for missing the requirement to sign posts.<br /><br />I will draw your attention to the CCEO 737 section 2, which is "In the Churches in which it is the custom that the sacrament of anointing of the sick be administered by several priests, it should be seen to inasmuch as it is possible that this custom is preserved."<br /><br />This refers at least to the Great Wednesday unction liturgy, as well as in some Sui Iuris Churches to unction liturgies after every fast, where ideally seven priests perform the service where seven epistles, seven Gospels, and seven prayers are sung and then every person present who is preparing for Easter is offered Sacramental Anointing by all seven priests. You are correct that in general practice, Anointing is reserved for physical infirmity and so forth as found in the canons, but on Great Wednesday and possibly at the end of other fasts, the universal custom (“Lex orandi, lex credendi,” after all), which the most august Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in Orientalium Ecclesiarum tells us to preserve, tells us to Anoint all who desire physical and spiritual healing as described by the form for the prayers of Anointing.<br /><br />-ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-71933689621662034042011-07-23T08:46:01.991-07:002011-07-23T08:46:01.991-07:00Well, I don't know what is going on in particu...Well, I don't know what is going on in particular churches, but it is clear from the Eastern Code of Canon Law, that the discipline of the Eastern Rites is the same as that of the Latin Church:<br /><br />------------<br /><br />Canon 737<br />1. By the sacramental anointing of the sick with prayers of a priest, the Christian faithful who are gravely ill and sincerely contrite receive grace, by which, strengthened by the hope of eternal reward and absolved from sins, they are disposed to correct their lives and are helped in patiently enduring their infirmity and suffering. <br /><br /><br />and Canon 738<br />The Christian faithful freely receive anointing of the sick whenever they are gravely ill; pastors of souls and persons who are close to the sick are to see to it that they are supported by this sacrament at an opportune time.<br /><br />--------------------<br /><br />They must be "gravely ill" and "sincerely contrite" ... hence, they must BOTH be physically sick and spiritually sick (i.e. have committed at least some venial sin for which they are sincerely contrite).Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-38405617917600134362011-07-23T07:45:15.520-07:002011-07-23T07:45:15.520-07:00Anonymous,
First, if you want to have an intellige...Anonymous,<br />First, if you want to have an intelligent discussion, you will have to use at least a pseudonym (as we ask in the comment box just above where you left your anonymous comment).<br /><br />Second, I would like to see some evidence that this 'practice' of all receiving Anointing of the Sick is truly approved by the Church ... something from Eastern Canon Law would suffice.<br /><br />There are many many many abuses in the West ... so much so that most Latin Rite Catholics also think that anyone can receive Anointing ... and yet the teaching is the same ... in any case, the ECUMENICAL Council of Trent specifies that Anointing is for physical healing and is given to the sick -- the dogmatic teaching of this Ecumenical Council would extend to the Eastern Rites.Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-11463849926439432912011-07-22T20:25:37.410-07:002011-07-22T20:25:37.410-07:00The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church gives the Myst...The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church gives the Mystery of Anointing to all during the Great Wednesday service before Easter.<br /><br />Would not the fact that even one of the Catholic Churches does not restrict the Sacrament/Mystery on the basis of physical infirmity or age mean that any restrictions the Latin Church imposes on this sacrament are exclusively juridical and merely disciplinary and not theological or dogmatic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-70132973367467680272011-07-14T12:01:29.717-07:002011-07-14T12:01:29.717-07:00Militia,
You did very well!
In a case of doubt, y...Militia,<br />You did very well! <br />In a case of doubt, you consulted with medical personnel -- they obviously felt that the condition was serious, since they had you transported in a helicopter. <br />Whenever there is a real doubt (after consulting with a doctor and, of course, a priest), Anointing should be given.<br /><br />Peace to you! +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-21047901333508053962011-07-14T11:06:51.595-07:002011-07-14T11:06:51.595-07:00Question -- about 7 years ago I was in a really ba...Question -- about 7 years ago I was in a really bad car accident. Praise God, the only injuries I had were a few scratches, bruises, and burns from the airbag. However, I knew there were some types of injuries that don't cause any pain but can kill you nevertheless (this was even before Natasha Richardson's skiing accident), and the paramedics apparently feared that possibility too, as they insisted on having me transported by helicopter. So I asked for a priest, who came to the emergency room and heard my confession, anointed me, and gave me Holy Communion. I mean, I knew that just because I didn't really FEEL hurt didn't mean I wasn't, so I wanted to "cover all my bases." Fortunately, I ended up being released from the hospital that evening. At any rate, was I wrong to ask for anointing and whatnot after my accident?Militia Immaculatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021417068774633653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-85493757069146903462011-07-13T21:16:52.386-07:002011-07-13T21:16:52.386-07:00RC,
Certainly, if the surgery is truly serious, th...RC,<br />Certainly, if the surgery is truly serious, then it is probably being done for a serious illness ... still, it is good to know that Anointing is done for the illness and not for the surgery.<br /><br />However, many people think that any surgery -- even for removing tonsils or wisdom teeth -- is "serious" surgery. Of course, this surgery is not really that "serious" ... even though there may be some very slight risk of death.<br />Obviously, it would be rare that such would qualify for Anointing -- because there is no serious illness present.<br /><br />As a priest immersed in parish ministry, I can testify that there is great confusion on this point and that many people are asking for Anointing [and a good number of priests are giving it] in situations where this is not really the appropriate sacrament.<br /><br />Peace to you! +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-37215704973371325572011-07-13T19:36:03.297-07:002011-07-13T19:36:03.297-07:00If an operation involves a significant risk of dea...If an operation involves a significant risk of death, isn't it reasonable to figure that it is being undertaken due to a life-threatening illness? Otherwise undertaking the operation wouldn't be rational. Or am I missing something?<br /><br />Thanks for your very helpful writings!Richard Chonakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327763839418228519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-1447369935693448912011-07-13T14:01:02.171-07:002011-07-13T14:01:02.171-07:00Momor,
Regarding Viaticum ...
This is a specific r...Momor,<br />Regarding Viaticum ...<br />This is a specific rite which includes quite a bit more than simply the regular "communion for the sick".<br />Now, I suppose that the last time a person receives communion, that is their Viaticum (by default) ... and this might happen to be accompanied by Anointing as well.<br />However, ordinarily, the reception of communion with the Anointing is not the rite of Viaticum itself.<br /><br />I hope that's clear! +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-71224348587969881012011-07-13T13:56:48.188-07:002011-07-13T13:56:48.188-07:00momor,
While there are certainly different "a...momor,<br />While there are certainly different "anointings" beyond the sacrament of Anointing, what Veronica mentions is (quite sadly) common practice.<br />It is not so much a bad thing that there are regularly scheduled Anointing Masses -- where the sacrament is given. What is dad is that the sacrament is often given indiscriminantly and without any proper catechesis so that many who are not seriously ill (or who have been recently anointed and have not become significantly more ill) receive the sacrament.<br /><br />In any case, the practice of anointing prayers (i.e. anointing with oil which is not the sacrament of anointing) often brings much confusion to the faithful -- hence, we probably should be cautious about these.<br />Also, non-sacramental "anointings" should NEVER be given during the Mass.<br /><br />Peace! +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-28026257046009101672011-07-13T11:17:52.285-07:002011-07-13T11:17:52.285-07:00Veronica's comment brought up a question.
Can...Veronica's comment brought up a question.<br /><br />Can there be anointings by a priest that are not the same as administering the sacrament of the sick? Could this be what the communal anointings have been but have been misunderstood by the laity to be the same as the sacrament?<br /><br />I am also confused by what you said about Viaticum being the sacrament of the dying. Is the Eucharist received at the time of the Sacrament of the Sick not always considered Viaticum?<br /><br />momorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-13416530442015795722011-07-13T09:28:29.852-07:002011-07-13T09:28:29.852-07:00What you have written here is what I was taught as...What you have written here is what I was taught as a child and grew up believing. It wasn't until the past ten years or so when the pastor we had at the time started to have communal annointings of the sick during Mass that I began to question if what I had always thought is correct.<br /><br />Thank you, Father, for clearing it up.<br /><br />VeronicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-27412286420648522442011-07-13T07:35:19.568-07:002011-07-13T07:35:19.568-07:00ellen,
Very good! Thanks for pointing out the need...ellen,<br />Very good! Thanks for pointing out the need to have someone who can do an emergency baptism!<br /><br />Also, regarding the final line of your comment ... "I will try to judge particularly my spiritual health" -- remember, the question is not "am I spiritually in need of this sacrament" (if you have ever committed a sin, the sacrament is for you); the question is, "Am I feeble? Am I in danger of death due to illness or old age? Is my health seriously impaired?"<br />In other words: It is more about your physical health than your spiritual health.<br /><br />Peace to you! +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-80998507856583563582011-07-13T06:31:29.693-07:002011-07-13T06:31:29.693-07:00Thank you for these valuable articles. Might I sug...Thank you for these valuable articles. Might I suggest for anyone undergoing a c-section that the most important thing is to make sure that there is someone who could perform an emergency baptism? When I had my first c-section over 40 years ago, most Catholic doctors and nurses were able and willing to baptize in an emergency. This was not the case for my last c-section 19 years ago and it is probably worse now, so try to have a relative close to the theatre and arrange that the person be able to have access to the baby. Do not rely on the hospital chaplain. Someone I know asked for the hospital chaplain to baptize a very sick baby and he just said some prayers. Fortunately, my son was present and he performed an emergency baptism. When I was a child I was taught that the main reason for Extreme Unction was that the person in danger of death was weak and fragile due to old age or illness and that is the time that the devil mounts his greatest assault on the soul. That is why we ask Our Lady to "pray for us now AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH". Of course, "hour of our death" is not literally the last hour, but rather the time of our death. I am 67 years of age and still in good health, thanks be to God. However, as I get older I will try to judge particularly my spiritual health so that I will know when I should receive the Sacrament of the Sick.ellennoreply@blogger.com