When is the sacrament of anointing of the sick permitted to be administered? Besides the danger of death, before surgery, war, or the like are there other times?

For instance, at a healing Mass, someone told me that this sacrament can be administered to the general congregation if they come up at the proper time to the priest in a line (as in the reception of communion or ashes on ash wednesday). Is this true? I thought that this sacrament was reserved for those who were in some danger of death.

Joe

-- Joseph Carl Biltz (jcbiltz@canoemail.com), February 10, 2003

Answers

General administration of the Sacrament of the Sick is always illicit, and general absolution without individual confession is illicit except in extreme circumstances. It is not surprising then that those who ignore the teaching of the Church on one of these issues frequently do on the other as well, and so we find that both sacraments are sometimes illicitly offered on the same occasion, such as a "healing service". This is a direct violation of clear Church teaching.

However, the Sacrament of the Sick is no longer reserved only for those who are in imminent danger of death. Those who are at general increased risk of death because of an ongoing illness, even though death may not seem imminent, or even due to old age and general frailty should receive the Sacrament of the Sick. Also, if a person receives the sacrament due to a chronic illness, and later experiences a sudden onset of serious symptoms ("takes a turn for the worst", so to speak), he should receive the sacrament again. It is also a good idea to receive the sacrament, as you said, before undergoing serious surgery or other risky medical intervention, before going into battle, etc.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 10, 2003.

Paul(or anyone), do you know which church document stipulates this? I want it to back my case up for not being able to do this.

Thanks,

Joe

-- Joseph Carl Biltz (jcbiltz@canoemail.com), February 10, 2003.

Joseph, from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, on Sept. 14, 2000, try Joseph cardinal Ratzinger's "Instruction on prayrs for Healing.

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), February 10, 2003.