Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: June 12, 2018
Dearest Parishioners and Friends,
After the 12 noon Mass on the last Sunday of each month (like next week, on June 24), here at the Cathedral we offer a special service: the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered. A special blessing with a first class relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos also is given. Experience has shown this special time of prayer for the sick to be a powerful occasion of grace: over the years many have been convinced that their illness or weakness due to old age has been helped by their reception of this sacrament and blessing.
Yet still many people don’t understand this Sacrament, thinking that it constitutes so-called “last rites” before death, probably drawing this conclusion from its pre-1972 name, “extreme unction.” Others think it can be given to everyone, even those who are not sick. Some are superstitious about its effects, or erroneously look upon it as a substitute for confession.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about it: the Anointing of the Sick “is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with blessed oil…” It is not only for those who are at the point of death: “as soon as a member of the faithful begins to be seriously weakened from sickness or old age, the fitting time to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived” (nos. 1513-1514). And “it is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to serious surgery.”
By “illness” not just physical sickness but also mental illness is meant. But persons who are not really sick or dangerously weak from old age do not receive the sacrament. The Code of Canon Law also clarifies that Anointing of the Sick is not administered to children under 7 years of age. And can. 1007 also makes it clear that this sacrament “is not to be conferred upon those who obstinately persist in manifest mortal sin,” just like Holy Communion is not given to those same persons.
Fortunately, the Sacrament is not a “once only and for all” moment of grace; it may be repeated as often as necessary. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.
As far as forgiveness of sins goes, if the sick person is unconscious or otherwise unable to go to confession, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick does grant this, but for the same reasons it is not a substitute for confession. By the way, the full “Last Rites” ordinarily include the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and lastly Viaticum. If a person was only anointed before death he or she did not actually receive the full “Last Rites.”
So come to the Anointing of the Sick here if you can and should receive it, or accompany someone else from your family who needs it. It is a way of providing God’s grace that we’re happy to offer!
In closing I want to remind everyone once again that you’re invited to join Bishop Robert Muench in celebrating his Golden Jubilee as a priest. 50 years of priestly service is truly a wonderful milestone! Please join him and his family and a number of his brother bishops at a special 3 pm Mass here next Sunday, June 24. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
In the Lord,
Fr. Paul D. Counce
