September 20, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ:
We believe in the 7 Sacraments of the Church that were instituted by Christ. They include the 3 Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist), the 2 Sacraments of Healing (Penance & Anointing of the Sick) and the 2 Sacraments at the Service of Communion [Holy Orders (Bishops, Priests & Deacons) & Matrimony].
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1210) states: “The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.”
As with all realities in life, there has been an evolution of each sacrament in how they are celebrated and even titles. Yet the basic truth of each sacrament has always remained. For example, the Catechism has a section on the Eucharist entitled “What is this Sacrament Called?” (#1328-1332). It lists the names: Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, the Breaking of Bread, the Memorial of the Lord’s Passion & Resurrection, the Holy Sacrifice, the Holy & Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion & Holy Mass. Yet throughout history & its titles, we have believed that Jesus becomes truly present through the transformation of the bread & wine into His body & blood, soul & divinity. (#1374-1375).
When it comes to the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, throughout history because it was administered more exclusively for those at the point of death, it became known as “Extreme Unction” or “Last Rites.” “Not withstanding this evolution the liturgy has never failed to beg the Lord that the sick person may recover his health if it would be conducive to his salvation. (#1512)” The ritual book for the Anointing of the Sick states from Vatican Council II: “‘Extreme Unction,’ which may also and more properly be called ‘anointing of the sick,’ is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as any one of the (Catholic) faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for that person to receive this sacrament has certainly arrived.”
I bring this to your attention since people unfortunately wait until the last moment to contact us priests to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The Church states that one should be anointed at the beginning of the illness, not necessarily at the end of the serious illness. Catholics may be anointed prior to a surgery “whenever a serious illness is the reason for the surgery. #9). So if a person is scheduled for a serious surgery for X number of weeks away, one should be anointed ASAP upon the news of the surgery versus waiting until one enters the hospital. Why? For the healing prayers and graces to be offered ASAP. But there is a practical reason. If one waits until one enters the hospital, can a priest arrive in time prior to the surgery? (Only a priest can administer this Sacrament.) And Covid makes it even more difficult, and at times impossible, for a priest to enter the hospital. Ideally, the anointing should occur in church when possible. Prior to the reception of the Anointing, one should receive the Sacrament of Penance (Confession). “Elderly people may be anointed if they have become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present. #11) Again, I ask that you do not wait until the “last moment” for an elderly person to be anointed. What if a priest is not available and / or cannot arrive prior to that person’s passing? With a shortage of priests, it is even more imperative to call the priest at the beginning of the illness or decline preceding a passing. When a person is placed on hospice care, then an anointing should occur ASAP.
The Sacrament of the Anointing can be repeated “if the sick person recovers after being anointed and then again falls ill or if during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious. #9). For the person who has been anointed already (including more than once) and is definitely in one’s last stages of life on earth, the true “Last Sacrament” is Viaticum, Holy Eucharist with certain prayers for the dying #1524-1525). So contact us ASAP for the Sacrament of the Anointing.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
Fr. Lawrence W. Jozwiak
Pastor
“The Cross is the school of love.”
—St. Maximilian Kolbe
“There is no greater love, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” John 15: 13