annointing of the sick QUESTION from Kraft on August 24, 2002 How sick is a person supposed to be to receive the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick. I always thought a person should be gravely ill to receive this Sacrament, but at our parish it is administered the first Friday of every month and almost everyone participates. Is this correct?
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on August 30, 2002 Dear Kraft:
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for the sick as the name implies. The old reference to it as Last Rites is misleading which is one reason the Church changed the name of the Sacrament I imagine.
The Anointing of the Sick is based on Matthew 6:12-13 and James 5:14 which says nothing about the sick person being deathly ill.
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