Dear Father

Dear Father: I have major surgery coming up and my friend suggested I get anointed by our pastor. I thought that that sacrament was used only when one is about to pass away?

A - When I was early in my priesthood, I remember being called to the hospital very late at night for a man who was about to have very serious heart surgery. His wife called and asked if he could be anointed before the surgery. I went straight to the hospital to anoint him. But his reaction wasn’t quite what I was expecting. When I entered his room, he was sitting up on the bed facing the window. The man turned around, saw me and started saying in a very loud voice “Oh no! Oh no!” (Well, he used other words, but I won’t put that in writing)

I asked his wife if she had told him that I was coming. She said she hadn’t because it might worry him. The man had a serious heart condition, and a priest entered the room late at night. For him, I was the grim reaper dressed in black. Instead of recognizing the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for what it is, he already had “Last Rites” in his head.It’s understandable because many people are confused about the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, which, in the past was sometimes called the “Last Rites.” Whenever possible, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick consists of the sick person going to confession, receiving Holy Communion and being anointed. And because people often waited until the last minute, it became known as the “Last Rites.”Today, though, I see that people have a better under-standing of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the sacra-ment “... is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has already arrived.” (CCC 1514)

What does that mean?

To be sure, there are times when death is imminent or totally unexpected. For those who are nearing death, receiving this sacrament is important. But it doesn’t have to wait until the last moments of your life. In fact, whenever possible, it is good to be anointed prior to surgery, at the onset of a serious illness or when an illness begins to worsen. Unfortunately, people often wait to call the priest until the last minute, when it could have been conferred much sooner. And the sacrament is for healing of mind, body or spirit. In fact, the Catechism outlines all the benefits:

The special grace of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
•The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church
•The strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age
•The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacra-ment of penance
•The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul
•The preparation for passing over to eternal life" (CCC 1532).

So, there may be many different circumstances when receiving the sacrament is beneficial and important. When in doubt, ask your parish priest. He will be happy to advise you accordingly.And when he arrives wearing his black clerical clothes, carrying a purple stole and oil in his hand just remember: he isn’t the grim reaper.