The Deacon's Dialogue

In years gone by, in the times before the Second Vatican Council, if a priest walked into your hospital room with a purple stole on you could be sure you were close to death. I television shows and movies about times before the last quarter of the twentieth century you can hear the dialogue; "There’s nothing more we can do. You better call the priest." The priest would come and administer the "Last Rites" to the poor soul. Because it tended to be conferred only on those who were at the point of death it took on the name "Extreme Unction."

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was always intended as a healing sacrament. From the beginning we can see the genesis of the sacrament in the letter of St. James: "Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the presbyters of the Church. They in turn are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will restore him to health. And if he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his."( James 5:14-15) In the years following the Second Vatican Council, as the liturgies and rites were being revised to reflect the will of the Council, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was encouraged for al who were approaching the danger of death. It was no longer necessary for a person to be at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. The truly Last Rite of the Church today is "Viaticum", final Communion or "food for the journey." While Anointing of the Sick must be administered by a priest, viaticum may be given by a deacon. While this sacrament stills contains within it the graces to help the person prepare for the final journey, it is also a means of grace to strengthen the ill for recovery and healing.

It is important for us to be aware of this distinction between "Last Rites" and Anointing of the Sick. Otherwise we will wait longer than necessary before receiving the benefits of the Sacrament. Anyone who is seriously ill should be "anointed." Certainly anyone near death should be anointed as soon as possible but it is not necessary to wait until the person is at the point of death to ask for the sacrament. The sacrament should be administered as soon as some becomes seriously ill. Moreover, "If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced." (CCC #1515) The sacrament should not be asked for in the case of minor ailments or illnesses but in the case of serious and chronic conditions it is fitting to receive this anointing.