Posted on 03/31/2005 4:53:54 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
BEING given the last rites did not mean Pope John Paul's death was imminent, Melbourne auxiliary Bishop Christopher Prowse said today.
Pope John Paul II had developed a very high fever caused by a urinary infection and was very, very sick, the Vatican said today.
The Italian media has reported that the Pope has been given the last rites, but this has not been confirmed by the Vatican.
Bishop Prowse said the Pope had probably received the sacrament before today because of his deteriorating health.
"It (last rites) doesn't mean he's necessarily going to die," Bishop Prowse told the Channel Nine's Today Show.
"This sacrament has been expanded in its use, in the 1960s we saw it as not simply as a last blessing before a person dies, but indeed a healing sacrament for anybody who is extremely ill.
"This is a repeatable sacrament and can be given many times in a person's life ... I wouldn't be surprised if he's received it in other times in the last few months."
Bishop Prowse said although many had called for the Pope to retire because of his poor health, the Catholic Church saw it as his finest hour.
"We just celebrated Easter and the death and resurrection of Jesus, and here we have our leader of faith clearly suffering as well, but resolute and completely placing his life at the mercy and healing of the Lord," Bishop Prowse said.
The last known time the Pope was given the last rites was after his attempted assassination in St Peter's Square in 1981.
The Bishop explained if the Pope died there would be a period of special mourning and masses.
Cardinals and leaders of the church would gather for the funeral mass and then would pray to God for inspiration on his successor.
After a meeting at the Sistine Chapel a successor would be elected by the cardinals.
It's a good thing that Michael Schiavo isn't making the life and death decisions for The Pope.
One doesn't even have to be in danger of death to receive the Sacrament of the Sick.
The Pope will make sure Terri Schiavo is taken good care of in Heaven.
I'm sure Terri is already being held in the arms of the Lord.
He will make sure her execution was not in vain.
What is the origin of the Sacrament of the Sick, or what non-catholics are used to thinking of the Last Rites? If you don't know, I'm not sending you on a research project, but I've never seen it tied to a biblical imperative and wonder if it's sort of a catholic tradition that has evolved into something outside of that.
Vatican II restored it to its place as one of the "healing sacraments", along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or "Confession."
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
thanks.
Thanks for that quote.
I will give you that the chance of death may be remote. My wife, for example, received the Sacrament when she underwent surgery in which she was under a general anasthesia.
What's the harm in administering the Sacrament of the Sick widely?
Even your own quote from Canon Law says one does not have to be at the point of death to receive it.
You've probably already heard all of that.
Oh dear.
Check #18
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