Sacrament for the sick is in demand (Catholic Caucus)

chicago tribune ^ | 03.16.09 | Manya A. Brachear

[Coleus]

Once reserved for the dying, the anointing of the sick is now offered to any Catholic who needs healing from a serious illness

Mary Ellen Segraves could sense the fear in her ailing mother Ceil's eyes the day after her knee surgery. But when Rev. Yaroslav Mendyuk approached her hospital bed to offer the sacrament of the sick, Segraves saw her mother light up. Following the priest's lead, Ceil Segraves crossed herself with a frail hand taped with tubes and closed her eyes as Mendyuk anointed her forehead and hands with oil and recited the blessing from his prayer book. Her children then surrounded her and joined hands with the priest to recite the Lord's Prayer.

"It gives you confidence," said Segraves, 84, parishioner at St. Viator Catholic Church in Old Irving Park after receiving the sacrament. "It gives you a different prayer—a prayer received. You feel calm." Although most non-Catholic medical centers employ interfaith chaplains to counsel patients regardless of religion, only ordained priests can anoint ill Catholics, a sacrament formerly known as last rites or extreme unction. The rite, once reserved for the dying, is no longer considered last or in any way extreme. Since Vatican II, it has been offered to anyone who needs healing from a grave illness or injury.

But the greater demand combined with a shortage of priests threaten to create a painful shortfall for Catholics already afflicted. Priests worry that Catholic patients may suffer even more from neglect if the void goes unfilled. Catholics find a prescription for the sacrament in the New Testament's Book of James 5: 14-15: "Is any man sick among you?

[Excellence]

In the midst of an anointing my affliction passed. The hospital's priest is from Kenya and very serious about his faith.

[Kolokotronis]

“Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sin, he will be forgiven”

This Mysterion of The Church is of all of them the most comforting, I think and I speak from both personal and family experience. It pleases me that the Latin Church no longer reserves this blessing only for the dying.

[steve86]

a sacrament formerly known as last rites or extreme unction.

I don't believe it's correct to suggest that only the name has changed. I'll take the original recipe, please, no New Coke.

[Coleus]

James 5: 14-15: “Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

[Coleus]

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