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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Anointing of the Sick	Christina	Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius Mary, I received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and when I did, the priest said something to the sense that the anointing would stay with me for the rest of my life. I was too ill to inquire at the time as to what he had meant. A while after the anointing, I became gravely ill and was in the Hospital. I thought I would pass. While in the hospital, I requested to see a Catholic Priest for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. None were available. So, the hospital staff sent me someone else. I can't remember, one was a woman, or maybe both were women. I kept putting in the request for a Catholic Priest. So, they kept sending me people. But, none were Catholic! I did pray with each and asked for forgiveness of all my sins. - One was Presbyterian. - The other, I can't remember. Oh, I think she was Lutheran... Anyway, I was extremely upset that not one Catholic Priest was available But, then I remembered what the priest told me when I got my first anointing and felt that maybe I am covered. Does this one anointing sort of cover me for the rest of my life. Say, if I pass away in a car accident or something sudden? I really have no idea what that priest meant by saying the anointing would stay with me for the rest of my life... I am better. Thanks be to God. Praise the Lord! Thank you for your response.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Christina: No, the effects of the Sacrament of Anointing does not stay with you for life. If that were true, then the Church would not talk about repeating the Sacrament the next time one is in danger of death. This is not like the Sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, or Holy Orders that can only be administered once. The Sacrament of Anointing can be administered however many times that it is needed. I am always amazed at the ignorance of priests. Their ignorance can harm people. As for the lack of a priest at the hospital, I wonder if the hospital ever actually tried to contact a priest? Since no priest was coming, I would have picked up the phone book and called a local parish and asked for a priest. I would have also contacted the head Chaplain at the hospital to inquire about the availability of priests. This sounds suspicious to me. There may be a little spiritual warfare going on here, where the hospital or Chaplain office staff were "inspired" to not contact a priest for you, or maybe they just did not understand and were inconsiderate; I don't know. I do know, however, that in the face of possible death, God understands when the Sacraments are not available. Had you died, God would not hold it against you because no priest was around. God will judge your heart. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Anointing of the Sick

Christina

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius Mary,

I received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and when I did, the priest said something to the sense that the anointing would stay with me for the rest of my life. I was too ill to inquire at the time as to what he had meant.

A while after the anointing, I became gravely ill and was in the Hospital. I thought I would pass. While in the hospital, I requested to see a Catholic Priest for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. None were available. So, the hospital staff sent me someone else. I can't remember, one was a woman, or maybe both were women. I kept putting in the request for a Catholic Priest. So, they kept sending me people. But, none were Catholic! I did pray with each and asked for forgiveness of all my sins. - One was Presbyterian. - The other, I can't remember. Oh, I think she was Lutheran... Anyway, I was extremely upset that not one Catholic Priest was available But, then I remembered what the priest told me when I got my first anointing and felt that maybe I am covered.

Does this one anointing sort of cover me for the rest of my life. Say, if I pass away in a car accident or something sudden?

I really have no idea what that priest meant by saying the anointing would stay with me for the rest of my life...

I am better. Thanks be to God. Praise the Lord!

Thank you for your response.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Christina:

No, the effects of the Sacrament of Anointing does not stay with you for life. If that were true, then the Church would not talk about repeating the Sacrament the next time one is in danger of death. This is not like the Sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, or Holy Orders that can only be administered once. The Sacrament of Anointing can be administered however many times that it is needed.

I am always amazed at the ignorance of priests. Their ignorance can harm people.

As for the lack of a priest at the hospital, I wonder if the hospital ever actually tried to contact a priest? Since no priest was coming, I would have picked up the phone book and called a local parish and asked for a priest. I would have also contacted the head Chaplain at the hospital to inquire about the availability of priests.

This sounds suspicious to me. There may be a little spiritual warfare going on here, where the hospital or Chaplain office staff were "inspired" to not contact a priest for you, or maybe they just did not understand and were inconsiderate; I don't know.

I do know, however, that in the face of possible death, God understands when the Sacraments are not available. Had you died, God would not hold it against you because no priest was around. God will judge your heart.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.