help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

So i'm Jewish and my husband is Catholic, both of us non practicing. we are trying to make arrangements for my husband's family member who is ill and has made it clear he wants the last rites.

in conversation with a nurse where this family member is at a nursing home, according to her (she is Catholic) the priest no longer does last rites they do something called the anointment of the sick. Anyone know anything about this? i'm totally clueless. She said they haven't been doing last rites for a long time.

thanks in advance for any input. i just want to make sure we're doing everything correctly to prepare.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Anointing of the sick is considered a sacrament.

I always thought it was the same as "lat rites" just the "proper"name for it.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Yes priests are now doing annointment of the sick, however that is for anyone who is in the hospital who is sick and wants prayer. My DH had this when he came out of surgery a couple years ago, but for him it was to promote healing. I can't say for certain that priests still do last rites because the last time we did this was 2009, for my grandmother, but I would call your family members parish and speak to someone there and see if the residing priest will make a hospital call. I can't imagine they no longer do last rites.

Edited- because I just googled and realized I'm probably wrong (bad catholic here ) now I have no idea what the priest who came to visit my DH said he was doing, it wasn't just a regular prayer. So I'm sorry to give wrong info.

Message edited 7/23/2015 1:29:47 PM.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Anointing of the sick has replaced last rites, because of the idea that it is a blessing whether the person dies or if they make it... I think the idea was that people aren't discouraged from getting it in order to not "lose hope" for recovery and so that you can receive the blessing without having to face the likelihood that you're dying. It's also nice because it's comforting if you're in the hospital or something. We had a priest come when my grandma was dying and he asked God for a miraculous recovery, but also said that if she were to pass away that she would go straight up to Heaven. It was comforting for us and we were still able to hold out hope.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Posted by mommy2B3

Yes priests are now doing annointment of the sick, however that is for anyone who is in the hospital who is sick and wants prayer. My DH had this when he came out of surgery a couple years ago, but for him it was to promote healing. I can't say for certain that priests still do last rites because the last time we did this was 2009, for my grandmother, but I would call your family members parish and speak to someone there and see if the residing priest will make a hospital call. I can't imagine they no longer do last rites.

Edited- because I just googled and realized I'm probably wrong (bad catholic here ) now I have no idea what the priest who came to visit my DH said he was doing, it wasn't just a regular prayer. So I'm sorry to give wrong info.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

They are the same thing. Anointing of the sick can be done on anyone that is ill or injured as PP mentioned. My sister had it done after a car accident, even though she was in no danger of passing. The sacrament was called Last Rites because it was usually only done right before death. It is still done then as well when applicable, but you don't have to be dying to receive it either. Does that make sense?

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Message edited 7/23/2015 6:44:02 PM.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

So I found out that they changed the name to anointment of the sick when I was pretty sick and in the hospital. I was missing my son's 3rd birthday party and was watching it on Skype. In the middle of the priest comes in a starts the sacrament. So I first said, "OMG I didn't know I was that bad?!" Because I associated it with last rites.. Then He continued with the sacrament. I couldn't hang up on the Skype session because it took me 30 mins to establish the crappy connection and I was devastated to miss his party. So There is insanity going on with my IPad and the priest is anointing me. He didn't speak English so he didn't understand what was happening. I started to laugh couldn't stop.. half from stress and half from how ridiculous the situation was. I think he got mad.

I will say that when we call them for someone who is really dying. They spend a bit more time and say a few more prayers.

They came for son when he had a seizure and spent two nights in the hospital. One day it was a nun and the second was a priest so I think it's more of a sacrament for anyone who needs healing. Which is kind of nice.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

thanks all for helping with this.

Re: help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

help me out w this: last rites vs annointment of the sick?

Quite a few years ago I was told that the Church no longer gives Last Rites to those who are dying. Instead it gives all sick people, whether they are dying or not, the Sacrament of the Sick, which some people call the Annointing of the sick. A person does not need to be at Death's Door to get it, just pretty ill.

I believe it is meant to give hope for recovery to those who are not well, and peace of mind to those who might die. I think it is also meant to strengthen the person's bonds with their faith.