Annointing sick relieves suffering, saves souls

“Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes, even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to Him.” (CCC, 1501)

“From a reading of the Gospels it emerges clearly that Jesus always showed special concern for sick people. He not only sent out his disciples to tend their wounds but also instituted for them a specific sacrament: the Anointing of the Sick,” Pope Benedict XVI said in his message on the occasion of the 20th World Day of the Sick.

World Day of the Sick is celebrated on Feb. 11, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that, “By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that He may raise them up and save them.”

“The key to suffering is to invite Christ into it,” said Father Frank Martinez, a chaplain at CHRISTUS Spohn-Shoreline in Corpus Christi.

He said that suffering and pain is part of the natural rhythm of life. When we can embrace our suffering by making it our own, we can then invite Jesus into it, in all aspects, and ask God to make it a purposeful suffering.

In anointing the sick, the Church commends the faithful “who are dangerously ill” to God in order that He relieve and save them. Anointing with oil and speaking the words prescribed in the liturgical books is how the sacrament is conferred. Only a priest can validly anoint the sick.

“This sacrament deserves greater consideration today both in theological reflection and in pastoral ministry among the sick,” the pope said.

“If someone is sick and they know they are going in the hospital they should receive Anointing of the Sick before going in the hospital from their pastor. Our main responsibility is to connect them back with their parish,” Father Martinez said.

“Some people take the sacrament for granted by saying, ‘I’m not going to take it until I’m dying,’” Father Martinez said.

The sacrament has not been called Last Rites since 1972. It is called Anointing of the Sick, “but not everyone should receive it if they have a cold or the flu,” he said.
Normally a person can receive Anointing of the Sick only once, but occasionally, if a person gets better, after having suffered an illness, then gets sick again, they may receive it again, Father Martinez said.

Father Martinez became a chaplain two years ago, after serving as pastor to Holy Family Parish for 13 years. He began taking Clinical Pastoral Education classes and after completion of the course, the facilitator of the class asked him to become a chaplain.

Patients at any CHISTUS Spohn hospital belong to many different denominations, but because it is a Catholic run hospital, a priest must be on call 24/7. All a family member has to do to have a priest visit his or her loved one is dial an operator and say, “I want a Catholic priest to see my loved one.” Priests in the hospital are assigned a pager, and one of them is always on call.

If your loved one is hospitalized in a non-Catholic hospital and you want a priest to administer him or her the sacrament, it is a good idea is to make arrangements with your pastor beforehand or contact the pastor of a parish closest to the hospital and let them know you may need them.  According to Canon Law, “all priests to whom the care of souls has been entrusted have the duty and right of administering the anointing of the sick for the faithful entrusted to their pastoral office.” If your pastor is not available, any other priest can administer this sacrament.

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was previously called the “Last Rites.” The word “Rites” is plural because it includes the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion, which is called Viaticum when given to a person in danger of death.

Sometimes during an extubation, the removal of a tube, the family knows the patient will die within an hour, and that is a time to call for the sacrament. Father Martinez said that many times he will invite the family to bless their loved one with Holy water and express words of release, such as “go with God Dad,” or “I forgive you, please forgive me.”

“Then I’ll sing a song in the background to make it a sacred moment. To be able to be a part of that is a privilege,” Father Martinez said.

Martinez recalled the case of a 27-year old patient who had a fatal illness and wanted to receive Holy Communion. Father Martinez instructed the patient for two months and was able to give the patient the Eucharist before dying.

“Most of the miracles that I have seen are concrete realizations that occur out of a patient’s pain. It’s the enlightenment that occurs with the help of the Holy Spirit. It’s the whole idea of the Resurrection,” Father Martinez said.

A special Mass in observance of World Day of the Sick and the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes will be celebrated in the second floor Chapel at CHRISTUS Spohn–Shoreline on Friday, Feb. 10, at 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is at 11 a.m. and weekday Masses are at 11:30 a.m. There is no Mass on Saturday.

“To all those who work in the field of health, and to the families who see in their relatives the suffering face of the Lord Jesus, I renew my thanks and that of the Church,” Pope Benedict said.

“I find it an honor and a privilege being able to help someone make it to heaven,” Father Martinez said. 

If you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Ministers for CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital (Memorial, Shoreline and South) call Elizabeth Mendoza at (361) 881-3616 for more information.