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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Last Rites	Mike	Sunday, May 21, 2017
Question: I have a question that has been weighing on me. My father is recently deceased, after a roughly 6-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He received the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick twice in his final months, the last time being about four weeks before his death. The last time he received Holy Communion was about five days before. The part that's weighing on me is that no one called a priest the day he died. I live out of town, and did not make it to the hospital in time. My mother is a faithful Catholic (as was my father), but was not thinking clearly due to the stress of the situation and because of some issues she has going on in her brain that will require surgery in the near future. My sister and brother-in-law were there, but are fallen away. In short, if I had made it there in time, I would have immediately thought to call a priest, put his scapular around his neck, etc., and I didn't think to call and ask if anybody had while I was on the road. I know that God is infinitely merciful and is not bound by His sacraments. In a situation like this, I know we simply must trust in God's mercy, and I'm told my father was audibly praying in his final hours. Still, there is a feeling on my part and my mother's that we were negligent or that we let him down in his most critical moment. So, without sounding flippant, is there any idea how long an anointing "lasts"? That is, could the fact that he received the sacrament twice near the end of his life make up for not receiving it the day he died? Thank you, and God Bless.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Mike: My condolences on your father's death. We will pray for his repose. Do not fear. The Sacrament of Anointing remains in effect as long as the person is in danger of death. The Sacrament does not need to be repeated unless the person gets better, and then is in danger of death again. The Confession that usually goes along with the Sacrament of Anointing is the same as any Confession. The Confession restores the person to a State of Grace and remains so until such time a grave sin is committed. In those instances where the Sacrament is administered shortly before death, the dying person has little time to sin again. For your father, we know that he remained in a State of Grace five days before he died since he received the Eucharist. It is unlikely that your father committed a mortal sin in those five days. But, if he had, and no priest was around in the moments of death, saying a Perfect Act of Contrition would have immediately restored him to a State of Grace. If your father did not know that, or did not have time to say a Perfect Act, then God will know your father's intention of heart. No one goes to to hell by mistake. No one trips into hell. No one goes to hell on a technicality. God knows our hearts as to whether or not we love Him. God knows of a person is refusing the Sacraments, or rebelling against what we need to do to be restored to a State of Grace. It is inexcusable that a nurse or orderly did not call a priest. Everyone with an IQ above 25 knows that Catholics want a priest called when close to death, or when one is discovered dead. I have a notice on my windshield, in my car, and in my wallet to call a priest should I be in a auto accident. Do not fear. From what you have said, your father died in the arms of our Lord. God Bless you and your family in this time of sorrow, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Last Rites

Mike

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Question:

I have a question that has been weighing on me.

My father is recently deceased, after a roughly 6-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He received the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick twice in his final months, the last time being about four weeks before his death. The last time he received Holy Communion was about five days before.

The part that's weighing on me is that no one called a priest the day he died. I live out of town, and did not make it to the hospital in time. My mother is a faithful Catholic (as was my father), but was not thinking clearly due to the stress of the situation and because of some issues she has going on in her brain that will require surgery in the near future. My sister and brother-in-law were there, but are fallen away. In short, if I had made it there in time, I would have immediately thought to call a priest, put his scapular around his neck, etc., and I didn't think to call and ask if anybody had while I was on the road.

I know that God is infinitely merciful and is not bound by His sacraments. In a situation like this, I know we simply must trust in God's mercy, and I'm told my father was audibly praying in his final hours. Still, there is a feeling on my part and my mother's that we were negligent or that we let him down in his most critical moment.

So, without sounding flippant, is there any idea how long an anointing "lasts"? That is, could the fact that he received the sacrament twice near the end of his life make up for not receiving it the day he died?

Thank you, and God Bless.

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

Dear Mike:

My condolences on your father's death. We will pray for his repose.

Do not fear. The Sacrament of Anointing remains in effect as long as the person is in danger of death. The Sacrament does not need to be repeated unless the person gets better, and then is in danger of death again.

The Confession that usually goes along with the Sacrament of Anointing is the same as any Confession. The Confession restores the person to a State of Grace and remains so until such time a grave sin is committed. In those instances where the Sacrament is administered shortly before death, the dying person has little time to sin again.

For your father, we know that he remained in a State of Grace five days before he died since he received the Eucharist. It is unlikely that your father committed a mortal sin in those five days. But, if he had, and no priest was around in the moments of death, saying a Perfect Act of Contrition would have immediately restored him to a State of Grace. If your father did not know that, or did not have time to say a Perfect Act, then God will know your father's intention of heart.

No one goes to to hell by mistake. No one trips into hell. No one goes to hell on a technicality. God knows our hearts as to whether or not we love Him. God knows of a person is refusing the Sacraments, or rebelling against what we need to do to be restored to a State of Grace.

It is inexcusable that a nurse or orderly did not call a priest. Everyone with an IQ above 25 knows that Catholics want a priest called when close to death, or when one is discovered dead. I have a notice on my windshield, in my car, and in my wallet to call a priest should I be in a auto accident.

Do not fear. From what you have said, your father died in the arms of our Lord.

God Bless you and your family in this time of sorrow,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum