Pope given last Rites

[palmtreegirl]

If he were just given the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, it would have most likey been presented that way. I guess in all my years as a Catholic, Last Rights have never been presented as Annointing of the Sick. I didn't think they were the same thing. I am not 100% sure, but I think CNN has that wrong, but don't quote me. I have a meeting at church in an hour and I am for sure going to get this clarified. Bless him, though.

They have a catholic priest on CNN and he said that the term "Last Rites" is an older term for the Sacrament of the Annointing of the sick, it is the same thing.

 

[Caradana]

The Vatican is sending a message. They wouldn't be giving him Last Rites unless there was some grave concern about his health.

 

[golfgal]

They have a catholic priest on CNN and he said that the term "Last Rites" is an older term for the Sacrament of the Annointing of the sick, it is the same thing.

See, I told you not to quote me. I still haven't heard of Last Rights/Annointing of the Sick as one in the same. Reconsiliation was called Confession and they are still used interchangably buy most people over 30 you would think it would be similar but what do I know?

 

[Beastlover]

The Vatican is sending a message. They wouldn't be giving him Last Rites unless there was some grave concern about his health.

I agree. For months they have been trying to downplay his health issues-saying that he is doing fine.

I too think that they are just trying to prepare the public.

I hope he passes in peace.

 

[helenabear]

They have a catholic priest on CNN and he said that the term "Last Rites" is an older term for the Sacrament of the Annointing of the sick, it is the same thing.

Yes, it is the same thing... most definitely! Just like using Reconcilation and Confession interchangably the way some do.

I agree with Caradana... I do believe they are sending a message with that... and not a positive one for the Pope.

 

[SandraM]

The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments:
Baptism
Reconciliation (formerly Confession)
Eucharist (informally known as Communion)
Confirmation
Holy Matrimony (marriage)
Holy Orders (becoming a Catholic priest)
Anointing of the Sick (also known as sacrament of the sick, or last rites, sometimes known as Extreme Unction)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

See, I told you not to quote me. I still haven't heard of Last Rights/Annointing of the Sick as one in the same. Reconsiliation was called Confession and they are still used interchangably buy most people over 30 you would think it would be similar but what do I know?

I could not find it in my catechism (it actually had the official names of the two different acts).

But I did find this on-line:

http://net-abbey.org/lastrites.htm

Last Rites, Sacrament of the Sick, Extreme Unction
The title mentions three things - are they all the same sacrament?
Yes, they are. "Last Rites" and "Extreme Unction" are the older names for the Sacrament of the Sick

Isn't this the Sacrament people get when they are dying?
Yes, it is. But it can be given to anyone who is ill or even those with chronic problems.

What does the Sacrament of the Sick do for people?
This Sacrament is usually given along with confession, giving the dying person a chance to reconcile themselves to God and go to Heaven. If the person is not conscious then, obviously she or he can't do confession. But in the Sacrament of the Sick, the individual will be receive a special Grace (like in all Sacraments). This Grace prepares their soul to meet God but also, in many cases, this Grace will make them better or even heal them of their illness. This is why the church encourages all sick people to receive the Sacrament of the Sick and not just those who are dying.

My surmise is that--you don't get annointed for just having a cold...you would have to be seriously ill to get the annointing of the sick--

edited for clarification: I am not making less of the pontiff's illness and do believe that he is not doing well at all.

News says it is midnight at the Vatican and the lights are on in his apartment which is unusual.

 

[EltonJohn]

I seriously doubt that the pope is in his final days. How many times has this pope had medical scares and people were predicting that a Conclave of Cardinals would meet in the Sistine Chapel?

Until I see white smoke . . .

 

[bengalbelle]

Yes, it is the same thing... most definitely! Just like using Reconcilation and Confession interchangably the way some do.

I agree with Caradana... I do believe they are sending a message with that... and not a positive one for the Pope.

I agree with you and Caradana that the Vatican probably wouldn't make this public if they weren't trying to prepare us. Whatever the case, I pray he is not suffering and when he passes it will be peaceful.

 

[kdibattista]

CNN said that he lost 41 pounds in 5 weeks... it really doesn't look good. The Vatican is definitely sending a message... how long did it take for them to acknowledge that he had Parkinsons!!!

I pray for the best and hope he is comfortable...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Diocese of Orlando spokesperson gave official confirmation (granted, they aren't the vatican)...that the pope was given the Annointing of the Sick and NOT Last rites.

They are not downplaying the situation though given the popes age and his ailments.

This was on WKMG news in Orlando.

 

[Laura]

The Vatican is sending a message. They wouldn't be giving him Last Rites unless there was some grave concern about his health.

Yes, I would have to agree. It doesn't mean that he won't get better, but it's a very serious thing to be given that sacrament. The pope has battled many serious illnesses already without being given Extreme Unction; as Lisa loves Pooh said, you don't get it for a cold.

 

[Danvers]

Me, too. Prayers for his holiness

 

[efinn88858]

When His Holiness does pass on, I will grieve for the loss to the entire world. Until that happens I will pray for his speedy recovery. I believe him to be a great man.

 

[Lisa F]

I agree that in the past the vatican has downplayed his health issues. I don't know when it was made public that he was diagnosed with parkinsons but I spent a summer in Italy a while back and a week in Rome with a catholic friend of mine who wanted to go to a mass that he was giving in St. Peter's Square. We showed up early for decent seats and they had these huge TV's set up like a rock concert so that everyone could see his face. I clearly remember that the camera was shaking the whole time and how distracting I found it. When I told my DH he thought it was interesting since the Pope had parkinsons and we wondered if they might have done that to distract from the tremor. In either case even though I am jewish, it was an utter thrill to be in the presence of such greatness. He rode right past me about 2 feet away in the pope-mobile, just down the steps of St. Peter's and right past my aisle. I may have been able to touch him if I hadn't been run over by a group of nuns.

Even though I don't agree with everything he says, no one can argue that he is not a great man, a great scholar and a great leader. I wish him peace in his final hours here on earth, whether they be many or few.

 

[JimB.]

He seems to have been quite active up until the last day or 2. Seems like he has just pushed things to far, too hard, too long.

May he be in peace, regardless of the immediate future.

41 lbs in 5 weeks!! Wow. Not Good.

 

[Micca]

I will hope for the best and all those who care so much about him.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

It's so sad to see him so sick. He was made Pope back when I was in grammer school, that was over 20 years ago. He's really the only Pope I've ever known. Although I do rvaguely remember the Pope right before him, Pope John Paul I, was only Pope for a very short period of time before he died.
My thoughts and prayers are definitely with him

 

[Deb in IA]

High fever due to a urinary tract infection . . .

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II developed a high fever Thursday because of a urinary tract infection and was being treated with antibiotics at the Vatican, his spokesman said. The latest health setback for the 84-year-old pontiff came one day after he began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube.

“The Holy Father today was struck by a high-fever caused by a confirmed infection of the urinary tract,” spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told The Associated Press by telephone.

The pope was receiving antibiotics at the Vatican, Navarro-Valls said.

The Italian news agency ANSA said the pope “seems to showing a first positive reaction” to antibiotic therapy started a few hours earlier.

Report: ‘Last rites’ administered
Italian media reported that the pope John Paul has received the Roman Catholic sacrament reserved for the sick and dying. The sacrament, which involves anointing the sick person with special oils, was once called last rites. It is now known as the Sacrament of the Infirm.

A Vatican spokesman said he could not confirm the reports but Church sources said it was likely the Pontiff had received the sacrament, given the precarious state of his health.

The sacrament is often misunderstood as signaling imminent death. But it is performed not only for patients at the point of death, but also for those who are very sick — and it may be repeated.

The last time the Pope was known to have received the sacrament was on May 13, 1981, the day he was shot and nearly killed in an assassination attempt in St Peter’s Square.

 

[wvjules]

Why is everyone saying "May he rest in peace." when he hasn't died yet?