By Fr. Louis Naughton

In conjunction with the season of Lent, Archbishop Donnellan will be the Principal Celebrant at a communal celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick which will take place within the context of the 12:10 noon Mass at the Cathedral on Wednesday, March 14, 1979. Those who are eligible to receive this Sacrament should avail of the opportunity of doing so on that occasion.

Many people have had the impression that a Catholic must be dying in order to be eligible to receive this Sacrament. Such an impression is incorrect. On the contrary, it is strongly recommended that an elderly person in weak condition because of advancing years should receive this Sacrament. It is hoped that as many as possible of our elderly parishioners who are in this condition will avail of the opportunity to receive this great Sacrament on Wednesday, March 14.

People who are seriously sick, especially those preparing for major surgery, are also eligible to receive this Sacrament. When serious illness prevails, this Sacrament should be received as soon as possible. In the case of obvious dangerous illness, this Sacrament should never of course be put off until a very late stage.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick prolongs the concern which Our Lord showed for both the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick, as the Gospels clearly testify and which He asked His followers to show also. Those eligible for this Sacrament are Catholics who are seriously ill. Elderly people may be anointed if they are in a weak condition although no dangerous illness is present. Included are those who, because of their weak condition, are unable to come to Church on a regular basis. Sick children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be comforted by this Sacrament.

Sickness is more than a medical phenomenon; sickness can be serious enough to cause a crisis situation in our lives with regard to our salvation and to our life in and with Christ in the Community of the Church. To be sick includes bodily pain, psychic depression, isolation from one’s profession as well as from normal human society, especially as experienced in the family. Sickness often engenders impatience, sulkiness and excessive pre-occupation. Sickness sometimes gives rise to spiritual dryness, hardness of the heart, discouragement and even despair. In such ways, a person’s sickness or state of impaired health can weaken or undermine his (her) relationship with Christ. This Sacrament therefore, brings about spiritual healing and, if God so wills, bodily healing as well.

The Grace of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick helps us to overcome specific obstacles to Grace and Salvation arising from the situation of the sickness. In the Sacrament, Christ always strengthens and supports the person in his (her) sickness.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for Catholics who are suffering from a degree of sickness which is causing considerable concern. Sickness embraces many forms including illness demanding serious surgery, weakness due to advancing years, chronic illness, illness which considerably confines activities, serious deafness or blindness, psychiatric illness such as depression or severe neurosis or serious addiction - in fact any illness which is considered serious.

When illness is proving such a burden as to be endangering the sick person’s faith and confidence in God, this then is an added reason for such a person to avail of the opportunity of receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

In order to be well prepared, persons planning to receive this Sacrament should, if possible, receive the Sacrament of Penance beforehand. However, not being able to get to Confession should not be an obstacle to receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

The Communal Celebration of this great Sacrament will take place within the context of the 12:10 Noon Mass at the Cathedral on Wednesday, March 14, and a special area in the Cathedral will be reserved for those planning to receive the Sacrament. Further information may be obtained from the priests of the parish.

Following the Communal Celebration, there will be a Saint Patrick’s Day party in the Hyland Center.