Fr. Ricard: One need not be dying to receive anointing

Question: What is the biggest misconception about the sacrament of the anointing of the sick? 
 
Answer: Reminding people that it is called the sacrament of the anointing of the “sick” and not the anointing of the “dying.” There is a misunderstanding that you have to wait until someone is dying to get them anointed. Anointing the sick is – if it’s God will – for the person to be physically, mentally and spiritually healed. People can receive it more than once. So, it’s the coolest thing when somebody comes to me and says, “Father, next week I’m having surgery. Can I get anointed?” Yes, you can!

Q: What are some other scenarios that might prompt someone to request this sacrament?

A: The things that people don’t call us for and should be calling us for: grief, depression, mental illness – diseases of the mind. I am always stressing to my parishioners, if you’re dealing with serious depression, get anointed, because depression is when you go to the dark side. When you’re anointed, the Holy Spirit is bringing in the light to pull you out of that darkness. Whatever you’re dealing with, God can take care of it if you let him in! The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is allowing the Holy Spirit to come back in and refresh what he did for you at baptism. 

Q: How often are you called on to anoint?

A: It varies, but for me it averages about two or three people a month. The majority of people who call for an anointing are the elderly and homebound, but that has a lot to do with that misunderstanding of the sacrament and what its intent is. It helps when a parish offers more teaching about anointing, because I think people would avail themselves of it more often.

Q: Could you describe what happens during the rite?

A: Sometimes you have to do it really quickly in life-or-death situations, but like all the sacraments, you can do a complete Liturgy of the Word, with an opening prayer, readings and a little homily to help people understand the sacrament. We anoint with a special oil blessed by the archbishop at the Chrism Mass – Oleum Infirmorum (Oil of the Sick). For the anointing itself, you anoint the person’s forehead and hands. More prayers are said after the anointing. The whole concept is to bring about healing, if it’s God’s will.

Q: Are any other sacraments available to the sick and dying at the time of their anointing?

A: Eucharist given to those who are at the point of death is called Viaticum, which translates to “food for the journey.” If a person is able to communicate and go to confession, they can celebrate the sacrament of penance. But if a person is physically unable to celebrate the sacrament of penance, the sacrament of the anointing of the sick confers forgiveness of sins.

Q: Have you personally witnessed the graces of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick? (Father Ricard shared three anecdotes)

1. In 1988, my grandmother had a massive stroke. I was a public school teacher at the time, not yet in the seminary. I was with my family in the ER waiting room when (Josephite) Father Howard Byrd came to anoint my grandmother. At the time, she could only open her eyes; she was alert and was trying to talk, but she physically could not move or say anything. Father Byrd prayed over her and anointed her. As we were walking out of the ER, Father Byrd looks at me and says, “You know, she’s gonna be all right.” I said, “How do you know that, Father?” Well, within one hour my grandma looks up at me (from her hospital bed) and says, out loud, “Tony, where’s your momma?” She started to move; she started to speak; she was alert! Within six months, she was back to her old self – walking, talking, cooking. I didn’t know how these sacraments worked and how they imparted the grace of God until I experienced it for myself firsthand. From that moment on, I knew the power of that sacrament!

2. My family called me (after I became a priest) to anoint my uncle, who was unresponsive in the hospital. They thought he was dying. We prayed over him; we prayed with him; we anointed him – and two days later he’s back at his house.

3. I was recently called to the home of a young woman who was dying of cancer. The house was full of her friends and family. She was weak but alert, so I put everybody out of the room because I knew she wanted to go to confession; she knew she was dying. We celebrated the sacrament of penance, and afterward, we started talking and laughing about everything. She was so happy! I was telling jokes about her cat. Her family hadn’t heard her laugh like that for months. She was telling me what she thought heaven was going to be like, and how excited she was because she knew she was ready. Then we called everybody into the room for the anointing of the sick. She thanked them all for praying with her. I walked out and pretty much praised God all the way home! I thanked God for giving me that moment. The anointing was for her, but those moments are for priests, too, to help us know why we do what we do. It confirms our ordination!

Q: How did you prepare to administer this sacrament?

A: I worked at Tulane Hospital for 10 years before being ordained, and, for the last 30 years I have directed camps for kids with pulmonary disease, cancer and sickle cell – so I had already dealt with death and dying. At seminary, you learn the theology behind the sacraments – why priests do what they do – and then we practice the sacraments in the lab, just like you would have a science lab in school. We have (replicas) of an altar, coffin, dolls to practice baptisms. Usually, for the anointing of the sick, you practice on your classmates (using unblessed oil). Seminarians also complete a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Experience). I did mine at Children's Hospital.

Q: Do you ever get nervous before an anointing?

A: The harder ones are when there’s a tragedy involving a baby. But, in general, the only thing I stress about is asking God to allow me to use the right words for that particular family. I get anxious, but I also get excited for the opportunity. So, when I go to anoint somebody, I thank God before I walk through the door and I thank God afterward.

Q: Discuss the institution of this sacrament in Scripture: “Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man” (James 5:14-15).

A: That’s the reading we use when we anoint. Even if it’s an emergency and I don’t have time to do everything, I’ll save that passage so the family knows exactly what I’m about to do (and) that it came from Scripture. The apostles watched Jesus bring about healing – they saw him put his hands on people and heal them. This was written down as an instruction in the early days of the church: “You have somebody who’s sick? Let me tell you what you need to do: Send for the priest. Ask them to pray over them and then anoint them with the oil.” The priest is not Jesus – our hands can’t do much for you – but if I bring these oils that have been blessed by the bishop, the representative of the apostles, the sacrament allows us that opportunity to not only personally come in, but to bring God with us, to bring the power of the Holy Spirit!

Q: What do you tell grieving families who were “too late” to have their loved one anointed?

A: You cannot anoint someone who is deceased, but you can bless the body. This is where the funeral comes in. What I love about funerals is that if we really believe what we say we believe, what we celebrate in baptism is brought to completion at the funeral! If that person was really given that ticket to heaven when they were baptized, when we get to the funeral, we’re celebrating that they’ve just punched the ticket! Part of the job of the priest is to let the family know – as Father Byrd did for my family back in 1988 – that “it’s gonna be all right.”

Q: Do you have any parting wisdom for Catholics regarding reception of this sacrament?

A: If we’re looking for that miracle (of healing), don’t put God to the test by waiting until the last minute! Get that person anointed early!

Father Tony Ricard is pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in New Orleans and campus minister/theology department head at his alma mater of St. Augustine High School. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2005.

– Interviewed by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald