The sick must be anointed in good time
SIR – Melanie McDonagh’s mother (Charterhouse, August 30) is blessed with a priest whose pastoral care for the dying is consistent with Catholic doctrine and canon law; other people are not so blessed. I knew a priest whose criteria for visiting and anointing the sick were more exclusive than, even contrary to, those of the Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives clear instruction on the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, its benefits and administration; and canon law insists that “All priests to whom has been entrusted the care of souls, have the obligation and right to administer the anointing of the sick to those of the faithful entrusted to their pastoral care.” The Catechism says unequivocally that the sacrament is not to be kept for the moment of death.
