Anointing of the Sick
Part 4 The Ritual: Pastoral Care of the Sick
Chapter 42 Visits to a Sick Child
Preliminary QuestionsBibliography |
Theology |
To Think About |
Preliminary Questions
Bibliography
Theology
Anointing Children: -- A priest friend once told me that when he was a hospital chaplain, he once refused to anoint a two-year old, after explaining to the mother that the child had to have "sufficient use of reason" to be comforted by the sacrament. After reflecting on this decision with his CPE supervisor, he came to a broader interpretation of "sufficient use of reason," now he no longer refuses a mother's request. He concluded that a priest should consider making "pastoral exception" in these situations when the Infant's parents request the sacrament. I know many priests who have come to the same pastoral conclusion.
To Think About
Click here to return to the previous Chapter of the Ritual Click here to view Chapter three of the Ritual
© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 09/20/07 . Your comments on this site are welcome at webmaster2@tomrichstatter.org.