Anointing of the Sick

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Opening Prayer

Dear Father,We thank you for everyone gathered here now.

Thank you that you know each of us by name and have caused us to walk with You.

We say that we are dependent on You and our trust is in You completely.

As we surrender ourselves in adoration we ask that You would come by Your Holy Spirit and inspire our hearts

today.  Come fill our lives with Your love,

Fill our conversations with Your grace and truth, Fill this meeting with Your presence. We ask this for Your glory and praise.

Amen.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK is a sacrament of the Catholic Church that is administered to a Catholic "who, having reached the age of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age", except in the case of those who "persevere obstinately in manifest grave sin". Proximate danger of death, the occasion for the administration of Viaticum, is not required, but only the onset of a medical condition considered to be a possible prelude to death.

The sacrament is also referred to as Unction, and in the past as Extreme Unction , and it is one of the three sacraments that constitute the Last Rites (together with the Sacrament of Penance and Viaticum).

The sacrament is administered by a priest, who uses olive oil or another pure plant oil to anoint the patient's forehead and perhaps other parts of the body while reciting certain prayers. It is believed to give comfort, peace, courage and, if the sick person is unable to make a confession, even forgiveness of sins. Several other Churches and Ecclesial Communities have similar rituals

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Can.998 The anointing of the sick, by which the Church commends the faithful who are dangerously ill to the suffering and glorified Lord in order that

he relieve and save them, is conferred by anointing them with oil and pronouncing the

words prescribed in the liturgical books.

Anointing of the SickBiblical Foundations:

The Church’s ministry to the sick has its foundations first in Jesus’ ministry and in that of the early Church. One can see this expressed in two key biblical passages: Mark 6:13 and James 5:14-15

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

“They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” Mark

6:13

In his Gospel St. Mark (6:12-13) gives us an indication of this sacrament of the sick when he tells us that the

apostles, going forth, "preached that men should repent, and they cast out many devils, and anointed

with oil many sick people, and healed them."

This passage speaks of the sending of the apostles by Jesus. Their healing ministry is closely connected to

the call to repentance, as is mentioned right before it in verse 12.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him

and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the

Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15. Matthew 10:8 and

Luke 10:8–9 are also quoted in this regard.

There are three actions represented in this passage: calling for the priests, prayer over the sick, and

anointing them with oil. It also notes two primary effects: saving the sick and raising them up and the forgiveness of any sins. “Raising up” has a double

meaning of lifting up from sickness and the resurrection of the body. The rite of anointing of the sick follows this

theologically and ritually.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Ritual, Materials and SymbolsPrayer of FaithLaying on of HandsAnointing of Oil (The Oil of the Sick )

The Oil of the Sick .(" Oleum Infirmorum") bears the initials O. I.

The oil used in administering the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is called Oil of the Sick. It is one of the three Holy oils blessed by the bishop of the diocese at his cathedral on Holy Thursday morning, the other two Holy Oils being Holy Chrism and the Oil of Catechumens, which is used in Baptism.

Anointing of

the Sick

the Oil of the Sick (" Oleum Infirmorum") bears the initials O. I ; The Oil of Catechumens is usually labeled O. C. or O. S. (" Oleum Catechumenorum" or "Oleum Sanctum"); and the oil of Chrism is distinguished by the letters S. C. (" Sanctum Chrisma")

ANOINTING OF THE SICKIn giving the sacrament, the priest anoints the sick person on the forehead and hands. During this anointing, the priest says:

FORMULA:

“Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up. Amen.”

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

WHO ADMINISTERS THIS SACRAMENT?

•Ordinary Minister Priest

•Extraordinary Ministersnone

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Qualifi cations of Recipient and Sponsors

Recipient: The Anointing of the Sick "is not a

sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as

anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old

age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already

arrived.“

ANOINTING OF THE SICKEffects of the Sacrament:The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole church. The strengthening, peace and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age.The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Confession.The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul.The preparation of the passing over to eternal life.

ANOINTING OF THE SICKThe Rite of the Sacrament:

The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick essentially in the anointing of the forehead

and the hands of the sick person(in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in

the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the

celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament.

ANOINTING OF THE SICKGrace of the Sacrament

This is the grace that quiets anxiety and dissipates fear.

It is the grace which enables the sick person to embrace God's will and to face the

possibility of death without apprehension.

It is the grace which gives the soul the strength to face and conquer whatever

temptations to doubt, despondency, or even despair may mark Satan's last effort to seize

this soul for himself.

ANOINTING OF THE SICKParochial Requirements The Sacrament of Anointing is for 'Healing' and not for persons who are 'Dying'. Send a person to call a priest. No sick call on telephone will be entertained. Inform the priest if the sick is able to receive the communion or not. Do not force the sick person to make his/her confession. lf in hospital, call the priest from the church closest to the hospital or nursing home.

Procedures or Preparations for the Sacrament

First, there is a prayer of faith asking God's help for the person who is sick

Second, there is the laying on of hands by the priest, which is a sign of blessing and the invocation of the Holy Spirit to come upon the sick person

Third, the anointing with the Oil of the Infirm on the forehead and hands of the sick person.

ANOINTING OF THE SICKReflections of the Sacrament

In our temporary journey in this world, sickness, can lead to suffering, self-importance, sometimes even hopelessness and revolt against God. It can also make us more mature, helping

us determine what is not essential in life such as material things. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a

return to him. Jesus compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of sickness shows that he has come to heal our

whole being, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. (Mark 2:17).His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: "I was sick

and you visited me.(Matthew 25:36) His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the

very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of determined efforts to

comfort them.

ANOINTING OF THE SICKTimeline: the history of healing

Old TestamentThere is evidence of the use of oils and balms for healing from early civilizations.

Medicines were used, but it was God who healed. Pain, sickness, and death are not envisioned as part of God’s original plan. Genesis 1, 2.

New TestamentHealing is a major theme:

Cure of the paralytic Mt 9:1-8Man born blind John 9: 1-39

Ten lepers Lk 17:11-19Centurion’s servant Mt 8:5-13

Peter’s mother-in-law Mt. 8:14-5; Mk 1:29-31Jesus, a living sacrament of God’s compassion and God’s power over sickness and death, healed by word and touch; healing presence brought inward renewal and

outward cure. Zaccheus – Luke 19:1-10The Apostles “expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many

cures.” Mark 6:13sick brought to the presbyters of the church for anointing James 5:14-15

Pre-NiceneRite of anointing mentioned in early Church Orders

Lay faithful led rituals of spiritual and physical healings with olive oil blessed by the bishop. Usually not a priestly duty.

Also used oil for catechumens – exorcism, post-baptismal anointings, and reconciliation

  

ANOINTING OF THE SICK5th-12th centuries

Innocent I provides a prayer for the blessing of the oil for a sick person (c. 410)

The sacrament of anointing is joined to reconciliation and viaticum (normative sacraments for the dying). Becomes the sacrament of the dying – “extreme unction.” Priest becomes primary anointer since it

was associated with penance.Venerable Bede wrote commentary on the rite in England noting its

similarity to the French rite. (7th c.)Since public penance was typically made only once, one waited for their deathbed. Rites take on a more penitential character; but still

accompanied by prayers for physical recovery as well as forgiveness of sins (11th c.)

prayers for recovery dropped from the rite; emphasis on remission of sins and hope for salvation. (12th c.)

Roman Pontifical – anointing of the senses, no longer just the body part which needed healing.

Anointing becomes more dominant as last, deathbed ritual.Peter Lombard (Sentences, c 1158) includes anointing as one of his

seven official sacraments. It was “instituted for a dual purpose, ... for the remission of sins, and for the relief of bodily infirmity.” He notes

that it may be repeated.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK13th-20th centuries

Form varied, but ‘matter’ (oil) was universally agreed upon.only one priest, ritual simplified (13th c.)anointing only when death was imminent

Great debate about difference of this sacrament from PenanceThomas Aquinas taught that the sacrament removed remnants of sin; physical healing if sin was result of sinful habit. – Council of

Florence (1438-1445) defines essential elements.Council of Trent (1548-1563) 1 “a sacrament instituted by Christ our Lord” 2 grace of the sacrament removes sin 3 “raises up and strengthens soul of sick person,” occasionally even bodily health to the sick 4 only given to those dangerously ill 5 priest is proper

minister1614 Ritual – eliminates abuses and gives elaborate rituals;

person must have attained the age of reason to receive it. Ritual remains unchanged for centuries.

1747 – Benedict XIV gives plenary indulgence to anyone who receives the sacrament.

ANOINTING OF THE SICKVatican II

Liturgical and biblical scholarship enlightens theology and history of sacrament and restores name to reflect

this – “anointing of the sick.”           1972 – new rite approved (revised again in 1983)

assumes previous visits and pastoral care of the sickprovided rites for various ages, conditions and

circumstancesadded Scripture, song, responses, ritual

Participation of the community stressed, including family, healthcare workers, and the parish community. Allows for regular communal celebrations with bishop’s

permission.anointing of head and hands rather than senses

additional rite for emergencies (imminent death); continuous rite of penance, anointing, (confirmation)

and viaticum.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Closing Prayer

Father, thank you that you have revealed Your love to us today.

We invite You to send us out from here in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fan into flame the gifts that you have given us,Come reveal Your grace and truth to us each

day. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the

glory,Forever and ever. 

Amen.