Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick

SicknessChrist as the PhysicianThe Healing ChurchAnointing of the SickViaticumEffects

SicknessSickness

Serious illness brings out our Serious illness brings out our powerlessness and radical limitationspowerlessness and radical limitations

We become dependent on others, feel We become dependent on others, feel useless and isolated from them and useless and isolated from them and from the communityfrom the community

Can bring us to mature faith, since it Can bring us to mature faith, since it helps us to understand the mystery of helps us to understand the mystery of suffering and to bear pain more suffering and to bear pain more bravelybravely

SicknessSickness

Sickness / illnessSickness / illness – –

-had often been seen -had often been seen as a punishment for as a punishment for misconductmisconduct

- also regarded as - also regarded as

an occasion for an occasion for turning turning

to transcendent to transcendent powers.powers.

SicknessSickness

Christian Attitude to SicknessChristian Attitude to Sickness– Part of God’s planPart of God’s plan– Sign of the oppressive presence of Sign of the oppressive presence of

evilevil– We need special help of God’s graceWe need special help of God’s grace– Sickness can take on creative, Sickness can take on creative,

saving and transforming meaning saving and transforming meaning and valueand value

Cure and HealingCure and Healing

CureCure – usually refers to – usually refers to

the medical pursuit of the medical pursuit of

the eradication of disease the eradication of disease

or defect.or defect. HealingHealing – refers to the holistic – refers to the holistic

care that touches the body, mind, care that touches the body, mind, and spirit of the sick person.and spirit of the sick person.

Christ the PhysicianChrist the Physician

By forgiving sin and healing the By forgiving sin and healing the sick and infirm, Jesus showed that sick and infirm, Jesus showed that “God has visited his people” (Lk. “God has visited his people” (Lk. 7:16)7:16)– Cleansed the lepers (Lk. 17:12-19)Cleansed the lepers (Lk. 17:12-19)– Gave sight to the blind (Mk. 10:46-52)Gave sight to the blind (Mk. 10:46-52)– Healed the deaf-mute (Mk. 7: 31-37); Healed the deaf-mute (Mk. 7: 31-37);

the Paralytic (Mk. 2:3-12) etcthe Paralytic (Mk. 2:3-12) etc

Christ the PhysicianChrist the Physician

Christ’s healing is sign of more Christ’s healing is sign of more radical healing over sin and death: radical healing over sin and death: salvation of the whole personsalvation of the whole person

Thus it involves faith in Jesus, Thus it involves faith in Jesus, following him in loving obedience following him in loving obedience to God the Fatherto God the Father

It is grounded on his Paschal It is grounded on his Paschal MysteryMystery

The Healing ChurchThe Healing Church

Jesus passed his Jesus passed his healing ministry to healing ministry to his apostles: “they his apostles: “they anointed the sick anointed the sick with oil and worked with oil and worked many curesmany cures

1.1. Mk. 6:11-13Mk. 6:11-13 = the = the apostles healed apostles healed many sick people many sick people through anointing.through anointing.

2.2. Mk. 16:18Mk. 16:18= = authority to healauthority to heal

3.3. 1 Cor. 12:9-101 Cor. 12:9-10 = = different gifts of different gifts of the Holy Spirit.the Holy Spirit.

4.4. James 5:14James 5:14 = the = the power of the power of the Church to forgive Church to forgive and heal sicknessand heal sickness

The Healing ChurchThe Healing Church

Is any among you sick? Let him call for Is any among you sick? Let him call for the the elderselders of the church, and let them of the church, and let them pray over him, pray over him, anointinganointing him with oil in him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the the name of the Lord; and the prayer prayer of faithof faith will save the sick man, and the will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.you may be healed.

DefinitionDefinition

It is a sacrament in It is a sacrament in virtue of which the virtue of which the sick believer, by the sick believer, by the anointing with oil and anointing with oil and the prayer of the the prayer of the priest, receives the priest, receives the grace of God for the grace of God for the supernatural supernatural salvation of his soul salvation of his soul and often also for the and often also for the natural healing of his natural healing of his body.body.

Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick

Symbols, Meanings, Ministers and RecipientsSymbols, Meanings, Ministers and Recipients

matter – olive oil blessed by the Bishop on Holy Thursday(infermorum)

form – (forehead): “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”form – (hands): “ May the Lord who frees you from your sin save you and raise you up.”

Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick

Ministers: priests and Ministers: priests and

bishopsbishops

Recipients: all Christians who Recipients: all Christians who have reached the age of reason have reached the age of reason and are seriously ill, or in danger and are seriously ill, or in danger of death from accident or old age.of death from accident or old age.

ViaticumViaticum

Holy Viaticum – “with-you-on-the-Holy Viaticum – “with-you-on-the-way”way”

- the holy communion given - the holy communion given to the dying Christian. Pictures to the dying Christian. Pictures Christ as leading and Christ as leading and accompanying the Christian into accompanying the Christian into the heavenly banquet.the heavenly banquet.

ViaticumViaticum

It is the seed of eternal life and It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrectionthe power of resurrection

““He who eats my flesh and drinks He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” will raise him up on the last day” (Jn. 6:54)(Jn. 6:54)

It prepares us to heavenly It prepares us to heavenly homelandhomeland

Effects Effects

1.1. Particular gift of the Holy Spirit- Particular gift of the Holy Spirit- strengthening, peace, courage strengthening, peace, courage to overcome the difficulties in to overcome the difficulties in times of sicknesstimes of sickness

2.2. Forgiveness of sinsForgiveness of sins3.3. Union with the passion of ChristUnion with the passion of Christ4.4. Ecclesial graceEcclesial grace5.5. Preparation for the final journeyPreparation for the final journey