Posted on 05/02/2010 8:07:14 PM PDT by Salvation
Anointing of the Sick is that sacrament which is administered to strengthen Christians who are in danger of death from sickness or old age. The Apostle James refers to this sacrament when he says, “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).
Anointing of the Sick bestows upon the recipient the courage and peace necessary to bear his suffering, forgives his sins, and prepares him for death. On occasion, when spiritually beneficial, the sacrament heals the physical infirmities of the recipient, but this ought not to be expected. Catholic Answers provides a helpful summary of the origin, effects and value of the sacrament.
The Catholic Catechism systematically explains the Anointing of the Sick, with a more thorough exploration of the effects of the sacrament.
For an in-depth treatment of Anointing of the Sick, see the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Extreme Unction (an older name for the Sacrament). This early twentieth-century source describes the rite universally used before 1972, which is currently considered the "extraordinary form" of the sacrament, but the discussion of the sacrament's matter and form, along with extensive citations from Scripture and Tradition in support of the Sacrament, apply to all forms of the rite.
If you only have time to look at three things, LOOK AT THESE.
And if you've got more time...
The Rite of Anointing was revised in 1972 to give us the Sacrament as most Catholics know it today. The nature and reasons for these ritual revisions were made clear by Pope Paul VI in his decree On the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Subsidiarity, [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Trinity [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Tradition [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Baptism [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Penance (Reconciliation, Confession) [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Priesthood (Holy Orders) [Catholic-Orthodox Caucus]
What You {Catholics} Need to Know: Celibacy [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You {Catholics} Need to Know: Mass (Sacred Liturgy) [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: The Vatican (or Holy See) [Catholic-Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Marriage
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Eucharistic Mystery [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Eucharist (Real Presence) [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
[What Every Catholic Needs to Know about] Gaining Indulgences [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Deacons and the Diaconate[Catholic-Orthodox Caucus]
1510 However, the apostolic Church has its own rite for the sick, attested to by St. James: "Isa any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [presbyters] of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." 123 Tradition has recognized in this rite one of the seven sacraments. 124
1511 The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness, the Anointing of the Sick:
This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord. 125
1512 From ancient times in the liturgical traditions of both East and West, we have testimonies to the practice of anointings of the sick with blessed oil. Over the centuries the Anointing of the Sick was conferred more and more exclusively on those at the point of death. Because of this it received the name "Extreme Unction." Notwithstanding this evolution the liturgy has never failed to beg the Lord that the sick person may recover his health if it would be conducive to his salvation. 126
1513 The Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum, 127 following upon the Second Vatican Council, 128 established that henceforth, in the Roman Rite, the following be observed:
The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil - pressed from olives or from other plants - saying, only once: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up." 129
1514 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." 130
1515 If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.
1516 Only priests (bishops and presbyters) are ministers of the Anointing of the Sick. 131 It is the duty of pastors to instruct the faithful on the benefits of this sacrament. The faithful should encourage the sick to call for a priest to receive this sacrament. The sick should prepare themselves to receive it with good dispositions, assisted by their pastor and the whole ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way through their prayers and fraternal attention.
1517 Like all the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration, 132 whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital or church, for a single sick person or a whole group of sick persons. It is very fitting to celebrate it within the Eucharist, the memorial of the Lord's Passover. If circumstances suggest it, the celebration of the sacrament can be preceded by the sacrament of Penance and followed by the sacrament of the Eucharist. As the sacrament of Christ's Passover the Eucharist should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the "viaticum" for "passing over" to eternal life.
1518 Word and sacrament form an indivisible whole. The Liturgy of the Word, preceded by an act of repentance, opens the celebration. The words of Christ, the witness of the apostles, awaken the faith of the sick person and of the community to ask the Lord for the strength of his Spirit.
1519 The celebration of the sacrament includes the following principal elements: the "priests of the Church" 133 - in silence - lay hands on the sick; they pray over them in the faith of the Church 134 - this is the epiclesis proper to this sacrament; they then anoint them with oil blessed, if possible, by the bishop.
These liturgical actions indicate what grace this sacrament confers upon the sick.
1520 A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death. 135 This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God's will. 136 Furthermore, "if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." 137
1521 Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ's Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior's redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.
1522 An ecclesial grace. The sick who receive this sacrament, "by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ," "contribute to the good of the People of God." 138 By celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and he, for his part, though the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.
1523 A preparation for the final journey. If the sacrament of anointing of the sick is given to all who suffer from serious illness and infirmity, even more rightly is it given to those at the point of departing this life; so it is also called sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing). 139 The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointings that mark the whole Christian life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and that of Confirmation which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father's house. 140
IN BRIEF:
1526 "Isa any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (Jas 5:14-15).
1527 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.
1528 The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.
1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.
1530 Only priests (presbyters and bishops) can give the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, using oil blessed by the bishop, or if necessary by the celebrating presbyter himself.
1531 The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and 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.
1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
- 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 Penance;
- the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
- the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
bookmark
Health Care Council Letter to Priests, "A Priest at the Bedside of a Sick Person Represents Christ"
Conn. hostage taker demands priest for last rites
Report: Last rites given to Fawcett
Radio Replies First Volume - Extreme Unction
The Catechism of St. Thomas Aquinas, EXTREME UNCTION, HOLY ORDERS, MATRIMONY, Summary of Sacraments
Farrah Fawcett 'given last rites'
Beginning Catholic: The Anointing of the Sick: Comfort and Healing [Ecumenical]
On Fr. Neuhaus (Received Last Rites)
Despite his own injuries, priest gave last rites to crash victims
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 27: The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.
FWI the liturgical anointing of the sick is also a part of the liturgy in many Lutheran and Anglican/Episcopal parishes.
While is it sometimes offered as part of the Sunday liturgy it is more commonly offered during midweek liturgies; generally at the same time as the Communion distribution.
bookmark
Our Lord was annointed by The Holy Spirit...Tell me today who can actually carry that same, except for those who have actually made a commitment to Him and have recieved the baptism of God’s Holy Spirit through Christ our Lord. This is not a Catholic thing...It is not an Episcopalion or Baptist thing...The annointing only comes upon those who are truly seeking a personal relationship with the Fathers only Son. The Fathers repudiation for sin...Jesus! There is no other Name in which we can recieve redemption.
Friend, this is a Catholic/Orthodox thread.
Remember the apostle James says that the sick can be both annoited as well as prayed over by a presbyter.
James 5:14-15.
When my mother was near death in 2007, she received the Annointing of the Sick, on a beautiful Sunday in late April. It was a beautiful thing, as she was not in pain, and she was just fading away at the age of almost 95. Seven of her 9 children were in the room, and the rest of the house was filled with our spouses and most of our 32 children with many of their spouses and children. I doubt that she was really aware of what was happening, but it brought such comfort to us.
She passed on 8 days later, but the annointing had been such a blessing and a comfort for all of us. We got a chuckle, though, in seeing the utter surprise on the youngish priest’s face as he beheld the size of our gathering.
I’m sure if someone is suffering from cancer, going in for surgery, etc. that it is also given individually. That’s the norm in the Catholic Church — although it is offered at special healing Masses. (As far as I know — but perhaps I am mistaken.)
Are you Catholic?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.