the sacrament of the anointing of the...

THE SACRAMENT OF THE

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THESICK?

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THIS SACRAMENT?

WHO CAN CELEBRATE THIS SACRAMENT?

WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT?

WHEN and WHERE?

HOW IS IMPORTANT THIS SACRAMENT?

Are you afraid to receive this

sacrament?

WHY?

WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF THE

ANOINTING OF THE SICK?

There are three distinct aspects to the

celebration of this sacrament: the

prayer of faith, the laying on of hands,

and the anointing with oil.

The prayer of faith

The community, asking God’s word and in a spirit of trust

(James 5:14-15). In the rites for the sick, it is the people of

God who pray in faith. The entire Church is made present

in this community- represented by at least the priests,

family, friends, and others- assembled to pray for those to

be anointed. If they are able, the sick persons should also

join in this prayer.

ACCORDING TO ST JAMES 5:14

‘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 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.’

The prayer of faith

The community, asking God’s word and in a spirit of

trust (James 5:14-15). In the rites for the sick, it is the

people of God who pray in faith. The entire Church is

made present in this community- represented by at

least the priests, family, friends, and others-

assembled to pray for those to be anointed. If they

are able, the sick persons should also join in this

prayer.

The laying on of hands

It is a sign of blessing

The Church pray by the power of God’s healing grace the sickperson may be restored to health or at least strengthened in timeof illness.

It is also invocation

The Church prays for the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the sickperson.

It is the biblical gesture of healing and indeed Jesus’ own usualmanner of healing. Jesus laid hands on every one of them andhealed them. Luke 4:40

Anointing with Oil

It signifies healing, strengthening, and the presence of the

Spirit.

The Church’s use of oil for healing, comforting the sick and in

restoring the tired and the weak. Thus the sick person is

strengthened to fight against the physical and spiritual illness.

The Prayer for blessing the oil of the sick reminds us, that the

oil of anointing is the sacramental sign of the presence,

power, and grace of the Holy Spirit.

THE EFFECTS OF THE

SACRAMENT

THOSE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY ILL NEED THE SPECIAL HELP

OF GOD’S GRACE IN THIS TIME OF ANXIETY, LEST THEY

BE BROKEN IN SPIRIT AND UNDER THE PRESSURE OF

TEMPTATION, PERHAPS WEAKENED IN THEIR FAITH.

THAT IS WHY, THROUGH THIS SACRAMENT OF

ANOINTING, CHRIST STRENGTHENS THE FAITHFUL WHO

ARE AFFLICTED BY ILLNESS, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE

STRONGEST MEANS OF SUPPORT.

THIS SACRAMENT GIVES THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TOTHOSE WHO ARE SICK: BY THIS GRACE THE WHOLE PERSON ISHELPED AND SAVED, SUSTAINED BY TRUST IN GOD, ANDSTRENGTHENED AGAINST THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE EVIL ONEAND AGAINST ANXIETY OVER DEATH. THUS THE SICK PERSON ISABLE NOT ONLY TO BEAR SUFFERING BRAVELY, BUT ALSO FIGHTAGAINST IT. A RETURN TO PHYSICAL HEALTH MAY FOLLOW THERECEPTION OF THIS SACRAMENT IF IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THESICK PERSON’S SALVATION. IF NECESSARY, THE SACRAMENTALSO PROVIDES THE SICK PERSON WITH THE FORGIVENESS OFSINS AND THE COMPLETION OF CHRISTIAN PENANCE.

THIS SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING EFFECTIVELY EXPRESSES THE

SHARE THAT EACH ONE HAS IN THE SUFFERINGS OF OTHERS.

WHEN THE PRIEST ANOINTS THE SICK, HE IS ANOINTING IN THE

NAME AND WITH THE POWER OF CHRIST HIMSELF. ON BEHALF

OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, HE IS MINISTERING TO THOSE

MEMBERS WHO ARE SUFFERING. THIS MESSAGE OF HOPE AND

COMFORT IS ALSO NEEDED BY THOSE WHO CARE FOR THE

SICK, SPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE CLOSELY BOUND IN LOVE TO

THEM.

THE CHURCH’S USE OF OIL FOR HEALING IS

CLOSELY RELATED TO ITS REMEDIAL USE IN

SOOTHING AND COMFORTING THE SICK AND IN

RESTORING THE TIRED AND THE WEAK. THUS THE

SICK PERSON IS STRENGTHENED TO FIGHT

AGAINST both PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL

DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF ILLNESS.

WHO CAN CELEBRATE THIS

SACRAMENT?

MINISTER

ONLY A PRIEST IS PROPER MINISTER OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK.

THIS OFFICE IS ORDINARILY EXERCISED BY BISHOPS, PARISH PRIESTS

(PASTORS) AND THEIR ASSISTANTS, CHAPLAINS OF HEALTH CARE

FACILITIES, AND SUPERIORS OF CLERICAL RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES.

THESE MINISTERS HAVE THE PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITY BOTH OF

PREPARING AND HELPING THE SICK AND OTHERS WHO ARE

PRESENT, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF RELIGIOUS AND LAITY, AND OF

CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT.

Will it be possible for a lay faithful

to celebrate this sacrament?

The answer is NO! absolutely it is NOT

But ALL THE FAITHFUL are welcomed to receive it

and to participate this sacrament. Specially,

those who are baptised.

THE BISHOPS

DURING THE CHRISM MASS THE BISHOP BLESSESTHE OIL SUCH AS THE CATECHUMENS, THECHRISM AND THE OIL FOR THE ANOINTING OFTHE SICK on Holy Thursday at the time of Easter.

THE OIL IS MADE FROM THE OLIVE OR PALMTREE.

THE PRIESTS

HE CAN ONLY CELEBRATE IN THE ACTUAL CELEBRATION OF THESACRAMENT.

IF THE PRIEST USES OIL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BLESSED (EITHER BYTHE BISHOP OR BY A PRIEST), HE BRINGS IT WITH HIM IN THE VESSELIN WHICH IT IS KEPT. AFTER CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT THEPRIEST RETURNS THE VESSEL TO THE PLACE WHERE IT IS KEPT WITHPROPER RESPECT AND REPLENISH IT FROM TIME TO TIME EITHERYEARLY OR HOLY THURSDAY.

IF ANY OF THE OIL IS LEFT AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF THESACRAMENT, IT SHOULD BE ABSORBED IN COTTON (COTTONWOOL) AND BURNED.

A priest should not administer this sacrament

those who are already dead. Instead, he should

pray for them, asking that God forgive their sins

and graciously receive them into the kingdom.

WHEN And WHERE?

In case of great illness and danger of

death.

Anywhere

CANON 1001

PASTORS OF SOULS AND THOSE CLOSE

TO THE SICK ARE TO TAKE CARE THAT

THE SICK ARE CONSOLED BY THIS

SACRAMENT AT THE APPROPRIATE

TIME.

What does it mean “in a good

time”?

To request the sacrament in good time. In other

words, not to wait until the moment of death,but at the same time not to treat the sacrament

lightly, using it for minor illnesses that are not

impacting the whole person or that involve only

physical illness.

WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS

SACRAMENT?

ANYONE SPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE HEARTILY OPENEDTO THIS SACRAMENT.

THOSE WHO ARE NOT DEAD. ALL SACRAMENTS ARE NOTMADE FOR THE DEAD BODY. BUT RATHER THIS SACRAMENTIS CELEBRATED FOR THE LIVING.

OF COURSE, THOSE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE.

AGE DOES NOT MATTER. CHILD, YOUNG ADULT OR OLDARE ALL WELCOMED TO RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENTREPEATEDLY.

The sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers afterbeing anointed and then again falls ill or if during the same illnessthe person’s condition becomes more serious.

A sick person may be anointed before surgery whenever a seriousillness is the reason for the surgery.

Elderly people may be anointed if they have become notablyweakened even though no serious illness is present.

Sick children are to be anointed if they have sufficient use ofreason to be strengthened by this sacrament. In case of doubtwhether a child has reached the use of reason, the sacrament is tobe conferred.

CANON 1004

1. THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK CAN BE ADMINISTERED TO AMEMBER OF THE FAITHFUL WHO, HAVING REACHED THEUSE OF REASON, BEGINS TO BE IN DANGER DUE TOSICKNESS OR OLD AGE.

2. THIS SACRAMENT CAN BE REPEATED IF THE SICK PERSON,HAVING RECOVERED, AGAIN BECOMES GRAVELY ILL ORIF THE CONDITION BECOMES MORE GRAVE DURING THESAME ILLNESS.

HOW IMPORTANT THIS

SACRAMENT?

#1 UNITING THE

SICK PERSON WITH THE SUFFERING OF

JESUS

#2 GIVING THE PERSON

STRENGTH, PEACE AND COURAGE TO ENDURE

THE SUFFERINGS OF OLD AGE.

#3 IMPARTING

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

#4 PROVIDING FOR

THE RESTORATION OF HEALTH

#5 HELPING THE SICK

PERSON IN PREPARATION FOR

PASSING INTO ETERNAL LIFE.

NOWHERE IS THE

FINAL QUESTION

ARE YOU STILL AFRAID OR HESITANT

TO RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT?

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED TO

RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GIVE YOUR

LIFE TO CHRIST. ALL THE SACRAMENTS

ARE GIFTS GIVEN BY CHRIST FOR US IN

ORDER TO INHERIT THE ETERNAL LIFE.

PRAYER AFTER ANOINTING

FATHER IN HEAVEN, THROUGH THIS HOLY ANOINTING GRANT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS COMFORT IN

THEIR SUFFERING.WHEN THEY ARE AFRAID, GIVE THEM COURAGE, WHEN

AFFLICTED, GIVE THEM PATIENCE, WHEN DEJECTED, AFFORD THEM HOPE, AND WHEN ALONE, ASSURE THEM OF THE SUPPORT OF YOUR HOLY PEOPLE. WE ASK THIS

THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING.