Anointing of the Sick

[ 16 ] January 14, 2012 AD |

Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing. Is any man sick    among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.  - James 5: 13-15 (Douay Rheims)

In most cases, We see the Anointing of the Sick conferred upon a person close to death.  This doesn’t always have to be the case. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states this: ” The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of the death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in the danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for them to receive the sacrament, has certainly already arrived. ” (CCC 1514)

I personally have been present many times for when the Anointing of the Sick has taken place during /after Mass.  This is a beautiful ceremony. During the times i have witnessed the Sacrament,  The Priest will have those in the parish who are sick come up to the foot of the altar. The Priest will then go to each person anointing them with oil on forehead and palms , and laying on of hands.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church also has this to say about the effects of the Sacrament: “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” (CCC 1532)

Like I mentioned above,  Some symbols of this sacrament include the laying on of hands, and the anointing with oil on the forehead and the palms of both hands. The laying on of hands symbolizes the Spirit of God being called down – the very presence of the Lord putting his hands on our head. The oil is a sign that God ‘has put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts. Through the anointing we are strengthened for what lies ahead.

In this sacrament, we acknowledge the love of God and the dignity of God’s people, a dignity that is not diminished by illness, or even death.

Here is a video from Busted Halo’s Fr Dave Dwyer  about the Sacrament of the Sick:

 

[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://www.ignitumtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Joe-Sales-e1321895023762.png[/author_image] [author_info]Joe Sales is an Educational Assistant with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. He has a college diploma through the St Clair College’s Developmental Services Worker program at Thames Campus. He is also a loving husband, blogger, and loves to serve God through Word and Action. Joe was born and raised in Chatham Ontario, Canada. He currently resides in Waterloo Ontario with his wife. During his spare time, Joe is a strong advocate for people who have disabilities. Joe also speaks to groups and conferences across the province of Ontario and other locations as well. Joe’s faith as a Roman Catholic is very important to him. Joe also has a passion for technology and new media. If you would like to check out Joe’s blog, it can be found here.[/author_info] [/author]

Category: Religion, Sacraments

About the Author ()

I am Joe. I am from Kitchener Ontario,Canada. I am very pro-conservative, pro-life, pro-family, and pro-Catholic, because that is who I am. My Family is also very important. I am a loving son, grandson,friend,cousin,nephew, and husband. I am a member of St Aloysius Parish in Kitchener. I am also a member of the Knights of Columbus in Waterloo Ontario. I love the liturgy. I have an appreciation for the Ordinary Form and Extraordinary Form of the Mass. I love the bells and smells of incense. Latin is a beautiful language. I dont speak it but slowly learning the mother tongue of the church. In my free time, I love catching a good movie or tv shows, going for walks, reading, spending time in prayer, being involved in my faith community, listening to music, technology, sports, and much more. I love spreading the Gospel through word and action. I also do my best to love God and others as we are called to do in the first book of John. I have a passion for working with people especially individuals who have disabilities and those who are homeless.
  • HermitTalker

    A deacon may not anoint in the Sacrament of the Sick since it involves forgiveness of sin as well as healing. Otherwise, deacons could be offering the Sacrament of the Sick as hospital chaplains where they are in that ministry and must call on the presbyter- more accurate than priest in that place- for the actual sacrament.

  • Joe Sales

    Thank you. I made a mistake in the original post. I have edited it.

  • http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com Father Ryan Erlenbush

    Also, it should be made clear that Anointing of the Sick isn’t just for any sickness, but only for those illnesses which put a person in some remote danger of death. [Also extreme old age which seriously endangers the health of a person can justify Anointing].

    In other words, as the Church teaches in the Ritual Book for Anointing, the sacrament is only to be given to those who are seriously sick and in a real danger of death (not immediate danger, but they at least have a sickness which can kill them).

    This is a real problem at Anointing Masses … often times people without serious life-threatening illnesses come up to receive Anointing — which means that the Sacrament is invalid (since it can only be received by those who are seriously ill and “have begun to be in danger of death”).

    If any are interested, I wrote a couple of articles on this subject over at NTM: http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-should-i-receive-anointing-of-sick.html
    And, in relation to surgery and Anointing: http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/07/should-anointing-of-sick-be-given.html

    Not that there is anything wrong with the article above … but just to be very clear about the seriousness required for an illness to justify Anointing.

  • HermitTalker

    Father RE; The James text says if anyone of you is sick. No qualifier. We used see the sacrament as and described as “last rites” which was unfortunate as those of us who are older recall. But we are aware that some physical conditions, including getting older can cause depression, fears and anxieties, even clinical depression itself would warrant the Sacrament for me. I used attend a parish in the USA where every Tuesday the sacrament was administered and it seemed it got very routine fo all. I do however wish to see a better middle road between illness unto death and casual use of the sacrament.

  • http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com Father Ryan Erlenbush

    Hermittalker, We must be careful of reading the Bible like protestants … taking a text out of context and ignoring how the Church has interpreted the verse.
    In this case, the Church says that “sick” doesn’t mean any sickness, but serious sickness — hence, “is any man sick” does not mean a slight cold or minor headache; but something which makes a man to “begin to be in danger of death” (as the Catechism and Canon Law both teach, quoted by Mr. Sales above).

    I didn’t say that it is to be given only at the last moment of life … I said, following the clear teaching of the Church, it is only to be given for serious illnesses that put a person in some real danger of death.

    When considering whether we should receive Anointing, we ask ourselves a couple questions: Is there a real chance that this illness is killing me? Is my health seriously impaired? Have I begun to be in a real danger of death? If the answer to all these questions is “yes”, then it is time to receive Anointing … otherwise the sacrament is not appropriate.

    “The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill.” (Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution Sacram Unctione Infirmorum, 30 Nov 1972)

  • http://josephmichaelsalesblog.wordpress.com/ Joe Sales

    Thank you for the discussions about this posting. I apologize if i have hit a nerve with anyone. I appreciate any clarification that has been given in regards to this matter. It is because of discussions about my posts like these, i learn and grow. Not only in my faith, but writing abilities.

  • HermitTalker

    Father Re. I apologise if my comments were intended to suggest you were in favour of a very narrow understanding of illness leading to death. I do however reject that the illness has to be so serious that we are in a near occasion of death. “Serious illness” is just that, not leading linearly to death. Oor human condition is such that some illnesses cause extreme anxiety and can cause thoughts of suicide or despair and medicine alone is not enough. I recall as a high schoolers being told that a man who was to be executed could not be anointed until the trap door opened and he dropped. That is one serious misuse of the language and the sacrament.

  • http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com Father Ryan Erlenbush

    Hermittalker,
    In fact, a man cannot be Anointed simply because he is condemned to the death penalty … neither can soldiers who are going into battle. [in these cases, the proper sacrament is confession]

    The sacrament is not Anointing of the “about to die”, but of the “sick” (i.e. those who are seriously ill and who, on account of that illness, have “begun to be in danger of death”).
    And serious illness means just this: That the person has begun to be in danger of death … not immediate proximate danger … but at least a real danger of death. The illness (or old age) has to be such that the person is dying.

    There is much confusion about this sacrament these days. But the Code of Canon Law, the Catechism, Vatican II, and Pope Paul VI all say that the sacrament is for those who are seriously ill and who have begun to be in danger of death.

    Please take a look at the articles from NTM … you will see abundant quotations from the Church on how this sacrament is to be used.

  • HermitTalker

    That little boy who was told the priest had to wait at the trap door of the hanging platform grew up. He anointed, had already heard the confession of, and gave communion, Viaticum, to a man who was about to die. He also witnessed the execution of that man who did not want his brother and sister to see and feel it. And he was asked to tell the family of his victim and the public that he was sorry. That much older man is now 24/7 in pain, in a wheel chair by day, mainly due to an un-detected fracture which cannot now be repaired two years later. He receives the sacrament of the sick and confesses monthly and has not the slightest doubt that both sacraments and daily Mass with EWTN are all life-giving.

  • http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com Father Ryan Erlenbush

    HermitTalker,
    I’m sorry … this is going no-where.
    Please quote a Church document which says that Paul VI was wrong and that this sacrament is not for those who are “seriously ill” (and hence, should be given to a man about to be executed, though he has no illness). According to Church teaching, your high-school teacher was right.

    Also, please give a citation from a magisterial source saying that the person does not have to have “begun to be in danger of death”, contrary to the Code of Canon Law … such that a painful injury (even if it not be life-threatening, and I grant that some psychological conditions can be life-threatening) can justify the use of this sacrament.

    We simply must consider what the Church has actually taught. I don’t want to fill this comment-box with all the lengthy quotes from Magisterial sources. A personal testimony, no matter how emotionally moving, must be judged against the official teaching of the Church who says: “serious illness” and “begun to be in danger of death”.
    Have you looked at the articles over at NTM?

  • HermitTalker

    I concur that this is not to be a detour from the major concern. However, it puzzles me why a man who is a few hours from being strapped in to be injected three times to die is not in danger of death. As to the older man who receives the Sacrament monthly, that is between him and his God and his confessor. no need for further reply or citations. Thanks for your concern and pray for me please.

  • http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com Father Ryan Erlenbush

    HermitTalker,
    You yourself have rightly stressed that this is not the sacrament of the moment of death … but rather the sacrament of the sick. It is precisely for this reason that the man to be executed would not receive the sacrament (i.e. cannot validly receive the sacrament), because (though near death) he is not sick.
    Now, we can’t have it both ways … you can’t on the one hand say it isn’t “last rites” (not the sacrament of the moment of death) and then turn around and say that a man who isn’t sick should receive it simply because he is soon to die from a lethal injection (of course, one could [perhaps] argue that after the poison is given the sacrament could be received).

    Regarding the older man who receives the sacrament regularly … he should ask his confessor to look at the teaching in the Instruction to the Ritual book … specifically where the Church teaches that the sacrament is only to be repeated when the illness has become significantly worse.

    I only wish people would read what the Church has actually taught.
    Oremus pro invicem. +

  • HermitTalker

    Thank you Fr RE for your pastoral concern. I do appreciate the oremus pro invicem I added a special one for you and our exchange last evening at Evening Prayer. Shalom. FJ

  • Barbara O

    I am 75, terminal and recentaly signed up with hospice. Now if they are qualifications to receive the Anointing of the Sick”, I don’t know what is. I called my parish, explained my situation and was invited to the general Anointing after a designated Mass. I called back and tried to explain again that I am literally knocking on heavens door and waited for a return call. Meanwhile I am now confined to bed.
    Long story short, I requested the hospice chaplain to please stop by and when she heard my situation, she called somebody. I have no idea who but this week a newly ordained priest assigned to our Cathedral cam by to see me and brought me Jesus in Holy Communion and will come every week until I get to see Him Whom I love, Face to face.
    All Glory to God.

  • http://virtuouspla.net/ Stacy

    God bless you Barbara.

  • http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com Father Ryan Erlenbush

    Praise be to God that the young priest came with Anointing and the Eucharist (and, I suppose, an opportunity for confession as well)!
    I will say some special prayers for you in these days … and I will remember you at my next Mass. God be with you. +

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