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Sacraments 101: Anointing of the Sick (who it's for)

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BustedHalo.com's fantastic introduction to the Sacraments series: Who can receive the Anointing of the Sick? How often? Where is it done? These questions and more are answered in this edition of "Sacraments 101," a web video series geared for those who'd like an introduction or refresher course on these important, tangible Catholic experiences of God.

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“Now when the sun was

setting, all they that had

any sick with divers diseases

brought them unto him; and

he [Jesus] laid his hands on

every one of them, and healed them.”

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“And they cast out many

devils, and anointed with oil

many that were sick, and healed

them.”

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During the Lords stroll of the

Earth, Jesus was concerned for

all of the sick people, not only

did he heal them with a word

of power, but he gave them

compassion and love, with much

care for the people he talked to.

When priests anoint the sick, to

this time, like all sacraments, it is

one way that the church is now

showing the continues of the

ministry of Jesus.

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One of the great mysteries of our faith is the incarnation, our core belief that the eternal and almighty God became a human being, a man who could and did suffer just as we do.

During his ministry on earth, Jesus had a particular concern for sick people; he healed them not just with a word of power, but also with a human and compassionate touch.

The anointing of the sick, like all sacraments, is one way that the church continues the ministry of Jesus. Through it, Christ continues to touch, heal, and comfort. The Letter of James attests that this practice has always been part of ministry: "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 church" (5:14).

While the sacrament is often administered individually, the church encourages celebrating it within Mass. Many parishes celebrate it on one or more Sundays each year. The sacrament may be received by a baptized person who "begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age," according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1514)-seriously ill, but not necessarily near death-so it may not be apparent that someone receiving the sacrament is ill. The communal celebration reminds us that suffering is part of our human condition and may move us to look on each other with the compassion of Christ the healer. Celebrating this sacrament during Mass also helps us unite our sufferings with Christ's as we recall his body broken and his blood poured out for us.

This sacrament was once called extreme unction (meaning final anointing) because it had, over time, come to be reserved for the dying. The Second Vatican Council renamed it "anointing of the sick" to describe its appropriate place in the life of the Christian faithful: to offer strength and healing in time of serious illness. In the case of anointing a person near death, it is often accompanied by the sacraments of reconciliation (if possible) and viaticum (holy communion for the dying).

Does the sacrament heal? Yes. Is the healing physical? It is certainly what we hope for when we celebrate this sacrament, but we cannot approach it with this expectation. We pray that the Holy Spirit may give strength, peace, and courage to the sick to help them face the difficulties of illness and age with faith and hope.

Sometimes such inner healing results in a physical cure; sometimes it allows medical treatment to be more effective; and sometimes it helps someone face death calmly and hopefully. In each case we are grateful for the compassion of our God.

This article appeared in the November 2011 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 76, No. 11, page 44-46).

Image: Roger van der Weyden (c.1400-1464) Extreme Unction (1445)

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One of the great mysteries of our faith is the incarnation, our core belief that the eternal and almighty God became a human being, a man who could and did suffer just as we do.

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The Catholic Sacrament of

anointing the sick comes from

the bible, and comes from the

writer James 5: 14-15, the text

is  "Is anyone among you sick?

He should summon the presbyters

(priests) 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."

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Bible Gateway passage: James 5:14-15 - New International Version

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Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

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The only person who is valid

to anoint someone who is

sick or terminally ill is the person

in command, and the people that

are in command are Priests, and

you must have a certificate and is

ONLY valid by Priests. It is only

given to the faithful and people in

need of it.

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Anointing of the sick is from the

New Testament, this is reffering

to the elders of the church, also

applying oil to the person in need

which is basically a symbol of the

Holy Spirit, upon a person who is

Ill, terminally, or on there death

bed.

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Anointing the sick - From the New Testament, this refers to elders of the church, applying oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit) upon the body of one who is sick, to be followed by prayer. Olive oil is believed to be the original type used. "Is anyone among you sick?