WHAT IS ANOINTING OF THE SICK?
Anointing of the Sick is one out of two sacraments of healing, which is also called last rites. The sacrament is administered to those who are sick or nearing death. The sacrament hopes for physical strengthening and spiritual preparation for death should it be near. Many sick people are afraid of this sacrament and put it off until the last minute because they think it is a sort of death sentence. The opposite is true although, because Anointing of the Sick is a sort of life insurance. The Anointing of the Sick imparts consolation, peace, and strength and unites the person, in his precarious situation and his sufferings, with Christ in a profound way. For the Lord experienced our fears and bore our pains in his body. For many people Anointing of the Sick brings about physical healing. But if God should decide to call someone home to himself, he gives him in the Anointing of the Sick the strength for all physical and spiritual battles on his final journey. In any case, the Anointing of the Sick has the effect of forgiving sins. The minister of the sacrament is a priest or bishop. The form for the sacrament is the prayer of the minister over the sick person for the grace of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. The matter of this sacrament is anointing with Holy Oil and the imposition of hands. The rite for Anointing of the Sick starts off with introductory rites, which consists of a greeting, sprinkling with Holy Water, Instruction, and Sacrament of Penance. Next, is the Liturgy of Word, which consists of a reading and a response. Then, the Liturgy of Anointing takes place, which consists of the litany, laying on hands, prayer over the oil, thanksgiving over blessed oil, blessing of oil, anointing, prayer after anointing, and the Lord's prayer. Next is the Liturgy of Holy Communion, which consists of Communion, silent prayer, and prayer after Communion. Viaticum is the last Holy Communion that a person receives before dying. Last is the Concluding rite, which consists of the blessing. Anyone who is seriously ill, at the point of death, who are going to undergo a serious operation, or the elderly whose frailty has gotten worse are eligible for this sacrament. This sacrament is repeatable, so it may be received more than once if a person's health worsens or further surgeries are necessary. This sacrament also has many effects such as sins being forgiven, grace to face death and judgement, spiritual preparation to die, and if God's will, physical healing.
WHEN IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED FOR?
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing that bestows grace upon an individual to get the healing power and strength that they need. This is usually given before surgeries, when someone is at the point of death, anyone seriously ill, or elderly that are getting more frail. This is usually the last sacrament one will receive, especially if they are at the point of death. Because this may be one's last sacrament, they will receive Viaticum, which is the last Holy Communion one will receive.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK IN SCRIPTURE
Mark 6: 7-13:
7 " And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt--
9 but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.”
10 And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you 1leave town.
11 “Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust 1off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and 1preached that men should repent.
13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. "
7 " And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt--
9 but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.”
10 And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you 1leave town.
11 “Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust 1off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and 1preached that men should repent.
13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. "
James 5: 14-16:
14 " Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. "
14 " Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. "
Mark 16: 17-18
17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;+
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. "
17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;+
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. "
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO GOD'S MERCY?
Anointing of the sick relates to God's mercy in many different ways. Because Anointing of the Sick shows how God wants to heal us and how he loves us, it shows how God, in his mercy wants to bring us to heaven safely so that we may be with him. Also because this is a sacrament of healing, it forgives us of our sins, which shows God granting us mercy and forgiveness. When the priest is anointing the person with the oil, the prayer that is said describes how through God's love and mercy, we will receive the graces of the Holy Spirit.