THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK. To prepare for Saturday, February 4, 2:30 PM’s annual Anointing of the Sick within Mass, I offer guidance on who may or should be anointed and why. To register yourself or someone else for this special Mass, which fulfills the Sunday obligation, and optional dinner provided by our Knights of Columbus, contact the Parish Office.
The Baltimore Catechism defines all Sacraments as “outward signs, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” One, this Sacrament’s “outward signs” are the Laying on of Hands; Anointing of the forehead and hands with Oil; the prayers of the Priest; and, at holy Mass, the reception of Holy Communion. Two, Jesus not only directed His Apostles and others to cure the sick; He Himself often did so. And three: the Catechism (below) explains how it “gives grace” and begins (#1526) by citing the Letter of Saint James 5:13-15:
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“Is anyone among you suffering? |
The following is from the Catholic Catechism’s ‘In Brief’ section (#1526-1532) which concludes each topic in the Catechism. This ‘In Brief’ section offers a synopsis of this Sacrament of Healing:
#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. Sickness and death, suffering and pain, are among our greatest enigmas; without the gift of Faith, these challenges can easily depress, overwhelm, and destroy us. This Sacrament offers great comfort and hope in accepting the human condition, with its frailty and mortality.
#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. As Jesus warned us: no one knows the day or the hour! And with fewer Priests these days, we must always be prepared for our death!
#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. Unlike Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacraments of Healing: Penance and Anointing – MAY be repeated as often as necessary.
#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. Since “the supreme law of the Church is the salvation of souls” (#1752: the last Canon Law!), the Oil, normally blessed by a Bishop at the Chrism Mass along with all the Priests of his Diocese, may be blessed by any Priest who needs the Oil of the Sick.
#1531: The celebration … consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person… (with) the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament. Specific words and actions are used in this Sacrament: a comforting, consoling, gentle touch – and powerful, hope-filled words.
#1532: The special grace of (this) sacrament… (is:) 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. Jesus suffered more than enough to redeem the world, but we, His Body, the Church, must still be perfected through suffering; and by uniting our sufferings to His, they can find meaning and purpose. By this, we also give witness to our faith and trust in God. And since Confession requires absolute privacy, which is difficult in a hospital, nursing home or accident site, this Sacrament absolves sins for those unable to get to Penance.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK. To prepare for Saturday, February 4, 2:30 PM’s annual Anointing of the Sick within Mass, I offer guidance on who may or should be anointed and why. To register yourself or someone else for this special Mass, which fulfills the Sunday obligation, and optional dinner provided by our Knights of Columbus, contact the Parish Office.
The Baltimore Catechism defines all Sacraments as “outward signs, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” One, this Sacrament’s “outward signs” are the Laying on of Hands; Anointing of the forehead and hands with Oil; the prayers of the Priest; and, at holy Mass, the reception of Holy Communion. Two, Jesus not only directed His Apostles and others to cure the sick; He Himself often did so. And three: the Catechism (below) explains how it “gives grace” and begins (#1526) by citing the Letter of Saint James 5:13-15:
|
“Is anyone among you suffering? |
The following is from the Catholic Catechism’s ‘In Brief’ section (#1526-1532) which concludes each topic in the Catechism. This ‘In Brief’ section offers a synopsis of this Sacrament of Healing:
#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. Sickness and death, suffering and pain, are among our greatest enigmas; without the gift of Faith, these challenges can easily depress, overwhelm, and destroy us. This Sacrament offers great comfort and hope in accepting the human condition, with its frailty and mortality.
#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. As Jesus warned us: no one knows the day or the hour! And with fewer Priests these days, we must always be prepared for our death!
#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. Unlike Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacraments of Healing: Penance and Anointing – MAY be repeated as often as necessary.
#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. Since “the supreme law of the Church is the salvation of souls” (#1752: the last Canon Law!), the Oil, normally blessed by a Bishop at the Chrism Mass along with all the Priests of his Diocese, may be blessed by any Priest who needs the Oil of the Sick.
#1531: The celebration … consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person… (with) the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament. Specific words and actions are used in this Sacrament: a comforting, consoling, gentle touch – and powerful, hope-filled words.
#1532: The special grace of (this) sacrament… (is:) 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. Jesus suffered more than enough to redeem the world, but we, His Body, the Church, must still be perfected through suffering; and by uniting our sufferings to His, they can find meaning and purpose. By this, we also give witness to our faith and trust in God. And since Confession requires absolute privacy, which is difficult in a hospital, nursing home or accident site, this Sacrament absolves sins for those unable to get to Penance.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS