Anointing of the sick

• Scripture reference– Mark 6: 13– James 5:13-15

• The anointing of the sick is administered – to bring spiritual and even physical strength

during an illness– especially near the time of death

• Or in situations where death may occur

He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’" (Matt. 8:17).

• It imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against – anxiety, – discouragement, – temptation,

• conveys the graces of– peace – courage

The effects of the sacrament

• It brings strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age

• It unites the sick person to the passion of Christ, – for his own good – and that of the whole Church;

• Redemptive Suffering

• the forgiveness of sins, – if the sick person was not

able to obtain it through the reception of the sacrament of penance

• the restoration of health – if it is conducive to the

salvation of his soul • the preparation for the final

journey to eternal life

Who can receive the Anointing of the sick?

• Those who are alive.• The anointing of the sick can be

administered to a member of the faithful who, after having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age. (Canon 1004,1.)– A baptized Catholic– Reached the age of reason– Begins to be in danger (not imminent danger of

dying)

• The sacrament may not be given indiscriminately.

Examples of who can be anointed

• "those who are dangerously ill through sickness or old age“

•  "a sick person...before surgery whenever the surgery is necessitated by a dangerous illness" 

• "elderly people...if they are weak, though not dangerously ill" 

• "sick children...sufficiently mature to be comforted by the sacrament" 

• "sick people who have lost consciousness or who have lost the use of reason...if ...they would have requested it if they had been in possession of their faculties"

If in Doubt give it out.

• Canon 1005This sacrament is to be administered when there is a doubt– whether the sick person – has attained the use of reason,– whether the person is dangerously ill,– or whether the person is dead.

• "a prudent or reasonably sure judgment, without scruple, is sufficient for deciding on the seriousness of an illness; if necessary a doctor may be consulted" (Pastoral Care of the sick n. 8)

Does a person have to be in the last stages of dying to receive this sacrament?

• No. • “ as soon as anyone of the faithful

begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived" (CCC 1514).

• Don’t wait until its too late.