MEETING JESUS MEETING JESUS IN THE IN THE

SACRAMENTSSACRAMENTS

CHAPTER 7CHAPTER 7

THE SACRAMENT OF THE THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICKANOINTING OF THE SICK

““Is Anyone Among You Is Anyone Among You Suffering”Suffering”

Why me?Why me?

Why do I suffer?Why do I suffer?

Why is there illness and suffering in the world?Why is there illness and suffering in the world?

Why does God permit such pain?Why does God permit such pain?

Suffering and Suffering and the Old the Old

TestamentTestament

Before God people Before God people lamented their illness lamented their illness

and viewed the Lord as and viewed the Lord as the ultimate Master of the ultimate Master of

life and death.life and death.

Early Israelites Early Israelites believed further that all believed further that all

suffering directly suffering directly resulted as resulted as

punishment for sin.punishment for sin.

Later, people Later, people understood that the understood that the faithful needed to faithful needed to endure sufferings endure sufferings

patiently.patiently.

Christ the Christ the PhysicianPhysician

Jesus treated the Jesus treated the person’s physical person’s physical illness as well as illness as well as the person’s soul the person’s soul

by offering by offering forgiveness for his forgiveness for his

or her sins.or her sins.

Jesus rejected the Jesus rejected the idea that suffering idea that suffering

is a punishment for is a punishment for sin.sin.

Jesus Explains SufferingJesus Explains Suffering

Sickness and death are not God’s way of punishing Sickness and death are not God’s way of punishing us.us.

God loves the sick and disabled just as much as he God loves the sick and disabled just as much as he loves healthy people.loves healthy people.

God’s love is stronger than sickness, pain, God’s love is stronger than sickness, pain, suffering, and death.suffering, and death.

God does not abandon us when we are sick or God does not abandon us when we are sick or suffering.suffering.

The sick should not be treated as outcasts; instead, The sick should not be treated as outcasts; instead, they have an important role to play in the they have an important role to play in the community.community.

The Healing Ministry of JesusThe Healing Ministry of Jesus

Physical illness and Physical illness and disability, through disability, through physical cures.physical cures.

Domination by Satan Domination by Satan or demons or or demons or psychological illness, psychological illness, through exorcisms.through exorcisms.

Grief for a loved one, Grief for a loved one, through resuscitations.through resuscitations.

The Church The Church Heals the Heals the

SickSick

Jesus’ disciples Jesus’ disciples healed the sick while healed the sick while preaching the Good preaching the Good

News.News.

The Church took up The Church took up the practice of having the practice of having presbyters lay hands presbyters lay hands and anoint with oil, in and anoint with oil, in imitation of Jesus and imitation of Jesus and

the Apostles.the Apostles.

Understanding the Sacrament Understanding the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sickof the Anointing of the Sick

Jesus gave the Sacrament of the Jesus gave the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to aid those who are Anointing of the Sick to aid those who are

seriously ill and help them use their seriously ill and help them use their illnesses in service of Christ.illnesses in service of Christ.

A Brief History of the A Brief History of the SacramentSacrament

Changes after Changes after Vatican IIVatican II

In reforming the In reforming the sacrament, the Council sacrament, the Council embraced both of the embraced both of the

traditional meanings of traditional meanings of the sacrament:the sacrament:

It is a sacrament of It is a sacrament of the sick with an the sick with an

emphasis on healing emphasis on healing and faith in God’s and faith in God’s

presence in suffering.presence in suffering.It is a sacrament of It is a sacrament of the dying to prepare the dying to prepare

people for death.people for death.

Celebrating the Sacrament Celebrating the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sickof the Anointing of the Sick

A priest is the minister of the sacramentA priest is the minister of the sacrament

Those who are dangerously ill due to Those who are dangerously ill due to sickness or old age should be given sickness or old age should be given

special attention and receive the special attention and receive the sacrament.sacrament.

Rite of AnointingRite of Anointing

Introductory RitesIntroductory Rites Liturgy of the WordLiturgy of the Word Litany or Prayer of the Litany or Prayer of the

FaithfulFaithful Laying on of HandsLaying on of Hands Blessing of OilBlessing of Oil Prayer of Prayer of

ThanksgivingThanksgiving Anointing with OilAnointing with Oil Prayer after the Prayer after the

AnointingAnointing

ViaticumViaticum““Food for the Food for the

Journey”Journey”

Viaticum is a Viaticum is a separate liturgical separate liturgical rite for those who rite for those who

are dying—it is the are dying—it is the person’s last person’s last

reception of the reception of the EucharistEucharist

Penance, Anointing, Penance, Anointing, and Viaticum are the and Viaticum are the

“last rites” for “last rites” for Catholics on their Catholics on their

way to Godway to God

The Grace of the The Grace of the Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick

The sacrament is a particular gift of the The sacrament is a particular gift of the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.

The sacrament provides a grace to unite The sacrament provides a grace to unite with the Passion of Christ.with the Passion of Christ.

The sacrament is a grace for the ChurchThe sacrament is a grace for the Church—the Church participates in the ministry —the Church participates in the ministry of Christ.of Christ.

The sacrament is a preparation for the The sacrament is a preparation for the final journey (final journey (sacramentum exeuntiumsacramentum exeuntium).).

How We Live the Effects How We Live the Effects of the Sacramentof the Sacrament

From Self-Centeredness From Self-Centeredness to God-Centerednessto God-Centeredness

This sacrament helps us This sacrament helps us to see sickness and to see sickness and

suffering as opportunities suffering as opportunities for growth in holiness.for growth in holiness.

From Self-Centeredness From Self-Centeredness to Other-Centerednessto Other-Centeredness

This sacrament helps us This sacrament helps us to sacrifice ourselves for to sacrifice ourselves for others because we have others because we have

received God’s love.received God’s love.

Blessed Mother Teresa Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcuttaof Calcutta

Founder of the Missionaries Founder of the Missionaries of Charityof Charity

““The poor you may have The poor you may have right in your own family. right in your own family. Find them. Love them. Find them. Love them.

Speak tenderly to them. Let Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your face, in your eyes, in your

smile, in the warmth of your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a greeting. Always have a

cheerful smile. Don’t only cheerful smile. Don’t only give your care, but give your give your care, but give your

heart as well.”heart as well.”