Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

* Terms

1. Anointing- The practice of applying oil or perfumed oil upon persons or things.
2. Ministry-The work or vocation of a minister of religion.
3. Maladies- A disease, a disorder, or an ailment
4. Salvation- comes from the word “salus” which originally means “health”. Restoration of health both to the physical and spiritual being of a person. 5. Messianic- Belief that a particular cause or movement is destined to triumph or save the world. 6. Penance- An act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin or other wrongdoing 7. Extrema Unctio- The last Anointing of the Sick.

8. Holy Viaticum- the Eucharist given to a dying person or one in danger of death. Synonymous to anointing. 9.Litany-a ceremonial or liturgical form of prayer consisting of a series of invocations or supplications withresponses that are the same for a number in succession. 10. Mercy- compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender

* Summary

1) Jesus’ big heart for sick, poor, and needy people takes root for his ministry thus; many stories from the gospels show the bona fide love and compassion of Jesus to these people. 2) During their time, people with physical maladies or any person afflicted to these people are being cast out by the society because for them, they are unclean. 3) Jesus called these people as “the least of my brethren” and motivated them by His profound charity and compassion, He performed many miracles and wonders on them and revealing them signs of salvation not only physically but spiritually. 4) Christ entrusted to his apostles his messianic mission so that they may help to the needy and heal the sick. 5) St. Paul mentions to his letter to the Corinthians that healing is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

6) .“A practice of the early church… which included the presence of the Christian leader, prayers, anointing with oil, forgiveness of sins and the attempt to restore the sick to both physical and spiritual health” 7) Pope Innocent calls anointing a sacrament of the sick and say that bishops, priest and all Christians may anoint those who are sick and dying with the oil while the bishops or priests are ordinary ministers of this sacrament. 8) The sacrament came to be known as the last anointing, extrema unctio, extreme unction. The dying person received with the anointing, absolution and communion or Holy Eucharist called Holy Viaticum.

9) Before the Council of Trent, the sacrament of Anointing became restricted to those who are nearing death but many questions arose from theologians thus, that Council of Trent affirmed that the sacrament of anointing was for the dying and it is also taught that the priest was the proper minister of the sacrament which included penance. 10) The Second Vatican Council took the same direction and declared the Extreme Unction is better called as the Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick and it also taught that this sacrament is not only for those who are at the point of death but also to anyone who is faithful in time of danger of death from sickness or old age.

11) There are two parts of its celebration today, first is the “Pastoral care of the sick” which include rituals for the visits to the hospital, communion and anointing of the sick and the second is “Pastoral care of the Dying” including rituals for viaticum, prayers, and continuous rite of penance. 12) The liturgical rite for the anointing of the sick consists of introductory rite, prayer of faith, liturgy of the word and the homily, and a prayer called litany, and then the priest will impose his hands with oil to the head of the person and say a silent prayer.

13) Form of Anointing of the Sick is Anointing with oil and Matter of Anointing of the Sick is “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of that Holy Spirit. Amen May the Lord, who frees your spirit from sin, save you and raise you up. Amen.” 14) The oil used in administering the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is called Oil of the Sick and every priest, and only a priest, validly administers the anointing of the sick.