Anointing

Kevin Doherty, Adm., Parish of Clonmany

Welcome

  • First of all … the Anointing of the Sick is not ‘Last Rites’. Anointing does not mean that a person is going to die! In fact, it is a profoundly moving and beautiful encounter with the healing Spirit of Jesus Christ.
  • Second of all … ‘Last Rites’ doesn’t even exist, as such. The proper celebration for those about to die is called Viaticum, the receiving of the Body and Blood of Christ, and also is a profoundly moving and beautiful encounter with the healing Presence of Jesus Christ.

Now we have that sorted let us look at our understanding of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Whenever Jesus saw someone sick or in need, his heart would go out to them, and he would always help. His whole life on earth was about helping people, and about bringing healing and hope. Most of all His Life was about bringing the healing that lasts forever. This is what we call the ‘New Life’ of the Resurrection.

 

THREE WAYS JESUS HEALS THOSE WHO ARE SICK

PHYSICAL HEALING
Jesus heals people who have an illness of the body. This means they can see again, or walk again, or be restored to health again. Here are some examples:

A blind beggar, Bartimeaus  (Mark 10:46-52)
A woman who was crippled   (Luke 13:10-17)
A  man who suffered from leprosy  (Luke 17:11-19)
A woman who suffered haemorrhaging (Mt. 9:20-22)

 

SPIRITUAL HEALING
Jesus heals people who have an illness of the heart (sometimes called ‘spirit’). This gives them the grace of strength and courage, to overcome being afraid., It gives the grace of peace. Here are some examples:

Jesus freed Zacchaeus from his past life of regret and sin (Luke 19:1-10).
The woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tear and dried them with her hair (Luke 7:36-50).
The paralytic on a stretcher who was lowered through the roof by his friends (Mark 2:1-12 9).

 

HEALING OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED
Jesus sometimes restored life to people who had died. This healing was not the same as His Resurrection, because that is forever. Here are some examples:

The daughter of Jarius  (Mark 5:21-43).
The son of the widow of Nain  (Luke 7:11-17)
Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary  (John 11).

 

This healing of Jesus is not just something that happened a long time ago. It still happens today. And, as his disciples (his followers), we have an important part to play in this.

 

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Jesus always wanted to help those who were sick, and that healing of Jesus continues today. One very special way that this happens is what we call the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

 

What is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
It is one of the seven sacraments. And like every sacrament the Anointing of the Sick is a real and living encounter with the Risen Jesus.

 

What happens during the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
Only a priest or bishop can administer this sacrament. Using specially blessed oil he anoints the person who is sick on their forehead and on the palms of their hands, saying this prayer:

Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.

 

Why does our Church have the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
In the prayer and anointing our Church asks that, if it be God’s will, the person who is sick will receive the grace of ‘physical’ healing. But we believe that, even if there is no physical healing, the sacrament will bring ‘spiritual’ healing. In this way the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and strength and encouragement to deal with their illness, or the frailty of old age.

This reminds us also, therefore, that even though the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given by the priest, it is truly Jesus who touches the sick person and gives healing.

 

Sometimes, wrongly and sadly, people can have a very mistaken idea of what the Sacrament means. They think it must mean the sick person is dying. In some cases, this might be true … but in the vast majority of times it is not true.  This sacrament is a very beautiful way to truly meet Jesus Christ. Jesus comes to the person who is sick in a very personal and intimate way.

 

But, because people have been believing this for so long, it has been hard to alter this understanding.  This is really a tragedy … because it is truly a very beautiful way that Jesus comes to us. And no one should ever be afraid coming to Jesus. Pass the word!