Anointing of the Sick Sickness Christ as the Physician The Healing Church Anointing of the Sick Viaticum Effects

Sickness Serious illness brings out our powerlessness and radical limitations Serious illness brings out our powerlessness and radical limitations We become dependent on others, feel useless and isolated from them and from the community We become dependent on others, feel useless and isolated from them and from the community Can bring us to mature faith, since it helps us to understand the mystery of suffering and to bear pain more bravely Can bring us to mature faith, since it helps us to understand the mystery of suffering and to bear pain more bravely

Sickness Sickness / illness – -had often been seen as a punishment for misconduct - also regarded as an occasion for turning to transcendent powers.

Sickness Christian Attitude to Sickness Christian Attitude to Sickness –Part of God’s plan –Sign of the oppressive presence of evil –We need special help of God’s grace –Sickness can take on creative, saving and transforming meaning and value

Cure and Healing Cure – usually refers to Cure – usually refers to the medical pursuit of the eradication of disease or defect. Healing – refers to the holistic care that touches the body, mind, and spirit of the sick person. Healing – refers to the holistic care that touches the body, mind, and spirit of the sick person.

Christ the Physician By forgiving sin and healing the sick and infirm, Jesus showed that “God has visited his people” (Lk. 7:16) By forgiving sin and healing the sick and infirm, Jesus showed that “God has visited his people” (Lk. 7:16) –Cleansed the lepers (Lk. 17:12-19) –Gave sight to the blind (Mk. 10:46-52) –Healed the deaf-mute (Mk. 7: 31-37); the Paralytic (Mk. 2:3-12) etc

Christ the Physician Christ’s healing is sign of more radical healing over sin and death: salvation of the whole person Christ’s healing is sign of more radical healing over sin and death: salvation of the whole person Thus it involves faith in Jesus, following him in loving obedience to God the Father Thus it involves faith in Jesus, following him in loving obedience to God the Father It is grounded on his Paschal Mystery It is grounded on his Paschal Mystery

The Healing Church Jesus passed his healing ministry to his apostles: “they anointed the sick with oil and worked many cures 1. M k. 6:11-13 = the apostles healed many sick people through anointing. 2. M k. 16:18= authority to heal 3. 1 Cor. 12:9-10 = different gifts of the Holy Spirit. 4. J ames 5:14 = the power of the Church to forgive and heal sickness

The Healing Church Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

Definition It is a sacrament in virtue of which the sick believer, by the anointing with oil and the prayer of the priest, receives the grace of God for the supernatural salvation of his soul and often also for the natural healing of his body. It is a sacrament in virtue of which the sick believer, by the anointing with oil and the prayer of the priest, receives the grace of God for the supernatural salvation of his soul and often also for the natural healing of his body.

Anointing of the Sick Symbols, Meanings, Ministers and Recipients Symbols, Meanings, Ministers and Recipients matter – olive oil blessed by the Bishop on Holy Thursday (infermorum) form – (forehead): “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.” form – (hands): “ May the Lord who frees you from your sin save you and raise you up.”

Anointing of the Sick Ministers: priests and Ministers: priests andbishops Recipients: all Christians who have reached the age of reason and are seriously ill, or in danger of death from accident or old age. Recipients: all Christians who have reached the age of reason and are seriously ill, or in danger of death from accident or old age.

Viaticum Holy Viaticum – “with-you-on-the-way” - the holy communion given to the dying Christian. Pictures Christ as leading and accompanying the Christian into the heavenly banquet.

Viaticum It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn. 6:54) It prepares us to heavenly homeland

Effects 1. Particular gift of the Holy Spirit- strengthening, peace, courage to overcome the difficulties in times of sickness 2. Forgiveness of sins 3. Union with the passion of Christ 4. Ecclesial grace 5. Preparation for the final journey