What about illness and death?

Illness and death are part of every person’s life journey. Everyone is invited to reach out with compassion to join with those who are ill or dying, just as Jesus did. God has revealed himself to be a God of compassion. Compassion is the quality of a person who so closely identifies with the suffering of another that the other’s suffering becomes their own.

Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Through this Sacrament God offers us the graces to deal with our illness and the difficulties that accompany it. In this Sacrament we encounter the same Jesus who grieved over Lazarus and raised him from death, cleansed lepers, healed the centurion's servant, healed St. Peter’s mother-in-law, healed the man paralyzed from birth, and many others. What about illness and death?

Hope in the midst of suffering and pain Jesus’ healing miracles are signs of the healing and saving presence of the Spirit of God, who is always at work among us. Jesus’ healing miracles:  healed the whole person―body and soul;  offered healing for the unjust social structures that afflicted the people;  healed the suffering caused by social isolation;  strengthened people’s faith in God.

Hope in the midst of suffering and pain Jesus also suffered; much of Jesus’ suffering resulted from people’s spiritual blindness. Jesus’ suffering was also the consequence of his obedience to his Father and his love for humanity. All during his suffering Jesus reached out and found healing in the presence of his Father. Jesus’ greatest act of healing was his suffering and Death on the Cross. The healing and saving power of Jesus’ suffering and Death was revealed in the Resurrection.

Hope in the midst of suffering and pain The Resurrection is the source of our hope in the midst of the ongoing suffering and death that we experience. Suffering and death did not have the final say in Jesus’ life, and neither will they have the final say in our life. When we ‘take up our cross daily’ and unite our suffering with the suffering of Jesus, it gives us courage and strength to accept our suffering with dignity and hope. Hope is the desire and expectation of the salvation God promised. In the end, all suffering and death will be defeated.

When? Who? Where? How? The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is one of the Church’s two Sacraments of Healing. A priest can celebrate this Sacrament with an individual who is seriously ill or with a group of sick or elderly people. The Church celebrates this Sacrament wherever the seriously ill person may be; for example:  in the family home,  in a hospital,  in an assisted-living residence,  in a hospice,  at the scene of an accident.

When? Who? Where? How? How the Sacrament is celebrated outside of Mass:  The priest greets those present and invites them to reverence the Blessed Sacrament.  The priest celebrates the Sacrament of Penance with the sick person.  The priest proclaims the Gospel. (Liturgy of the Word)  The Liturgy of Anointing begins and those present are invited to join in a prayer of faith to express their trust in God.  The priest lays his hands on the head of the person receiving the Sacrament and anoints first the forehead and then the hands with the Oil of the Sick.  The priest concludes the Liturgy of Anointing with a prayer.

When? Who? Where? How?  While anointing the person’s forehead, the priest recites these words: Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.  While anointing the person’s hands, the priest recites these words: May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.  The distribution of Holy Communion then takes place.  Holy Communion received by those in danger of death is called Viaticum.  The celebration concludes with the blessing of all present.

The gifts of God’s healing presence Despair about life is the loss of hope in the saving and healing power of God. The risen Lord does not abandon us in moments of illness or suffering. His healing power is always at work in our lives. Through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, the Holy Spirit offers the sick person the gifts of strength, peace and courage. These graces strengthen the person to fight against the effects of the illness and against the temptation to lose faith and hope and to despair.

The gifts of God’s healing presence The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick also brings to the sick and suffering....  union with Christ in his Passion  forgiveness of sins  restoration to health, if God wills it  preparation for passing over to eternal life Christians must become the hands of Christ touching the sick and dying, bringing his healing presence to those who need it most.

Blessed José Olalla Valdés ( ) and the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God (1495–1550) Blessed José Olalla Valdés was born in Havana, Cuba on February 12, His passion for serving the poor inspired him to join the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, a community which today cares for the sick and dying in fifty-one countries, including the United States. Brother José served the sick and poor at Camaguey, Cuba for fifty-four years. He became legendary for his skill first as a nurse and then as a surgeon, for his knowledge of homeopathic medicines and for his talent for resolving disputes among townspeople.