Anointing Of The Sick

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NeTpUnK

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I am currently going through the RCIA program and tonights class covered, among other things, the Anointing Of The Sick. I had a question that no one had a good answer for so I figured that I would try here.
What is the significance of anointing the hands? Anointing the forehead I can understand. Even anointing the sick or damaged part of the body makes sense. So, why the hands?
 
I’m not sure but perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we pray using our hands? 🤷:confused:
 
What does the anointing of the hands signify?

Anointing with oil stems from the Old Testament and indicates that someone or something is being set apart for a sacred task or duty. The anointing of the hands signifies that the hands of the newly ordained priest are being prepared for the sacred duties and vessels which will be part of the priestly ministry, for example, offering the bread and the wine, anointing the sick and blessing people. The bishop says as he anoints the hands: “The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God.”

catholic.org/vocations/faq.php
 
Hi netpunk,

I am not an authority on this subject but I know that in the past, the eyes, ears, nose, feet and hands were anointed. This was, I suppose, to symbolize the healing of the entire person and all the senses. The revised ritual is simplified and only the head and hands are left for anointing. However, different countries can have a different manner of anointing, as far as body parts goes.

My guess is that the hands are mentioned for practical reasons–easy to access, capable of being “oiled” without discomfort, etc. Also, the hands signify our sense of touch and, in general, our physical well-being.

Regarding the comment of Benedict108, he quoted something from the ordination of a priest, not anointing of the sick.

Dan
 
Holly3278 said:
I’m not sure but perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we pray using our hands? 🤷:confused:
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Hello, my name is Ralph and I would like to get into some discussions about why we need priests. Thanks
 
:rolleyes:
dans0622 said:
Hi netpunk,

I am not an authority on this subject but I know that in the past, the eyes, ears, nose, feet and hands were anointed. This was, I suppose, to symbolize the healing of the entire person and all the senses. The revised ritual is simplified and only the head and hands are left for anointing. However, different countries can have a different manner of anointing, as far as body parts goes.

My guess is that the hands are mentioned for practical reasons–easy to access, capable of being “oiled” without discomfort, etc. Also, the hands signify our sense of touch and, in general, our physical well-being.

Regarding the comment of Benedict108, he quoted something from the ordination of a priest, not anointing of the sick.

Dan
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Yep, my bad. I had been up for too many hours and I read it wrong. Sorry. 😊
 
Thanks for helping out the new guy.
I hope to be able to return the favor someday… 👍
 
NeTpUnK said:
I am currently going through the RCIA program and tonights class covered, among other things, the Anointing Of The Sick. I had a question that no one had a good answer for so I figured that I would try here.
What is the significance of anointing the hands? Anointing the forehead I can understand. Even anointing the sick or damaged part of the body makes sense. So, why the hands?
Click to expand...
It has a lot to do with the history of the Sacrament. Until the current ordinary rite, all of the senses were anointed, with the words “through this holy anointing, may God in His mercy forgive you all the sins you have comitted through the power of speech” with the anointing on the mouth/lips. Also, ears, hands, eyes, etc. That’s not a direct quote, but from memory; still, I’m sure you can see the point. When this “new” rite came about, it was decided to reduce the number of anointings and the result was forehead and hands.

I can’t speculate as to exactly why, but the Church decided to keep only those as “symbolic” of all the senses. The meaning comes through much more clearly when all the senses are anointed.
 
FrDavid96 said:
I can’t speculate as to exactly why, but the Church decided to keep only those as “symbolic” of all the senses. The meaning comes through much more clearly when all the senses are anointed.
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Would there be circumstances, like last rites, which would deviate from the ordinary and anoint all the senses? I remember the rite of welcome (?) at the beginning of RCIA, when I was signed with the cross in a jillion places, and it was really very moving and gripping and thorough. To be anointed like that would be amazing.
 
EvelynEVF said:
Would there be circumstances, like last rites, which would deviate from the ordinary and anoint all the senses? I remember the rite of welcome (?) at the beginning of RCIA, when I was signed with the cross in a jillion places, and it was really very moving and gripping and thorough. To be anointed like that would be amazing.
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Yes and no. The ordinary form is the 1972 version, but the extraordinary form is the older rite (not sure what year exactly, but you get the point). Either form is perfectly valid and licit; but only the older rite contains the anointing of the other senses. In my personal experience, both the sick person as well as the family members very much prefer the older rite. I haven’t used the new rite in over a year.

In the new rite, out of necessity, any part of the body may be anointed (say a person doesn’t have hands for example, or a car accident and only some part of the body is accessible), but it’s not licit to anoint other parts simply for the sake of adding to the ritual. In addition, though, if a certain part of the body is causing pain or is unjured, that’s licit. In the new rite, there is no prayer to accompany the anointing of the other senses, or other body parts.
 
In the Byzantine tradition, the forehead, eyes, ears, hands, breast, and feet are anointed generally.

The idea is that you’re anointed all over.
 
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