\Then the liturgy of the Word occurred. Prior to the liturgy of the Eucharist everyone received the anointing of the sick. \
**Why the shrug? That’s standard in the Melkite tradition at the 4 Fasting periods–to have a General Anointing.
Most of the other Byzanatine jurisdictions, including the Orthodox, do so during Holy Week, usually Holy Wednesday.
Preferred use, btw, is to have several priests celebrate this, indeally 7. Once I attended a pilgrimage where the Bishop and six priests celebrated Holy Unction. After the conclusion, the faithful came up to be anointed by the bishop and each priest in turn. Multiple anointings are the rule for this, the Oil of the Catechumens at Baptism, and at Chrismation.
I can give testimony to the power of even physical healing in Holy Unction (aka Prayer Oil).
What puzzles me, however, is why the two prayers of absolution were read aloud at the end. They are supposed to be said over each penitent individually. And actually, the prayer, “God through Nathan the Prophet…” is the traditional Form of Absolution. The other was imported from the Latin use.**
