Regarding "Anointing of the Sick"

[CompSciGuy]

Hi,

I am a former Evangelical converting to Catholicism. I know that regarding the sacraments, there are certain things that Catholics are not supposed to be doing with Evangelicals, specifically communion. For example, I do not commune when I go to my parents’ church (my whole family is Evangelical). Now there is something else that has come up that I have been wary about. My younger brother (Evangelical, of course) was on this mission trip and the guys on that trip got really into James 5:14-15 and they would often put their hands on other people and pray for their healing in the way instructed. They acknowledged (rightly) that this practice had a special place in Christian practice. When my brother came back, he was really gung-ho about this, and when we had sick friends over, he would ask me to participate. Now, I have never had any problem praying for sick people, especially with other believers. But I also recognize that this verse is intended to institute the sacrament of Anointing, and is to supposed to be be administered by clergy (as it specifically states in the verse). Given that fact, is this an OK thing to participate in?

 

[po18guy]

The Sacrament involves the anointing with holy oils and the laying on of hands by elders in the Church - in scripture, elders who were ordained by the laying on of Apostolic hands. Such is not the case in any evangelical denomination. Participation in such a pseudo-sacrament is akin to receiving their “communion”. You are perhaps better advised to simply join in prayer for that person. Charitably remind them that this same scripture is the basis for the Catholic Sacrament. And, why is it that they only recently “discovered” this Sacrament? What is missing from evangelical theology that over looked it for the past 120 years?

 

[Bearontherun]

I think that it is quite natural to lay hands on someone for whom you are praying and I don’t see any problem with it as long as you are not presenting it as a sacrament. My three year old puts his hands on his baby brother to pray for him and I am not sure how he picked this up. Holding hands while praying is also common and is this not similar?

Bearontherun

 

[ConstantineTG]

There’s nothing wrong with joining them in prayer for the sick, but know that the laying on of hands has a special meaning to Catholicism and perhaps you should stay away from doing that. But praying for the sick is a good thing.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The Sacrament involves the anointing with holy oils and the laying on of hands by elders in the Church - in scripture, elders who were ordained by the laying on of Apostolic hands. Such is not the case in any evangelical denomination. Participation in such a pseudo-sacrament is akin to receiving their “communion”. You are perhaps better advised to simply join in prayer for that person. Charitably remind them that this same scripture is the basis for the Catholic Sacrament. And, why is it that they only recently “discovered” this Sacrament? What is missing from evangelical theology that over looked it for the past 120 years?

Actually, the problem with Communion is not about participating in pseudo-sacraments, its the meaning of Communion. Communion literally means “to be of like mind.” So if you receive Communion from a non-Catholic denomination, you are professing that you are of like mind with them. Communion isn’t just receiving Jesus Christ, its becoming one with Jesus Christ and His Church. So it becomes a lie to receive Communion from those who you know do not have a valid Eucharist, and further even from those with valid Sacraments is the part where you come into Communion with the Church. So if they are schismatics, you are professing oneness with their schism.

Since praying for healing doesn’t have that effect, I see no wrong in it. I would just avoid the laying on of hands as it has its special meaning for Catholics.

 

[SteveVH]

Anointing of the sick is a sacrament which involves the laying on of hands, however the laying on of hands in itself does not constitute an attempt by a lay person to perform a sacrament. You will find the laying on of hands very common in the more charismatic movements within the Catholic Church and I know of no prohibition whatsoever against doing this. I have laid hands on people, along with my priest who asked me to do so.

Anointing of the sick is something that is normally done on one’s deathbed and is a preparation for their journey to heaven. To give the sacrament to someone who is ill, but not in danger of death, would be a misuse of that sacrament.

I have had incredible experiences with the laying on of hands, one in which a demon left a man with an audible noise that circled the auditorium we were in. I happened to be laying hands on this man when it occurred and will never forget it. It was not an exorcism, but rather a deliverance, as I found out later. There were approximately 20 priests in the room who encouraged this practice so I’m pretty sure it’s valid and permissible and would only be confused with the sacrament by someone who did not understand.

 

[Nine_Two]

While I’m not Catholic, I am a former evangelical.

Since there is nothing sacramental claimed by the laying on of hands in prayer by Evangelicals, and it is not in emulation of an actual sacrament (as Communion is), I wouldn’t worry about it.

Although depending on what they have, you might need to worry about catching what they have.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Its the Seventh Sacrement

Mark 6:13 - the apostles anointed the sick with oil and cured them. This is a sacrament of the Catholic Church instituted by Christ which heals us physically and spiritually.

Ive seen this done on specified days at Mass. Intercessory prayer with oils annointted on the forehead and inside the palms of the hands With a Blessing. And making the sign of the Cross in the oils and over the individual.

Usually there will be Blessed throws to take home for those who were to ill to make the mass.

The Eucharist proceedings take place after this part of the Mass.

 

[Nine_Two]

Its the Seventh Sacrement

Mark 6:13 - the apostles anointed the sick with oil and cured them. This is a sacrament of the Catholic Church instituted by Christ which heals us physically and spiritually.

Ive seen this done on specified days at Mass. Intercessory prayer with oils annointted on the forehead and inside the palms of the hands With a Blessing. And making the sign of the Cross in the oils and over the individual.

Usually there will be Blessed throws to take home for those who were to ill to make the mass.

The Eucharist proceedings take place after this part of the Mass.

Holy Unction is, praying for sick, however, is not itself a sacrament, and as far as I know is not discouraged by the Catholic Church.

 

[po18guy]

While I’m not Catholic, I am a former evangelical.

Since there is nothing sacramental claimed by the laying on of hands in prayer by Evangelicals, and it is not in emulation of an actual sacrament (as Communion is), I wouldn’t worry about it.

Although depending on what they have, you might need to worry about catching what they have.

Oh, but it is a Catholic Sacrament. Only the elders of the Church in the letter from James, those with hands-on Apostolic ordinations, were to be called to pray over the sick and anoint them. You mean the Orthodox don’t consider it a sacrament? Really…

 

[Nine_Two]

Oh, but it is a Catholic Sacrament. Only the elders of the Church in the letter from James, those with hands-on Apostolic ordinations, were to be called to pray over the sick and anoint them. You mean the Orthodox don’t consider it a sacrament? Really…

Holy Unction is a Mystery of the Church, however prayer for sick people in and of itself is not, and the laity are encouraged to pray for those who are sick. The laying on of hands is not what makes Holy Unction a Mystery, as its very name implies it is the use of oil.

Were the person described in the OP insisting on using oil in the prayers my answer might change, but as it is it isn’t anything special.

 

[po18guy]

Holy Unction is a Mystery of the Church, however prayer for sick people in and of itself is not, and the laity are encouraged to pray for those who are sick. The laying on of hands is not what makes Holy Unction a Mystery, as its very name implies it is the use of oil.

Were the person described in the OP insisting on using oil in the prayers my answer might change, but as it is it isn’t anything special.

But, to a practicing Catholic, its *intent *is sacramental in nature, so he’d best just pray over the sick person. As to being either Mystery or Sacrament, all I can say is that I personally know a man who, in July 2008, was diagnosed at early stage IV with an incurable cancer. He received the Sacrament of Anointing. At the time, he had 54 tumors in his lymphatic system and the cancer was in his bone marrow. Four months of the strongest chemotherapy available, using a combo of eight different chemotherapy drugs, did not kill it. At the exact moment when hope was fading, an experimental drug designed for the relapsed lymphoma that he had suddenly appeared. He has now been in complete remission for almost a year and a half.

From the Catechism: 1131 “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.”

If the foregoing is not an example of that, I don’t know what is.

 

[Nine_Two]

Then the argument is that praying for the sick is itself sacramental? Then a Catholic cannot pray for sick people with non-Catholics? Sounds odd.

 

[po18guy]

Then the argument is that praying for the sick is itself sacramental? Then a Catholic cannot pray for sick people with non-Catholics? Sounds odd.

Not at all. It is just that what they are doing sounds very much like the Sacrament. I suggest that the OP simply pray over the person. If they use oil, it becomes a faux Sacrament, like crackers and grape juice “communion”. To be avoided. Prayer - to be encouraged. I prayed with my SDA chaplain at work quite often.