Sacrament of annointing

[billcu1]

I know the church has a “Sacrament of anointing” that isn’t a sacrament of healing. What does all this stuff in the Bible mean about “laying hands on the sick and they shall recover” and if anyone let him call for the elders of the church? I can’t remember exactly where it is. It sounds like healing is a given. Yet the church doesn’t profess that or does it happen.

 

[Vico]

I know the church has a “Sacrament of anointing” that isn’t a sacrament of healing. What does all this stuff in the Bible mean about “laying hands on the sick and they shall recover” and if anyone let him call for the elders of the church? I can’t remember exactly where it is. It sounds like healing is a given. Yet the church doesn’t profess that or does it happen.

Healing is of two kinds, spiritual and physical. In the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, physical healing may occur sometimes as a result of spiritual healing. Similarly with Baptism. The hands are used in some rites but in the eastern churches anointing with the chrism is equivalent to laying on of hands.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I know the church has a “Sacrament of anointing” that isn’t a sacrament of healing. What does all this stuff in the Bible mean about “laying hands on the sick and they shall recover” and if anyone let him call for the elders of the church? I can’t remember exactly where it is. It sounds like healing is a given. Yet the church doesn’t profess that or does it happen.

The Anointing of the Sick most certainly IS a Sacrament of Healing–one of two. The other one is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. From the Catechism:

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2.htm

Yes, healing can occur after the Sacrament. But the healing may also be spiritual. Yes, people are anointed, and depending on the Rite, hands laid on them by the priest or Bishop.

I have personally witnessed physical healing twice in my life after the Sacrament–once in a patient of mine when I was working as an RN and a priest came and anointed the dying patient, and once in my own husband 5 years ago who was not expected to regain much function after a stroke, even after intervention, and fully recovered within 2 days and remains so today. The entire right side of his brain, per the radiologist who performed the procedure to dissolve the clot in the brain, was without oxygen for 3 hours, and recovery of function was not expected. He was anointed prior to the procedure by the Byzantine priest in the ER while he was unconscious and intubated and dying. I watched him regain the use of his arm, leg, and speech by the hour, and his Dr. was amazed. He never even needed any sort of therapy after his discharge 5 days later.

But this is all according to the Will of God.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I know the church has a “Sacrament of anointing” that isn’t a sacrament of healing. What does all this stuff in the Bible mean about “laying hands on the sick and they shall recover” and if anyone let him call for the elders of the church? I can’t remember exactly where it is. It sounds like healing is a given. Yet the church doesn’t profess that or does it happen.

As others have said, the Sacrament of the Sick is a sacrament of and for healing.

It is well expressed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops:
*In the Church’s Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. *
As for your other question, you are remembering the Epistle of James in the New Testament, specifically, James 5:14-15
14 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
The Sacrament of the Sick has undergone a renaissance since the Council – thanks be to God – and if you have a health condition, you should speak to your pastor to see if anointing is appropriate in your situation.

I was professor of liturgy and sacraments for many years and was responsible for pastoral care for the sick in my diocese in one of my non-academic assignments. I remember the days when this sacrament was called Extreme Unction; if you were anointed, it was because you were expected or likely you were to die. I also remember when the Council Fathers said this sacrament is more fittingly called “Anointing of the Sick” because it is meant also for those who are sick or for those who are negatively affected by advancing age. It is there to strengthen us.

As a retired priest, I receive it regularly myself so that I may be fortified in these, my last years, and also to the bear the cross of my declining health.

February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, was made World Day of the Sick by Pope Saint John Paul II. It is a day when this sacrament is publicly conferred in cathedrals and parishes around the world…and it may happen in your own parish or one nearby. You should inquire. These Masses, I always find, to be very beautiful moments.

 

[billcu1]

As others have said, the Sacrament of the Sick is a sacrament of and for healing.

It is well expressed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops:
*In the Church’s Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. *
As for your other question, you are remembering the Epistle of James in the New Testament, specifically, James 5:14-15
14 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
The Sacrament of the Sick has undergone a renaissance since the Council – thanks be to God – and if you have a health condition, you should speak to your pastor to see if anointing is appropriate in your situation.

I was professor of liturgy and sacraments for many years and was responsible for pastoral care for the sick in my diocese in one of my non-academic assignments. I remember the days when this sacrament was called Extreme Unction; if you were anointed, it was because you were expected or likely you were to die. I also remember when the Council Fathers said this sacrament is more fittingly called “Anointing of the Sick” because it is meant also for those who are sick or for those who are negatively affected by advancing age. It is there to strengthen us.

As a retired priest, I receive it regularly myself so that I may be fortified in these, my last years, and also to the bear the cross of my declining health.

February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, was made World Day of the Sick by Pope Saint John Paul II. It is a day when this sacrament is publicly conferred in cathedrals and parishes around the world…and it may happen in your own parish or one nearby. You should inquire. These Masses, I always find, to be very beautiful moments.

I will ask my Pastor. I received this once before. I am anemic now. We don’t know why yet.

 

[billcu1]

The Anointing of the Sick most certainly IS a Sacrament of Healing–one of two. The other one is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. From the Catechism:

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2.htm

Yes, healing can occur after the Sacrament. But the healing may also be spiritual. Yes, people are anointed, and depending on the Rite, hands laid on them by the priest or Bishop.

I have personally witnessed physical healing twice in my life after the Sacrament–once in a patient of mine when I was working as an RN and a priest came and anointed the dying patient, and once in my own husband 5 years ago who was not expected to regain much function after a stroke, even after intervention, and fully recovered within 2 days and remains so today. The entire right side of his brain, per the radiologist who performed the procedure to dissolve the clot in the brain, was without oxygen for 3 hours, and recovery of function was not expected. He was anointed prior to the procedure by the Byzantine priest in the ER while he was unconscious and intubated and dying. I watched him regain the use of his arm, leg, and speech by the hour, and his Dr. was amazed. He never even needed any sort of therapy after his discharge 5 days later.

But this is all according to the Will of God.

Yes I have had Charasmatics tell me too it is the will of God you be well. What can YOU do as the penitent to abtain healing? I hear faith. Yes. Can that do good for you? Or is it all to God’s will.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yes I have had Charasmatics tell me too it is the will of God you be well. What can YOU do as the penitent to abtain healing? I hear faith. Yes. Can that do good for you? Or is it all to God’s will.

What did the Lord tell us to pray in the Our Father? “Thy will be done.” Jesus asked the Father to take the cup of suffering from him in the agony in the Garden, yet He said “Not my will, but yours be done” What does that tell you?

Yes, we need faith, but that faith must include the Will of God being done, and the recognition that God knows best and we must trust Him. Sometimes we are physically healed, sometimes we are not. I too have medical conditions that have not been healed, but have been controlled by medicine, which is a gift of God and means of healing also.

For myself, when I am praying for healing for someone or myself, I pray “according to your will.” When my husband was in the ambulance after his stroke, I told the Lord that I was willing to submit to His will in the matter, and if my husband died or was paralyzed to please give me the strength to carry on and do what I had to do. I put it totally in His hands. And if my husband had died, or been severely handicapped, I would have cried and felt bad, but I would still have trusted God that He would bring something good from this, something I could not imagine., and He would see me through hardships That is not easy to do, but that is where faith comes in.

 

[billcu1]

What did the Lord tell us to pray in the Our Father? “Thy will be done.” Jesus asked the Father to take the cup of suffering from him in the agony in the Garden, yet He said “Not my will, but yours be done” What does that tell you?

Yes, we need faith, but that faith must include the Will of God being done, and the recognition that God knows best and we must trust Him. Sometimes we are physically healed, sometimes we are not. I too have medical conditions that have not been healed, but have been controlled by medicine, which is a gift of God and means of healing also.

For myself, when I am praying for healing for someone or myself, I pray “according to your will.” When my husband was in the ambulance after his stroke, I told the Lord that I was willing to submit to His will in the matter, and if my husband died or was paralyzed to please give me the strength to carry on and do what I had to do. I put it totally in His hands. And if my husband had died, or been severely handicapped, I would have cried and felt bad, but I would still have trusted God that He would bring something good from this, something I could not imagine., and He would see me through hardships That is not easy to do, but that is where faith comes in.

Yes I see your point. We can always gather what we are to do from the Passion. Tell me you said your Husband was healed physically? So how is he now if I may ask? Also I have been told faith is “built” if that’s the right word, from devotional service. Things like the Rosary, Divine Chaplet and so on. Faith is exercised by works, like the works of mercy. Corporeal and otherwise.

God be with you.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yes I see your point. We can always gather what we are to do from the Passion. Tell me you said your Husband was healed physically? So how is he now if I may ask? Also I have been told faith is “built” if that’s the right word, from devotional service. Things like the Rosary, Divine Chaplet and so on. Faith is exercised by works, like the works of mercy. Corporeal and otherwise.

God be with you.

My husband made a 100% recovery from the stroke, which occurred 5 3/4 years ago, and has had no trouble since. What will happen is not in our hands, we are grateful for the almost 6 years we have had since.

I want to say that the cause of the stroke was probably smoking, which in his case did not cause high blood pressure leading to a stroke, but probably his blood pressure dropped during his sleep, causing a clot to form somewhere that broke off and went to an artery in his brain. Smoking caused the tendency for the blood to clot. He has been tobacco free ever since, and another miracle–did not have any withdrawal from the nicotine whatsoever, and he quit cold turkey. I’m only writing this to encourage those who smoke to really try to quit before some preventible disaster occurs. I am not one to get on a soapbox about it, though, because I know most smokers know they should and want to quit, and it is extremely difficult for most people.

Faith is a gift from God, but it is up to us to decide to grow in it, is how I would put it. The more we nurture it, the more it grows in us.

 

[billcu1]

My husband made a 100% recovery from the stroke, which occurred 5 3/4 years ago, and has had no trouble since. What will happen is not in our hands, we are grateful for the almost 6 years we have had since.

I want to say that the cause of the stroke was probably smoking, which in his case did not cause high blood pressure leading to a stroke, but probably his blood pressure dropped during his sleep, causing a clot to form somewhere that broke off and went to an artery in his brain. Smoking caused the tendency for the blood to clot. He has been tobacco free ever since, and another miracle–did not have any withdrawal from the nicotine whatsoever, and he quit cold turkey. I’m only writing this to encourage those who smoke to really try to quit before some preventible disaster occurs. I am not one to get on a soapbox about it, though, because I know most smokers know they should and want to quit, and it is extremely difficult for most people.

Faith is a gift from God, but it is up to us to decide to grow in it, is how I would put it. The more we nurture it, the more it grows in us.

I’m glad to hear. I have never smoked and will not be around anyone who does. Except outside. But many of our health problems it seems we can prevent. Though many we can’t.