At regular intervals we will be celebrating the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at the Cathedral during the Mass. Our priests also visit the sick at home or in hospital to confer this sacrament.It is worth taking the time to consider the importance of this beautiful sacrament, and its place in the life of the Church.
What does scripture say about the Anointing? Many of Jesus’ miracles involved curing the sick.“Lord, if you want to, you can cure me,” says the leper to Jesus.“Of course I want to,” replies Jesus: “Be cured!” (Mk. 1:40-41)St James then instructs us:
“Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the priests of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:14-15)
Who can be anointed? The Second Vatican Council made it clear that “the Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as any one of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the appropriate time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived."Canon Law helpfully adds that if there is any doubt about whether a sickness is such as to place one in danger of death, the Sacrament should be administered.
So the Sacrament is for those who begin to be in danger of death.It should not be put off until the last minute.Its purpose is both physical and spiritual healing; as far as possible, it should be celebrated with those who are able to actively cooperate with its grace by their own prayers and love of God.
Old age is not itself a disease – longevity is something to celebrate! – but it does bring with it ailments and debilitation for most people. Some of these ailments may well be hidden.A cold may threaten the life of someone with weak lungs, but be easily shaken off by another.So the decision to seek anointing has to be made by each person taking into account all his or her circumstances. In case of doubt – seek the sacrament!
Can Anointing be repeated? The Sacrament can be repeated if the sick person’s condition worsens noticeably, or if he or she gets better, and then falls sick again.Once again, in case of doubt, it is better to receive the sacrament.
Should I go to Confession first? As with the other sacraments after Baptism, one needs to be in a state of grace to receive them.So Confession is required first if you are conscious of grave sin, just as it is before Holy Communion.Other-wise it is not required – but of course Reconciliation is an excellent way to prepare for any sacrament – and really ought to be on every Catholic’s agenda frequently, especially before Christmas and Easter!
Why in public, during Mass…? In the Eastern rites of the Church, this sacrament requires as many of the faithful as possible to be present – including seven priests if possible!Notice that St James speaks of calling the “priests”, in the plural.Concern for the sick is a matter for the whole Church:the more people praying for the sick, the better.Since the power of all the sacraments flows from Christ, who is truly present in the Eucharist, celebration during Mass – with the reception of Holy Communion – is very appropriate.
What if my illness is not life-threatening, but I really need help enduring it? The Church’s ritual includes some very beautiful blessings of the sick.You can always ask a priest for these blessings.They are also quite appropriate if you were recently anointed, but seek the consolation of the Church’s prayer again in a formal way.There are also blessings that any Christian may pray for you.
What are the "last rites" then? “Last rites” is a popular expression that covers several of the Church’s rites; it is not an “official” term. If a person is conscious, and can express sorrow for sin, he or she may desire a final Reconciliation. The most significant rite for the dying is the reception of a last Holy Communion. This is called “viaticum” – food for the journey. There is also an Apostolic Blessing for the dying, with a plenary indulgence, and a number of moving prayers – the Litany of the Saints, the prayer “Go forth, Christian soul…”, the Hail Holy Queen and so on. A priest will be happy to lead these prayers, but they can be prayed by anyone. Ideally, the person will have been anointed long before all of these rites for the dying. Finally, there are also prayers to be said immediately after death: for the soul of the deceased person, and for the consolation and strength of those who mourn.
