College of Education | Religious Education Department
Notre Dame of Marbel University
Anointing of the Sick
Lesson 10 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 107| LITURGY AND SACRAMENTS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the session, the
students can:
D: describe the meaning, matter,
form and effects of the
sacrament of anointing of the
sick in a tabular presentation;
M: give concrete ways on how to
promote the sacrament of
anointing of the sick to others
through a slogan;
W: celebrate the gift of the
sacrament of anointing of the
sick by composing a short prayer
asking God’s healing.
BTI
3.2.1 Implement teaching strategies
that are responsive to the learner’s
linguistic, cultural, socio-economic
and religious backgrounds.
INTRODUCTION
The sacraments are our companions in our
life’s spiritual journey. There are appropriate
instances in life that we need to grow as
persons and as children of God. These
instances are important and can be
considered as milestones in life. We can look
back at these milestones and realize how we
grew in our relationship with God through the
Church.
During the difficult times like sickness,
ailments and old age in which our life is in
danger most especially, we take refuge to the
loving compassion of God through the Church
in the celebration of the sacrament of
anointing of the sick.
This sacrament was instituted by
Christ during his public ministry when he
healed the lepers, blind persons, deaf-mute,
paralytic, deformed those who are suffering
from dropsy and hemorrhage even person
afflicted by demonic spirits. CFC 1828
Capsoul of the Session:
“For all who are sick, do not lose hope,
especially when your suffering is at its
worst. Christ is near you.”
Pope Francis
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Activity:
Recall your experiences 0f being sick and visiting the sick and answer the following questions:
1. How do you feel being sick?
2. Why do we visit those who are sick?
3. What is the message conveyed to us when someone is sick?
ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE (CFC 1822-1841)
Meaning
“The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme
Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual
sickness. The Sacrament of Anointing is healing in a special sense: it brings Christ’s compassionate
loving healing to bear on those suffering serious sickness (cf. CCC 1499). By “healing” we do not
necessarily mean a cure or the eradication of the disease or defect, which the medical profession
pursues. While some diseases and evils may be “incurable” in the medical sense, there can be
“healing” by holistic care that touches the body, soul and spirit of the sick person (cf. 1 Thes 5:23).
Healing, then, means the process by which persons are helped to realize their full potential before God
and their fellow men and women. The Good News is primarily about healing, not “cure” in the current
medical sense.
Recipient
Any member of the faithful can receive this sacrament as soon as he or she begins to be in
danger of death because of sickness or old age. The faithful who receive this sacrament can receive it
several times if their illness becomes worse or another serious sickness afflicts them. The celebration
of this sacrament should, if possible, be preceded by individual confession on the part of the sick
person.” (http://stgeorgeaj.com/anointing).
Minister
The minister of the sacrament of anointing of the sick is the bishop or the priest.
Let’s compare the meaning of healing and cure for better clarity of this sacrament. Cure refers
to “eradication of disease or defect which the medical profession pursues. While healing is a holistic
care that touches the body, soul and spirit of the sick person. Healing means the process by which sick
persons are helped realized their full potential before God and their fellow men and women.” CFC 1822
Why is there a need for healing after all? It is due to the presence of sickness. What is sickness?
Well, it is personal experience of unhealthy condition of body and/or mind or any form of illness.
Serious illness brings out our powerlessness and radical limitations. We can no longer function well
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when we are seriously ill. We become dependent on others, feel useless and isolated from them and
from the community. We become worried, anxious and worse…depressed. CFC 1823
On the other hand, sickness can bring us to a more mature faith, helping us to discern what is
really important in our life. As Christians, our faith helps us to understand better the mystery of
suffering and to bear the pain more bravely. CFC 1824
Sickness
We have all experienced sickness at some time in our lives (cf. CCC 1500-1). Serious illness
brings out our powerlessness and radical limitations as nothing else does. When in good
health, we are active, feel useful and needed by others, a real part of the community. But when
serious sickness strikes us, we can no longer act as we would. We become completely
dependent on others, feel useless and isolated from them and from the community. Worry
and anxiety begin to depress us, and sometimes even tempt our Christian Faith. “Why did God
send me this sickness? What did I do to deserve this?”
Sickness can bring us to a more mature Faith, helping us to discern what is really important in
our life, against all the superficial, passing attractions that so often dominate us. As Christians,
our Faith helps us to understand better the mystery of suffering and to bear pain more bravely.
From Christ’s words we know that sickness has meaning and value for our own salvation and
for others. We also know how Christ loved the sick, and often healed them of their infirmities
(cf. IRA 1).
Celebration of the Sacrament
The celebration of the sacrament of anointing of the sick starts with initial greeting, and
recommend Penitential Rite similar to the one used in the Mass, the Sacrament consists of three
distinct actions. First, the prayer of faith in which the community, the lay people of God represented
by the priest, the family, friends and others, pray for those to be anointed. Second, the laying on of
hands imitating Jesus’ own gesture of healing and invoking the coming of the Holy Spirit who brings
the blessing of God’s healing grace upon the sick person. Third, anointing with oil made holy by God’s
blessing, signifying the strengthening and healing that comes from the Spirit. Anointing the forehead
and hands of the sick, the priest prays: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord, in His love and mercy,
help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise
you up. Amen.” CFC 1836
Effects of the Sacrament
The new rite describes the Sacrament of Anointing as providing the sick person with the grace
of the Holy Spirit by which the whole person is brought to health, trust in God is encouraged, and
strength is given to resist the temptations of the Evil One, and anxiety about death. Sometimes even
physical health is restored after receiving the Sacrament if it will be beneficial to the sick person’s
salvation. When needed, the sacrament also offers the sick person forgiveness of sins and completes
the salutary penance.
These effects are brought about by uniting the sick person with the Passion and Death of the
Primordial Sacrament, Christ, the Healer. Thus the sacrament transforms the meaning and significance
of the sick person’s illness into a sharing in the saving work of Jesus, the Redeemer, filling up what is
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lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, the Church (cf. Col 1:24) and for the salvation
of the world as we look forward to all creation being set free in the glory of the children of God (cf.
CCC 1521).
This union with Christ is an ecclesial grace, since the Church both intercedes for the sick person,
and is in turn blessed by the sick person’s self-offering in faith. Thus the Church exercises its role as
Foundational Sacrament in this Sacrament of Anointing (cf. CCC 1522).
The Matter of the Sacrament
The matter of this sacrament is anointing with the Holy Oil upon the sick person’s head and
hands. The form is “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the
grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you, and raise you up.”
(https://media.ascensionpress.com)
PASTORAL CARE OF THE DYING/DECEASED
A. Holy Viaticum
The revised ritual’s “Pastoral Care of the Dying” describes how the Church cares for, comforts,
and strengthens the dying Catholic in the passage from this life (cf. CCC 1524). This ministry to
the dying which includes both anointing and the reception of the Eucharist as Viaticum,
stresses trust in the Lord’s promise of eternal life: “He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my
blood, has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn 6:54). The Eucharist as
Viaticum completes and crowns our Christian life on earth. It vividly portrays Christ as leading
and accompanying the Christian into eternal glory and the banquet of the heavenly Kingdom
with all the saints and the blessed united together in the Holy Spirit before the Father. As the
Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist constitute the unity of the “Sacraments
of Initiation,” so Penance, Anointing and Viaticum constitute the Sacraments “which complete
our journey”. CCC 1525
The Eucharist as Viaticum completes and crowns our Christian life on earth. It vividly portrays
Christ as leading and accompanying the Christian into eternal glory and the banquet of the
heavenly Kingdom with all the saints and the blessed united together in the Holy Spirit before
the Father. As the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist constitute the unity of
the “Sacraments of Initiation,” so Penance, Anointing and Viaticum constitute the Sacraments
“which complete our journey” CCC 1525
B. Rite of Funerals
We Filipinos are noted for the many family and cultural customs relating to death in the family.
The revised “Rite for Funerals,” while commending the dead to God, supporting the Christian
hope of the people and witnessing to faith in the resurrection of the baptized with Christ,
stresses just such customs. It advises Christians to seriously consider the “feeling and practice
of their own time and place __ family traditions, and local customs”. Contrary to some “modern”
secularist tendencies in western society to cover up the “grieving process” and eliminate all
funeral rites, Filipinos are very much attuned to the specifically Christian meanings of funeral
rites.
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The new rite helpfully proposes the most significant meanings of Christian funeral rites: God is
worshipped, the Paschal nature of the Christian’s death is proclaimed, and Christian hope of
reunion in the Kingdom of God is strengthened (cf. 2 Cor 5:8; CCC 1681-83). Thanks and respect
are given for the life of the deceased; intercession is made for God’s mercy on the deceased; and
the bereaved family and friends are offered the consolation of faith in their very sorrow and
grief. In brief, through the Church ritual we pray for the dead, profess our faith in eternal life,
and receive hope and consolation in the liturgy while expressing our sorrowful farewell to our
beloved dead.
APPLICATION
Complete the table below by providing what is asked in the chart.
Meaning
Matter
Form
Effects
Compose a short prayer asking God’s healing especially to those who are in need of healing.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________
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ASSESSMENT
Slogan Making
Create a slogan that will help promote the sacrament of anointing of the sick. Post your slogan in your
Facebook account.
Criteria:
Creativity – 30%
Relevance to the theme – 40%
Quality of work – 30%
REFERENCES
http://stgeorgeaj.com/anointing
https://media.ascensionpress.com/2018/07/05/form-and-matter-in-the-sacraments-continued/
Catechism for Filipino Catholics: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. (1997). Manila,
Philippines: ECCCE World and Life Publications.
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