MEETING JESUS IN THE
SACRAMENTS
CHAPTER 7
THE SACRAMENT OF THE
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
“Is Anyone Among You
Suffering”
Why me?
Why do I suffer?
Why is there illness and suffering in the world?
Why does God permit such pain?
Suffering and
the Old
Testament
Before God people
lamented their illness
and viewed the Lord as
the ultimate Master of
life and death.
Early Israelites
believed further that all
suffering directly
resulted as
punishment for sin.
Later, people
understood that the
faithful needed to
endure sufferings
patiently.
Christ the
Physician
Jesus treated the
person’s physical
illness as well as
the person’s soul
by offering
forgiveness for his
or her sins.
Jesus rejected the
idea that suffering
is a punishment for
sin.
Jesus Explains Suffering
 Sickness and death are not God’s way of punishing
us.
 God loves the sick and disabled just as much as he
loves healthy people.
 God’s love is stronger than sickness, pain,
suffering, and death.
 God does not abandon us when we are sick or
suffering.
 The sick should not be treated as outcasts; instead,
they have an important role to play in the
community.
The Healing Ministry of Jesus
 Physical illness and
disability, through
physical cures.
 Domination by Satan
or demons or
psychological illness,
through exorcisms.
 Grief for a loved one,
through resuscitations.
The Church
Heals the Sick
Jesus’ disciples healed
the sick while
preaching the Good
News.
The Church took up
the practice of having
presbyters lay hands
and anoint with oil, in
imitation of Jesus and
the Apostles.
Understanding the Sacrament of
the Anointing of the Sick
Jesus gave the Sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick to aid those who are
seriously ill and help them use their
illnesses in service of Christ.
A Brief History of the
Sacrament
By the 13th century,
the Sacrament
became know as
extreme unction—
“last anointing”—and
was only given when
death seemed
imminent
In the early centuries,
Christians would
gather around and
pray for him or her
and then rub blessed
oil on body parts that
needed healing
During Middle Ages, a
priest was at
deathbeds of the
dying to ensure safe
departure into the
afterlife
Changes after
Vatican II
In reforming the
sacrament, the Council
embraced both of the
traditional meanings of
the sacrament:
It is a sacrament of
the sick with an
emphasis on healing
and faith in God’s
presence in suffering.
It is a sacrament of
the dying to prepare
people for death.
Celebrating the Sacrament of
the Anointing of the Sick
A priest is the minister of the sacrament
Those who are dangerously ill due to
sickness or old age should be given
special attention and receive the
sacrament.
Rite of Anointing
 Introductory Rites
 Liturgy of the Word
 Litany or Prayer of the
Faithful
 Laying on of Hands
 Blessing of Oil
 Prayer of
Thanksgiving
 Anointing with Oil
 Prayer after the
Anointing
Viaticum
“Food for the
Journey”
Viaticum is a
separate liturgical
rite for those who
are dying—it is the
person’s last
reception of the
Eucharist
Penance, Anointing,
and Viaticum are the
“last rites” for
Catholics on their
way to God
The Grace of the
Anointing of the Sick
 The sacrament is a particular gift of the
Holy Spirit.
 The sacrament provides a grace to unite
with the Passion of Christ.
 The sacrament is a grace for the
Church—the Church participates in the
ministry of Christ.
 The sacrament is a preparation for the
final journey (sacramentum exeuntium).
How We Live the Effects
of the Sacrament
From Self-Centeredness
to God-Centeredness
From Self-Centeredness
to Other-Centeredness
This sacrament helps us
to see sickness and
suffering as opportunities
for growth in holiness.
This sacrament helps us
to sacrifice ourselves for
others because we have
received God’s love.
Blessed Mother Teresa
of Calcutta
Founder of the Missionaries
of Charity
“The poor you may have
right in your own family.
Find them. Love them.
Speak tenderly to them. Let
there be kindness in your
face, in your eyes, in your
smile, in the warmth of your
greeting. Always have a
cheerful smile. Don’t only
give your care, but give your
heart as well.”