FRENCH SCHOOL
St. Charles Borromeo
Church of Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet, Paris
The anointing of
the sick
34
Compendium of the Catechism
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313. How was sickness viewed
in the Old Testament?
1499-1502
In the Old Testament sickness was
experienced as a sign of weakness
and at the same time perceived as
mysteriously bound up with sin.
The prophets intuited that sickness
could also have a redemptive
value for one’s own sins and those
of others. Thus sickness was lived
out in the presence of God from
whom people implored healing.
Introduction
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With the Anointing of the Sick the
Church comes to the aid of her
sons who face danger of death
because of a serious sickness or
old age. . In these difficult and
important situations –when the
eternal destiny of men is at stake—
God does not leave us alone: He
approaches us with His grace and
His mercy
Every Christian should be
concerned about –himself, his
relatives and friends— receiving
this sacrament at the proper time,
because he values the help that it
provides.
DUJARDIN, Karel (1622-1678)
St Paul Healing the Cripple at Lystra
Oil on canvas, 1663
70 3/8 x 54 5/8 inches (179 x 139 cm)
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Main ideas
1. Christians facing sickness and death
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ESCUELA FLAMENCA
Young Woman on her Death Bed
1621
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen, France
In order to face profitably and
with dignity this significant
moment of our lives, God helps
Christians with the sacrament
of the Anointing of the Sick, a
remedy and powerful aid to
overcome sickness and to face
death with the fortitude
provided by this sacrament.
Christian faith makes us value
and wish to receive this
sacrament as God’s gift. It is
fitting to pray everyday for the
grace to duly receive the
sacrament of the Anointing of
the Sick.
2. What is the Anointing of the Sick?
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In the last moments of our earthly
life, the devil mounts a fierce
offensive against which the soul
needs special help. This help is
provided by Jesus Christ with the
Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament
instituted to provide spiritual and
physical relief for Christians who
are seriously ill.
In this sacrament, Christians unite
themselves with Christ, having the
same sentiments that He had
when facing pain and death.
WEYDEN, Rogier van der
Seven Sacraments Altarpiece (detail)
1445-50
Oil on oak panel
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
3. Jesus Christ instituted this sacrament
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The sacrament of the Anointing of
the Sick was instituted by Christ,
though it was promulgated by the
Apostle James. His letter shows
what the tradition in the Church
was when he wrote the following:
“Any one of you who is ill should
send for the elders of the church,
and they must anoint the sick
person with oil in the name of the
Lord and pray over him. The
prayer of faith will save the sick
person and the Lord will raise him
up again; and if he has committed
any sins, he will be forgiven”
(James 5:14-15).
BLOCH, Carl Heinrich (1834-1890)
Christ Healing
Oil on canvas
Public collection
4. The effects of this sacrament
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Unites the sick with the Passion
of Our Lord .
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Confers consolation, peace and
encouragement to endure the
sufferings of illness or of old age.
Forgives sins, in so far as there is
sorrow (at least of attrition), when
there is a physical impediment to the
oral confession of one’s sins.
Restores bodily health, if it favours
spiritual health.
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This is an important reason for not
waiting until the sick are in agony
before administering the sacrament.
It should be administered when the
recipient is conscious. Nevertheless,
if he is not conscious, he has the
right to receive the sacrament, and
therefore it should be administered,
albeit conditionally, should there be
doubt whether he is still alive.
Prepares for passing from this life to
eternal life.
FRA ANGELICO (1387-1455)
The Healing of Justinian by Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian
Tempera on wood, 1438-1440
14 1/2 x 17 5/8 inches (37 x 45 cm)
Museo di San Marco, Florence
5. How to administer this sacrament
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PESELLINO, Francesco di Stefano
SS. Cosmas and Damian Healing the Sick
Louvre, Paris
The essential celebration –as in
the other sacraments— is the
application of the matter (sacred
oil) and the form (the words
pronounced by the minister when
anointing).
The priest anoints the recipient
with blessed oil (olive oil
consecrated by the bishop on Holy
Thursday; hence the name “sacred
oils”) on the forehead and on the
hands, while he says: “Through
this holy anointing may the Lord in
his love and mercy help you with
the grace of the Holy Spirit”. If
need be, the minister can bless the
oil within the ceremony.
6. Preparation for death
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Studying about this sacrament
makes us think of the reality of
death, and reminds us of the
need to live always in God’s
grace, to grow in grace, to
accept the sufferings this life
brings and to joyfully receive
death, knowing that it is a step
towards a definitive encounter
with God in heaven.
BÖCKLIN, Arnold (1827-1901)
Self Portrait with Death
Oil on canvas, 1872
Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Resolutions for
Christian life
Resolutions to move forward
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Offer your sufferings, especially
sickness, without being afraid
of death.
Thank God for the sacrament of
the Anointing of the Sick,
calling a priest when a relative
or a friend is in danger of death.