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The
sacrament of the sick
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
This will be the last in my mystagogic series on the sacraments. During
the Easter season, which ends next week, I have been reviewing the
sacraments. The Church looks upon the 50-day Easter season as a period
of catechesis. It is even given a special name: mystagogia. Intended for
those who became Catholics at the Easter Vigil, it is nonetheless an
opportune time for all Catholics to review what they learned or should
have learned about the sacraments years ago. Having reflected on
baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist as a sacrament of initiation, and
the sacrament of penance/reconciliation, the series ends with the
sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems people
face. In illness, we experience our powerlessness, limitations and
finitude. Illness can lead to anguish, self absorption, sometimes even
despair and revolt against God. But it can also make a person grow
spiritually, helping us to discern what is not essential so we can turn
toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a
return to him.
The New Testament reveals the compassion which Jesus Christ had toward
the sick. His focus was the healing of the whole person: soul and body.
It can be said that Jesus had a preferential love for those who were
sick. That did not cease when he ascended into heaven. Christ continues
to reach out to the sick and infirm through the sacraments given to his
Church, especially through the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
The scriptural foundation for the sacrament of the anointing of the sick
is found in the epistle of James: “Is there anyone sick among you? He
should ask for the presbyters of the Church. They in turn are to pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. This prayer
uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will
restore him (her) to health” (James 5:13-14).
The celebration of the anointing of the sick consists essentially in the
imposition of hands and the anointing of the forehead and hands of the
sick person. The celebrant 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.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church instructs: “By the sacred
anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priest, the whole Church
commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he
may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to
contribute to the good of the people of God by freely uniting themselves
to the passion and death of Christ” (1499).
This is rooted in the writings of St. Paul, who suggests that illness
and suffering provide us with an opportunity to “fill up what is lacking
in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, the Church” (Col.
1:24). In saying this, St. Paul acknowledged that Jesus did not suffer
from cancer or other terminal and debilitating illnesses, nor did he
know the burden of the frailty that comes with the aging process. When
those experiences become part of our lives, we have an opportunity to
bond with Christ in a unique way, transforming our pain and infirmity
into truly salvific moments.
During my priesthood, there has been a significant change in the way the
sacrament of the anointing of the sick is viewed. Prior to the Second
Vatican Council, this sacrament typically was conferred at the point of
death. It was considered the “last rite.” In those days it was called
“Extreme Unction,” the last anointing.
This distorted view was just one step away from digging the grave. It
was corrected by the Second Vatican Council. While part of the Church’s
pastoral care for the dying, the sacrament of the sick focuses on
healing and the spiritual strength needed to carry the cross of serious
illness and infirmity. It is not meant to signal that it’s time for the
undertaker.
As soon as a person begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old
age, the sacrament should be received. If the person who is anointed
recovers, the sacrament can be received again if there is a relapse. If
during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the
sacrament may be repeated. It is also fitting to receive the anointing
of the sick prior to surgery. I myself have received the sacrament of
the anointing of the sick three times.
The sacrament is not to be given indiscriminately, however. Those who
minister to the sick should not simply set an age (65 to 70) as the
factor used to determine who among senior citizens should be anointed.
Those who minister to the sick or take part in a communal celebration of
the sacrament, but are themselves in good health, are not to be anointed
out of solidarity with the sick.
Prudent judgment about the seriousness of an illness or infirmity is to
be made prior to administering the sacrament of the sick. There is no
reason for scruples. Nonetheless, there are parameters:
• before surgery, whenever a dangerous illness is the reason for the
surgery;
• elderly people, but only if they are in a weakened condition;
• seriously sick children, if they have sufficient use of reason to be
comforted by the sacrament;
• sick people who have lost consciousness or have lost the use of
reason, if, as Christian believers, they would have asked for the
sacrament were they in control of their faculties;
• those who suffer from serious emotional or spiritual illness.
Because the sacraments are celebrations of a faith community, the
anointing of the sick, while it may take place in the family home, a
hospital or church, is most fittingly celebrated within the context of
holy Mass.
It should be preceded, if circumstances allow, by a reception of the
sacrament of penance and be followed by the reception of holy Communion.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists as the graces of the
sacrament of the sick:
• a uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own
good, and that of the whole Church;
• a strengthening, peace and courage to endure in a Christian manner the
sufferings or illness of old age;
• the forgiveness of sin, if the sick person is not able to obtain it
through the sacrament of penance;
• a restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of a
person’s soul; and
• preparation for passing over to eternal life (1532).
Those overtaken by serious illness and those who face major surgery
should not deny themselves the sacrament of the sick. It is important to
note that this sacrament is not administered after death. Rather, there
are prayers specifically designed for those who have passed away as well
as beautiful prayers for those nearing death. |
