ANOINTING

• Anointing of the Sick - celebrates and carries out the healing ministry of Jesus.
• Anointing of the Sick - offers a  person strength, peace, and courage to overcome the hardships of serious illness or the increasing frailty of old age.
• Christ - the physician of our soul and body, instituted these sacraments because the new life that he gives us in the sacraments of Christian initiation can be weakened and even lost because of sin.
• By the 13th century, the Sacrament became known as extreme unction-"last anointing"-and was only given when death seemed imminent
• SYMBOLS

  • Oil
  • The Sign of the Cross
  • Anointing (Forehead)
  • Anointing (Hands)
  • Laying on of Hands
• Oil - symbolizes cleansing from sin, healing from illness, and consecration to God.
• The Sign of the Cross - reminds Catholics that their salvation comes from the cross of Jesus Christ, and that they unite their suffering to those of Jesus.
• Anointing (Forehead) - Christ and follow Him. symbolizes the need to know.
• Anointing (Hands) - symbolizes that their activity must be turn over to Christ.
• Laying on of Hands - comforts the sick person but also symbolizes the power of God entering the sick person through the mediation of the Priest or Bishop.
• THREE UNIVERSAL HUMAN EXPERIENCES 

  1. Suffering
  2. Sickness
  3. Death
• Holy Spirit - is the force that strengthens our faith when we face difficult trials.
• Faith in the Power of the Holy Spirit - is important to endure sickness, suffering and the fear of death.
• Original Sin - is the Christian doctrine that humans inherit a tainted nature and a proclivity to sin through the fact of birth.
• Paschal Mystery - is the best example of a God who suffers and through his suffering gain salvation for mankind.
• The ministers of the Sick are Bishops and Priests.
• Recipient - Any Christian who is sick or whose health is seriously impaired by illness or is in need of serious medical intervention.
• The Celebration of the Sacrament

  • Act of Repentance
  • Liturgy of the Word
  • Liturgy of Anointing
  • Laying of hands
  • Prayer over the sick
  • Anointing of the sick
• Anointing

  The priest anoints the head and says:

  1. "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit".

  The priest continues with the sick person's hands and says:

  1. "May the Lord who free you from sin save you and raise you up".
• EFFECTS OF ANOINTING:

  1. Unites sick or elderly with passion of Christ
  2. Consecrated to participate in saving work of Jesus
  3. Special grace of Holy Spirit given
  4. Church intercedes to help the sick and the sick in turn assist the church
  5. Nourishment given to pass over into eternal life with God
• Viaticum - Communion for the sick or dying, giving in conjunction with the sacrament of the sick