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Anointing of the Sick

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	Anointing of the Sick
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	Topics Anointing of the Sick Topic Home Anointing of the Sick is distinguished from other forms of religious anointingAnointing To anoint is to grease with perfumed oil, animal fat, or melted butter, a process employed ritually by many religions and ra... or "unction" (an older term with the same meaning) in that it is intended, as its name indicates, for the benefit of a sick person. Other religious anointings occur in relation to other sacramentSacrament A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy Mystery.... s, in particular baptismBaptism Baptism is generally a water purification ritual practiced in many of various religions including Christianity, Mandaeanism,... , confirmation and ordinationOrdination Overview Ordination is the process in which clergy or monks are set apart and authorized by their religious denomination or seminary ... , and also in the coronationCoronation Source* Bury, J.B. 1923. History of the Later Roman Empire... of a monarchMonarch A monarch is a type of ruler or head of state.... . Names Since 1972, the Roman Catholic Church uses the name Anointing of the Sick both in the English translations issued by the Holy SeeHoly See The Holy See is the episcopal see of Rome.... of its official documents in LatinLatin Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome.... and in the English official documents of Episcopal conferenceEpiscopal Conference In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops ... s. It does not, of course, forbid the use of other names, for example the more archaic term "Unction of the Sick" or the term "Extreme Unction" - Cardinal Walter Kasper used the latter term in his intervention at the 2005 Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. However, while "Extreme Unction" was still the official name, the Church declared that "'Extreme unction' ... may also and more fittingly be called 'anointing of the sick'" (emphasis added), and has itself adopted the latter term, while not outlawing the former. The sacrament is also called Unction of the Sick, which has exactly the same meaning. Extreme Unction was the normal name for the sacrament in the West from the late twelfth century until 1972, and was thus used at the Council of TrentCouncil of Trent The Council of Trent is the Nineteenth Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church.... and in the 1913 Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic Encyclopedia The *Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclo... . Peter LombardPeter Lombard Peter Lombard* was a scholastic theologian and bishop of the 12th century.... (d. 1160) is the first writer known to have used the term, which did not become the technical name in the West till towards the end of the twelfth century, and never became current in the East. The word "extreme" (final) indicated either that it was the last of the sacramental unctions or because at that time it was normally administered only when a patient was in extremis Other names used in the West include the unction or blessing of consecrated oil, the unction of God, and the office of the unction. In the Greek Church the sacrament is called Euchelaion. Other names are also used, such as ????? ??a??? (holy oil), ???asµ???? ??a??? (consecrated oil), and ???s?? or ???sµa (anointing). The Community of ChristCommunity of Christ Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a Christian den... uses the term administration to the sick. The term "last rites" refers to administration to a dying person not only of this sacrament but also of PenanceSacrament of Penance (Catholic Church) In Catholic teaching, the Sacrament of Penance is the method given by Christ to the Church by which individual men and women... and Holy CommunionEucharist The Eucharist or Communion or The Lord's Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus' in... , the last of which, when administered in such circumstances, is known as "ViaticumViaticum *Viaticum* is the term the Roman Catholic Church uses for the Eucharist given to a dying person.... ", a word whose original meaning in LatinLatin Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome.... was "provision for the journey". The normal order of administration is: first Penance (if the dying person is physically unable to confess, absolution, conditional on the existence of contrition, is given), then Anointing, then Viaticum (if the person can receive it). Biblical texts The chief BiblicalBible The Bible , is the name used by Jews and Christians for their differing canons of sacred texts.... text concerning the rite is : "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." (RSV) , and are also quoted in this regard. Status as sacrament The Roman CatholicRoman Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope, the Bishop of Ro... , Eastern OrthodoxEastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that encompasses national jurisdictions such as the Greek Orthodox, Russian ... and Coptic and Old CatholicOld Catholic Church The Old Catholic Church is a community of Christian churches.... Churches consider this anointing to be a sacrament. Other Christians too, in particular Anglicans, Lutherans and some other Protestant communities use a rite of anointing the sick, without necessarily classifying it as a sacrament. In the Churches mentioned here by name, the oil used (called "oil of the sick" in both West and East) is blessed specifically for this purpose. Roman Catholic Church Main article:Anointing of the Sick (Catholic Church)Anointing of the Sick (Catholic Church) Anointing of the Sick is the ritual anointing of a sick person and is a Sacrament of the Catholic Church.... An extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on Anointing of the Sick is given in Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments, and is associated not only with bodily healing but with forgiveness of sins. Only priestPriest A priest or priestess is a person having the authority, or power , to perform and administer religious rites.... s can administer it, and "any priest may carry the holy oil with him, so that in a case of necessity he can administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick." The Catholic Church sees the effects of the sacrament as follows. As the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. Through the sacrament is given a gift of the Holy Spirit that renews confidence and faith in God and strengthens against temptations to discouragement, despair and anguish at the thought of death and the struggle of death; it prevents from losing Christian hopeHope Hope is an emotional belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances within one's personal life.... in God's justice, truth and salvation. The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life." The duly blessed oil used in the sacrament is, as laid down in the Apostolic Constitution , pressed from olives or from other plants. It is blessed by the bishop of the diocese at the ChrismChrism Chrism, also called "Myrrh," "Holy Oil," or "Consecrated Oil," is a consecrated oil used in the Oriental Orthodox and Easter... Mass he celebrates on Holy Thursday or on a day close to it. If oil blessed by the bishop is not available, the priest administering the sacrament may bless the oil, but only within the framework of the celebration. The Roman RiteRoman Rite The liturgical rite of the Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite.... Anointing of the Sick, as revised in 1972, puts greater stress than in the immediately preceding centuries on the sacrament's aspect of healing, and points to the place sickness holds in the normal life of Christians and its part in the redemptive work of the Church. Canon law permits its administration to any Catholic who has reached the age of reason and is beginning to be put in danger by illness or old age, unless the person in question obstinately persists in a manifestly grave sin. "If there is any doubt as to whether the sick person has reached the use of reason, or is dangerously ill, or is dead, this sacrament is to be administered". There is an obligation to administer it to the sick who, when they were in possession of their faculties, at least implicitly asked for it. A new illness or a renewal or worsening of the first illness enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time. The sacrament can be administered within MassMass (liturgy) Mass is the term used to describe celebration of the Eucharist in the Western liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, in th... , which is the preferred manner. If the celebration takes place outside of Mass, it can be held in the home, in a hospital or institution, or in church. The rite begins with a greeting by the priest, followed by sprinkling of all present with holy water, if deemed desirable, and a short instruction. There follows a penitential act, as at the beginning of Mass. If the sick person wishes to receive the sacrament of penance, it is preferable that the priest make himself available for this during a previous visit; but if the sick person must confess during the celebration of the sacrament of anointing, this confession replaces the penitential rite A passage of Scripture is read, and the priest may give a brief explanation of the reading, a short litany is said, and the priest lays his hands on the head of the sick person and then says a prayer of thanksgiving over the already blessed oil or, if necessary, blesses the oil himself. The actual anointing of the sick person is done on the forehead, with the prayer "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit", and on the hands, with the prayer "May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up". To each prayer the sick person, if able, responds: "Amen." It is permitted, in accordance with local culture and traditions and the condition of the sick person, to anoint other parts of the body in addition, such as the area of pain or injury, but without repeating the sacramental form. In case of emergency, a single anointing, not necessarily on the forehead, is sufficient. From the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three "ages": the clas... until after the Second Vatican Council the sacrament was administered, within the Latin ChurchLatin Rite The Latin Rite designates the particular Church, within the Catholic Church, which developed in western Europe and northern ... , only when deathDeath Death is the full cessation of vital functions in the biological life.... was approaching and, in practice, bodily recovery was not ordinarily looked for, giving rise, as mentioned above to the name Extreme Unction (i.e. final anointing). The form used in the Roman RiteRoman Rite The liturgical rite of the Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite.... included anointing of seven parts of the body while saying (in LatinLatin Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome.... ): "Through this holy unction and His own most tender mercy may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins or faults thou hast committed [quidquid deliquisti] by sight [by hearing, smell, taste, touch, walking, carnal delectation]", the last phrase corresponding to the part of the body that was touched; however, in the words of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, "the unction of the loins is generally, if not universally, omitted in English-speaking countries, and it is of course everywhere forbidden in case of women". Use of this form is still permitted under the conditions mentioned in article 9 of the 2007 motu proprioMotu proprio A *motu proprio* is a papal rescript in which the clause motu proprio is used, signifying that the provisions of the r... Summorum PontificumSummorum Pontificum *Summorum Pontificum* is an Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI, issued "motu proprio" .... . Liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, both Western and Eastern, other than the Roman, have a variety of other forms for celebrating the sacrament. Eastern Orthodox Church The teaching of the Eastern Orthodox ChurchEastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that encompasses national jurisdictions such as the Greek Orthodox, Russian ... on the Holy MysterySacrament A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy Mystery.... (sacrament) of Unction is similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the reception of the Mystery is not limited to those who are enduring physical illness. The Mystery is given for healing (both physical and spiritual) and for the forgiveness of sin. For this reason, it is normally required that one go to ConfessionConfession Confession of sins is an integral part of the Christian faith and practice.... before receiving Unction. Because it is a Sacred Mystery of the Church, only Orthodox Christians may receive it. The solemn form of Eastern Christian anointing requires the ministry of seven priests. A table is prepared, upon which is set a vessel containing wheatFacts About Wheat Wheat is a grass that is cultivated worldwide.... . Into the wheat has been placed an empty shrine-lamp, seven candles, and seven anointing brushes. Candles are distributed for all to hold during the service. The rite begins with reading Psalm 50Psalm 51 Summary Psalm 51 is one of the Penitential Psalms.... (the great penitential psalm), followed by the chanting of a special CanonCanon (hymnography) A canon is a structured hymn used in a number of Eastern Orthodox services.... . After this, the senior priest (or bishop) pours pure olive oil and a small amount of wine into the shrine lamp, and says the "Prayer of the Oil", which calls upon God to "...sanctify this Oil, that it may be effectual for those who shall be anointed therewith, unto healing, and unto relief from every passion, every malady of the flesh and of the spirit, and every ill..." Then follow seven series of EpistleEpistle An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of persons, usually a letter and a very formal, often didactic... s, GospelGospel In Christianity, gospel means "good news".... s, long prayers, EkteniaEktenia Ektenia , often called simply Litany, is a prayerful petition in the Eastern Orthodox liturgy.... s (litanies) and anointings. Each series is served by one of the seven priests in turn. The afflicted one is anointed with the sign of the crossSign of the cross The Sign of the Cross is a ritual performed mainly within Latin-Rite Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Eas... on seven places: the forehead, the nostirls, the cheeks, the lips, the breast, the palms of both hands, and the back of the hands. After the last anointing, the Gospel BookGospel Book The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels is a codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels of the C... is opened and placed with the writing down upon the head of the one who was anointed, and the senior priest reads the "Prayer of the Gospel". At the end, the anointed kisses the Gospel, the Cross and the right hands of the priests, receiving their blessing. Anointing is considered to be a public rather than a private sacrament, and so as many of the faithful who are able are encouraged to attend. It should be celebrated in the church when possible, but if this is impossible, it may be served in the home or hospital room of the afflicted. Unction in the Greek Orthodox ChurchGreek Orthodox Church *Greek Orthodox Church* can refer to any of several hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing ... and Churches of Hellenic custom is usually given with a minimum of ceremony. Anointing may also be given during Forgiveness VespersClean Monday Clean Monday, also known as Pure Monday, Ash Monday or Green Monday, is the first day of the Eastern Ortho... and Great WeekHoly Week Holy Week is the Christian week from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday.... , on Great and Holy WednesdayHoly Wednesday In Christianity, Holy Wednesday is the Wednesday of Holy Week, the week before Easter.... , to all who are prepared. Those who receive Unction on Holy Wednesday should go to Holy Communion on Maundy ThursdayMaundy Thursday In the Christian calendar, Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday or Great Thursday is the feast or holy day... . The significance of receiving Unction on Holy Wednesday is shored up by the hymns in the TriodionTriodion The *Triodion* also called the Lenten Triodion is the liturgical book used by the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Cat... for that day, which speak of the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ . Just as her sins were forgiven because of her penitence, so the faithful are exhorted to repent of their sins. In the same narrative, Jesus says, "in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial" (Id., v. 12), linking the unction with Christ's death and resurrection. In some dioceseDiocese In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit administrated by a bishop, hence also referred... s the Russian Orthodox ChurchRussian Orthodox Church The Russian Orthodox Church , also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church of Russia, is that body of Christians who are ... it is customary for the bishop to visit each parish or region of the diocese some time during Great LentGreat Lent Great Lent is the greatest fasting period in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the grea... and give Anointing for the faithful, together with the local clergy. Anglican Churches The 1552 and later editions of the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer The *Book of Common Prayer* is the foundational prayer book of the Church of England which was one of the instruments of ... omitted the form of anointing given in the original (1549) version in its Order for the Visitation of the Sick, but some twentieth-century revisions do have anointing of the sick. Article 25 of the Thirty-Nine ArticlesThirty-Nine Articles The Thirty-Nine Articles are the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine.... , speaking of the sacraments, says: "Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God." Some Anglicans accept that anointing of the sick has a sacramental character and is therefore a channel of God's grace, seeing it as an "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace" which is the definition of a sacrament. Various Protestant Communities [Lutheran] communities have the practice of anointing the sick, or have always offered the rite since the Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation, also referred to as the Protestant Revolution, was a movement in the 16th century to refor... with varying degrees of frequency. Among Protestants, anointing is provided in a wide variety of formats but, for the most part, however, it has fallen into disuse amongst Protestants. Liturgical or Mainline Protestant communities (e.g. Presbyterian, CongregationalistCongregational church Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each con... /United Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, generally cons... , Methodist, Lutheran, etc.) all have official yet often optional liturgical rites for the anointing of the sick partly on the model of WesternLatin Rite The Latin Rite designates the particular Church, within the Catholic Church, which developed in western Europe and northern ... pre-Reformation rites. Anointing need not be associated with grave illness or imminent danger of death. Protestant communities generally vary widely on the sacramental character of anointing. Non-traditional Protestant communities generally use the term "ordinanceOrdinance Ordinance can mean:A law made by a non-sovereign body such as a city council or a colony.... " rather than "Sacrament". Mainline Protestants have two sacraments (the Lord's SupperEucharist The Eucharist* or Communion or The Lord's Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus' in... and BaptismBaptism Baptism is generally a water purification ritual practiced in many of various religions including Christianity, Mandaeanism,... ), deeming Anointing only a humanly-instituted rite. In Charismatic and Pentecostal communities, anointing of the sick is a frequent practice and has been an important ritual in these communities since the respective movements were founded in the 19th and 20th centuries. These communities use extemporaneous forms of administration at the discretion of the minister, who need not be a pastor. There is minimal ceremony attached to its administration. Usually, several people physically touch (laying on of hands) the recipient during the anointing. It may be part of a worship service with the full assembly of the congregation present, but may also be done in more private settings, such as homes or hospital rooms. Pentecostals (neo-Montanists) believe that physical healing is within the anointing and so there is often great expectation or at least great hope that a miraculous cure or improvement will occur when someone is being prayed over for healing. In EvangelicalEvangelicalism The word evangelicalism usually refers to a tendency in diverse branches of conservative Christianity.... and FundamentalistFundamentalism In comparative religion, fundamentalism has come to refer to several different understandings of religious thought and pract... communities, anointing of the sick is performed with varying degrees of frequency, although laying on of hands may be more common than anointing. The rite would be similar to that of Pentecostals in its simplicity, but would usually not have the same emotionalism attached to it. Unlike Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Fundamentalists generally do not believe that physical healing is within the anointing. Therefore, God may or may not grant physical healing to the sick. The healing conferred by anointing is thus a spiritual event that may not result in physical recovery. Some Protestant US military chaplains carry the Roman RiteRoman Rite The liturgical rite of the Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite.... version of the Anointing of the Sick with them for use if called upon to assist wounded or dying soldiers who are Catholics. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches consider invalid as a sacrament the administration of Anointing of the Sick by such chaplains, who in the eyes of those Churches are not validly ordained priests. The rite performed by them is thus seen as having the same by no means negligible value of any other form of prayer offered for the sick or dying. Latter Day Saints Latter Day SaintLatter Day Saint A Latter Day Saint is a person who is with the Latter Day Saint religion, a number of denominations that believe in a restor... s—who consider themselves restorationists rather than Protestants—also practice ritual anointing of the sick, as well as other forms of anointing. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the LDS Church or the Mormon Church, is the lar... consider anointing to be an ordinance (see ). Administration to the sickSacraments (Community of Christ) The sacraments practiced by the Community of Christ Bolton, Andrew and Jane Gardner: "The Sacraments: Symbol, Meaning and Di... is one of the eight sacramentsSacraments (Community of Christ) The sacraments practiced by the Community of Christ Bolton, Andrew and Jane Gardner: "The Sacraments: Symbol, Meaning and Di... of the Community of ChristCommunity of Christ Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a Christian den... . In the Community of Christ the sacrament of administration to the sick has also been known to be used for people seeking spiritual, emotional or mental healing. External links Western Eastern article from the Moscow Patriarchate article from the Sydney, Australia diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, DC (Photo)