Jesus
- physician of the whole person
- physician of society
Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
- second sacrament of healing
- the gift of christ's healing and saving presence
- God's grace is more 'abundant' when we are most in need
Graces of the Sacrament
1. strength, peace and courage
2. union with christ in his passion
3. forgiveness of sins
4. restoration to health, if God wills it
5. preparation for passing over to eternal life
Who can only administer this Sacrament?
Bishops or priests
Essential elements
laying on of hands and the anointing of the forehead and hands
When is the faithful able to receive this sacrament?
each time they become seriously ill or, if after they have received it, the illness worsens
lament (lamentation)
a person seeks from God both understanding of why he or she must suffer and also relief from that suffering
compassion
'womb' or 'mercy' is the quality of a person who so closely identifies with the suffering and condition of another person that the suffering of the other becomes their own, 'enters their womb.'
Faith word: Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
is given to a person who is seriously ill or in danger of death due to sickness or old age. Elderly people may be anointed if they are in a weak condition though no dangerous illness is present.
ya sha
'to save'
- the Greek sozo is used to translate this
Writers of OT
name God alone as the subject of ya sha
- this expresses the belief that God alone saves
What did the prophets promise?
the Messiah and Savior would come to save 'his people' and 'the nations'
Jesus the Savior
fulfillment of this faith and hope of the ancient Israelites
Miracles
signs of the healing and saving presence of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, who is always at work among us
- they are 'acts of compassion and signs of the Kingdom and salvation'
Who did Jesus' healing miracles heal
healed the whole person, the person's body and soul
Jesus, the physician of the whole person
- heals both our physical and spiritual infirmities
- drove out demons and his miracles strengthened people's faith in God
Jesus, the physician of society
- cured individuals of physical suffering and suffering caused by social isolation
The healing acts of Jesus
offered the Pharisees the grace to see the social 'infirmities' they had inflicted on people
Jesus' healing
revealed that God is at work offering the grace to heal the 'illnesses' inflicting society- social sins and their effects on people
What did Jesus suffering result from?
people's spiritual blindness
The suffering of Jesus
was the consequence of his obedience to his Father and his love for humanity.
The Suffering Servant
is an image in the writings of the prophet Isaiah that prefigures Jesus.
What was Jesus' greatest act of healing?
His own suffering and death on the Cross
Resurrection
source of our hope in the midst of the ongoing suffering and death we experience.
Hope
gives us the vision and grace to 'take up our cross daily'.
- one of the three theological virtues
- the desire and expectation of the Salvation God promised
Theological Virtues
'gifts infused by God'
- a person both desires and expects God to fulfill his promises of things to come.
Jesus-Death-Resurrection
strengthens our hope and enables us to deal with our illnesses- and all other experiences of suffering
What are the three theological virtues?
hope, faith, and charity (love)
How can the priest celebrate this sacrament?
with an individual who is seriously ill or with a group of sick or elderly people
How can the Rite of Anointed be celebrated?
within Mass or outside Mass (Healing Service)
What was this Sacrament known as in the past?
'Extreme Unction' meaning 'anointing'
Extreme Unction
reflects the Church past practice of administering this Sacrament only when the faithful were near death
Where does the Church celebrate this sacrament?
wherever the seriously ill person may be
- may be celebrated in their home, hospital, retirement community, hospice, or at the scene of the accident
- parish church
Parish Church
invites those suffering from illness or from the weakness of old age to come together
How does the priest prepare for this sacrament?
1. Before priest arrives, person prepares a table by placing a small bowl of water with lemon slices and a white cloth for the priest to clean his hands after the anointing
2. Priest places the Blessed Sacrament and Oil of the Sick on the table
3. The pri
Viaticum
the Holy Eucharist when received by a dying person as the spiritual food for one's passing from this world to the Father.
- Holy Communion received by those in danger of death
Gifts of strength, peace and courage
- open ourselves to the Holy Spirit
Union with Christ in his Passion
Christ invites us to join our suffering to his Passion with assurance of the blessing of his Resurrection
Forgiveness of Sins and restoration to health
points to the sick or dying person's participation in the saving power of Christ's Resurrection in their life and on earth and their life after death.
Preparation for passing over to eternal life
we encounter Christ, who meets and accompanies us grace for the final leg of our journey home to God
Jos� Olalla Vald�s
- born in Cuba
- passion for serving the poor
- Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God