YOUCAT Lesson 245
YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth
245 How does the Anointing of the Sick work?
The Anointing of the Sick imparts consolation, peace, and
strength and unites the sick person, in his precarious situation and his
sufferings, with Christ in a profound way.
For the Lord experienced our fears and bore our pains in his body. For many people the Anointing of the Sick
brings about physical healing. But if
God should decide to call someone home to himself, he gives him in the
Anointing of the Sick the strength for all the physical and spiritual battles
on his final journey. In any case, the
Anointing of the Sick has the effect of forgiving sins. [1520-1523, 1532]
Painting: …..“Cross over to
the other side” is like to seeking life on another shore. -- Don L. Bragg …..245
Many sick people are afraid of this sacrament and put it off
until the last minute because they think it is a sort of death sentence. But the opposite is true: the Anointing of
the Sick is a sort of life insurance. A
Christian who is caring for the sick person should relieve him of any false
fear. Most people in serious danger
sense intuitively that nothing is more important for them at the moment than to
embrace immediately and unconditionally the One who overcame death and is Life
itself: Jesus, the Savior.
Jesus said to them ,“Let us cross over to the other
side.” Mark 4:35b
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I fear no evil; for you are with me.” Psalm 23:4
The Calming of
a Storm at Sea. On that day, as evening drew
on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he
was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up
and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern,
asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care
that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the
sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The
wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are
you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were
filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind
and sea obey?” -- Mark 4: 35-41
…….1520
A particular
gift of the Holy Spirit. The
first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to
overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the
frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust
and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the
temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death.(Compare Hebrews 2:15.)135 This assistance from the Lord by the
power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul,
but also of the body if such is God's will.(Compare Council of
Florence (1439): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1325.)136 Furthermore, "if he has committed
sins, he will be forgiven."(James 5:15; compare Council of
Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1717.)137 –Catechism
of the Catholic Church, Second Edition
…….1521 Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this
sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself
more closely to Christ's Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear
fruit by configuration to the Savior's redemptive Passion. Suffering, a
consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation
in the saving work of Jesus. –CCC
…..1522 An ecclesial grace. The sick who receive this
sacrament, "by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of
Christ," "contribute to the good of the People of God."(Lumen Gentium 11 § 2.)138 By celebrating this sacrament the Church,
in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and
he, for his part, through the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the
sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church
suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father. –CCC
…….1523 A preparation for the final
journey. If
the sacrament of anointing of the sick is given to all who suffer from serious
illness and infirmity, even more rightly is it given to those at the point of
departing this life; so it is also called sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing). (Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer
1698.)139 The
Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of
Christ, just as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointings that mark
the whole Christian life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and
that of Confirmation which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This
last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for
the final struggles before entering the Father's house.(Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer 1694.)140 –CCC
…….1531 The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament. --CCC
No comments:
Post a Comment