YOUCAT Question n. 245 - Part III. How does the Anointing of the Sick work?
(Youcat answer – repeated) 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.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 1499)
"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests 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" (LG 11; cf. Jas 5:14-16; Rom 8:17; Col 1:24;
2 Tim 2:11-12; 1 Pet 4:13).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) 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 a 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.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 1501)
Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt
against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his
life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often
illness provokes a search for God and a return to him.
No comments:
Post a Comment