Friday, September 14, 2012
315. What is the attitude of the Church toward the sick? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp
315 repetition) Having received from the Lord the charge to heal the
sick, the Church strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick and
accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. Above all, the Church
possesses a sacrament specifically intended for the benefit of the sick. This
sacrament was instituted by Christ and is attested by Saint James: “Is anyone
among you sick? Let him call in the presbyters of the Church and let them pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14-15).
“In brief”
(CCC 1527) The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its
purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the
difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1510) However, the apostolic Church has its own rite
for the sick, attested to by St. James: "Is any among you sick? Let him
call for the elders [presbyters] 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" (Jas
5:14-15). Tradition has recognized in this rite one of the seven sacraments
(Cf. Council of Constantinople II (553) DS 216; Council of Florence (1439)
1324-1325; Council of Trent (1551) 1695-1696; 1716-1717). (CCC 1511) The Church
believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially
intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness, the Anointing of
the Sick: This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord
as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by
Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle
and brother of the Lord (Council of Trent (1551): DS 1695; cf. Mk 6:13; Jas
5:14-15).
Reflection
(CCC 1512) From ancient times in the liturgical traditions
of both East and West, we have testimonies to the practice of anointings of the
sick with blessed oil. Over the centuries the Anointing of the Sick was
conferred more and more exclusively on those at the point of death. Because of
this it received the name "Extreme Unction." Notwithstanding this
evolution the liturgy has never failed to beg the Lord that the sick person may
recover his health if it would be conducive to his salvation (Cf. Council of
Trent (1551) DS 1696). (CCC 1513) The Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum (Paul VI,
November 30, 1972), following upon the Second Vatican Council (Cf. SC 73),
established that henceforth, in the Roman Rite, the following be observed: The
sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by
anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil - pressed from
olives or from other plants - saying, only once: "Through this holy
anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the
Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you
up" (Cf. CIC, Can. 847 § 1). [END]
(Next question: Who can receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick?)
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