Lesson 28
Why Is The Anointing Of The Sick Important?
Welcome back to our Lenten Lessons on the Sacraments. If you recall, there are three sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist; and two Sacraments of Healing: Confession and Anointing of the Sick. We just finished seven Lessons on the very important Sacrament of Confession, and now it’s time to learn about the other sacrament of Healing: Anointing of the Sick, a Sacrament you want to receive at least once in your life before you die, but you could receive it more than once.
As for the moment of the Institution of this Sacrament of Healing, in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, verse 13, Jesus sent his Apostles and Disciples out two by two with various instructions, “So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” Hmm. There it is. Right there. That is a very clear reference to the Anointing of the Sick. Later, in the Epistle of St. James, Chapter Five, we read: “Is anyone among you sick? He should send for the priests of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” And those exact words are used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
This ministry to the sick and dying is continued today all over the world in Catholic hospitals and clinics and dispensaries, and the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, carry out this ministry of care with the poorest of the poor.
It all started with Jesus and his ministry. In the evening, crowds would line up at his door in Capharnaum so he might touch and heal the sick. He raised the twelve year old girl from the dead. From the dead! He touched St. Peter’s mother in law and cured her instantaneously, as well as the ten lepers, and Bartimaeus, the man born blind.
As a priest, I make it a priority to visit the sick and the dying, and I hope to arrive on time to hear their confession, anoint them, give them Holy Communion, pray with them, give them the Apostolic Pardon with Plenary Indulgence, and give them courage. I remember a good Pastor of a Parish nearby who once said in a homily on Relevant Radio: “People don’t care how much you know, but they know how much you care.” So if someone you love is very sick and approaching death, call for the priest so they can receive the Sacraments.
So tune in every day of Lent to learn more about your Catholic faith, because if you Learn it, then you can Live it; and if you Live it, you will Love it; and if you Love it, you will never Leave it!
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