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December 21, 2008

Unite suffering with Christ’s through anointing

By Alicia Torres

CONTRIBUTOR

This life is passing, not meant to last. While on earth, as the Baltimore Catechism so simply stated, we must know, love and serve God, in preparation for eternal life.

Yet when we come closer to death, we often face challenges, doubts, sometimes illness and always uncertainty. Our Catholic tradition, mirroring the self-giving love of the blessed Trinity, offers hope and encouragement for those facing the end of life through the sacrament of anointing of the sick.

Because we inherit original sin, we must be cleansed and claimed for Christ. The sacraments of Christian initiation (baptism, Eucharist and confirmation) bring us into the communion of saints and strengthen us for our earthly pilgrimage. When this pilgrimage nears an end, anointing of the sick offers spiritual and sometimes physical healing. The crux of this sacrament, however, is that it enables those facing death to better unite their sufferings with Christ’s act of redemption on the Cross.

‘School of love’

As he commemorated the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes this past year, Pope Benedict XVI stated that without suffering, there is no love. Great theologians of the 20th century such as Hans Urs Von Balthasar and mystics like Adrienne Von Speyr agreed with this estimation, calling the cross the “school of love.” Yet, the utilitarian culture that surrounds us can cause Catholics to doubt the value of suffering. How can suffering be an act of love?

Love, as we understand it, is always a free gift, motivated by desiring the good of the other. If your mother ever told you to “offer it up” when you were young, you will clearly see how this relates to those suffering in the face of death. Those who suffer have an extraordinary opportunity to offer their pain to God as a gift of love, both for their own salvation and the salvation of the world.

Anointing of the sick was alluded to in Mark’s Gospel, but further recommended and promulgated by the Apostle James, “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters [priests] 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).

It is recommend that those advanced in age, near death, suffering a serious illness or about to undergo serious surgery receive this sacrament. Priests are the ministers of the sacrament, and should encourage the faithful to partake in the graces offered through it. In today’s age of advanced medicine, people having serious surgery are also encouraged to be annointed. (Contact your parish office to arrange anointing.)

In his love, mercy

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that: “the celebration of the sacrament includes the following principal elements: the ‘priests of the church’ — in silence — lay hands on the sick; they pray over them in the faith of the church — this is the epiclesis proper to the sacrament; they then anoint them with oil blessed, if possible, by the bishop” (CCC No. 1519).

The words, “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,” (CCC No. 1513), are uttered during administration of the sacrament. Often, the body parts associated with the senses are anointed. In different regions of the world, customs regarding the anointing may differ, but the essentials of the sacrament — prayer and anointing — remain the same.

Anointing of the sick can be celebrated almost anywhere. Just as with all seven sacraments, it is a liturgical and communal celebration. It is fitting to celebrate the sacrament within the Eucharist — perhaps first by receiving the sacrament of reconciliation, then assisting at Mass and receiving the Eucharist, and finally the anointing.

Sacrament’s effects

This beautiful sacrament has several effects. The first grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, a strengthening that imparts peace and courage against discouragement and anguish. Also, those anointed are given the ability to more perfectly unite themselves with the salvific sufferings of Christ. In such a manner, suffering takes on a new meaning — cooperation in the saving work of Jesus.

They also experience more fully the communion of saints — through the intercession of the Church Triumphant (those in Heaven) and the Church Militant (those on earth), and by offering their own sufferings for the sanctification of the church.

Finally, anointing of the sick is a preparation for the journey home. As the Council of Trent in 1551 stated: “It completes the holy anointing 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. The last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father’s house” (CCC No. 1523).