Anointing of the sick
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Anointing of the Sick, in which a sick person is ritually anointed, is one of the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Some Anglicans consider it a sacrament, others as a sacramental. Protestant churches which practice the rite of anointing of the sick generally do not think of it as a sacrament. In Roman Catholic, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and some Protestant churches, the oil used is specifically blessed for this purpose.
The more archaic word "unction" is sometimes used in place of "anointing", and the rite has also been known by terms such as "holy oil of the sick", "unction or blessing with consecrated oil", "unction of God", "office of the unction". The Greek term is Εὐχέλαιον (Euchelaion), derived from εὐχή (prayer) and ἔλαιον (oil).
In past centuries, when in the West the sacrament was in fact conferred only on those in immediate danger of death, it came to be known as "Extreme Unction", i.e. "Final Anointing", and was conferred only as one of the "Last Rites". The other "Last Rites" are Confession (if the dying person is physically unable to confess, at least absolution, conditional on the existence of contrition, is given), and the Eucharist, which when administered to the dying is known as "Viaticum", a word whose original meaning in Latin was "provision for a journey". The normal order of administration, unless there is imminent danger of death, is first Confession, then Anointing, then Viaticum.
The chief Biblical text concerning anointing of the sick is James 5:14-15:
- Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
Roman Catholic Church
An extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on Anointing of the Sick is given in [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499-1532].
Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments. Only a priest (bishop or presbyter) can administer it. Canon 1004 of the Code of Canon Law indicates succinctly who may receive the sacrament: "The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age." A new illness or a renewal or worsening of the first illness enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time. And "in the case of a person who is chronically ill, or elderly and in a weakened condition, the sacrament of anointing may be repeated when in the pastoral judgment of the priest the condition of the sick person warrants the repetition of the sacrament" (Rite of Anointing of the Sick, 102).
The text of the Rite (97) also states that the sacrament of anointing can be administered to an individual whether at home, in a hospital or institution, or in church; and several sick persons may be anointed within the rite, especially if the celebration takes place in a church or hospital; the celebration may also take place within Mass.
As indicated in the Code of Canon Law, it is illicit to administer indiscriminately to the sick and the healthy this sacrament, which, as its very name shows, is intended to benefit only the seriously ill.
The Catholic Church sees the effects of the sacrament as follows. As the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. Through the sacrament is given a gift of the Holy Spirit that renews confidence and faith in God and strengthens against temptations to discouragement and anguish at the thought of death and the struggle of death. It thus leads to spiritual healing with forgiveness of sins and, sometimes, to bodily healing as well.
The oil used in the sacrament is usually olive oil, though other vegetable oil may also be used (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1513). It is blessed by the bishop of the diocese at the Chrism Mass he celebrates on Holy Thursday or on a day close to it. In case of necessity, the priest administering the sacrament may bless the oil within the framework of the celebration (Code of Canon Law, canon 999).
In the Roman Rite of the Western Catholic Church, the priest anoints the sick person's forehead with oil (usually in the form of a cross), saying: "Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit." He then anoints the hands, saying, "May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up." He may also, in accordance with local culture and traditions, and the needs of the sick person, anoint other parts of the body, but without repeating the sacramental formula.
This is the form established for the Roman Rite through the papal document Sacram unctionem infirmorum of 1972. The form used in the Roman Rite in the preceding period included anointing of seven parts of the body (though that of the loins was generally omitted in English-speaking countries), while saying (in Latin): "Through this holy anointing, may the Lord pardon you whatever sins/faults you have committed by..." The sense in question was then mentioned: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, walking, carnal delectation.
Liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, both Western and Eastern, other than the Roman, have a variety of other forms for celebrating the sacrament.
Eastern Orthodox Church
The teaching of the Eastern Orthodox Church on the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is similar to that of the Catholic Church.
The solemn form of Eastern Christian anointing requires the presence of seven priests, though this is rarely the case today.
Anointing is in fact usually done in the Greek Orthodox Church with a minimum of ceremony. The 2004 dictionary of the Greek language by George D. Babiniotis (Γεώργιος Δ. Μπαμπινιώτης) states that the sacrament "is customary in cases of sickness or when someone thinks he is having ill luck."
Protestant Churches
Protestant Churches have either revived the practice of anointing the sick in the past century or have always offered the rite since the Protestant Reformation with varying degrees of frequency and a wide variety of liturgical formats.
Among Evangelical, Charismatic, and Pentecostal churches, anointing of the sick is a common practice and was an important ritual in these churches since their respective movements were founded in the late 19th and 20th centuries. These churches use a non-liturgical form for its administration drawing direct inspiration from the James passage quoted above. The officiant need not be ordained. There is minimal ceremony attached to its administration, but the act can be a highly emotional and powerful experience. It is almost always practiced as part of a worship service with the full assembly of the church present.
Liturgical or Mainline Protestant churches (e.g. Presbyterian, Congregationalist/United Church of Christ, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.) all have official yet often optional liturgical rites for the anointing of the sick which are modeled in part on traditional pre-Reformation rites. Anointing need not be associated with grave illness or imminent danger of death as is the usual custom in the Roman Catholic Church. In this, Protestant churches are similar in practice to the Eastern Orthodox churches since one need not be near death or even physically sick to receive anointing. While most Protestant churches have no formal set of Last Rites, all offer Communion to the sick, confession or some form of assurance of pardon for sins, and anointing or laying on of hands or both to persons gravely ill. The frequency of the practice of anointing of the sick varies greatly among Protestant congregations - some local churches may practice anointing frequently and include it in the Sunday service weekly or monthly, while others may offer it rarely or never - though if a congregant requested it, it is more than likely a minister would agree to perform the rite. Most Protestant churches allow laypersons to administer these rites, but the usual officiant would be an ordained minister. Laying on of hands for the sick without anointing is also common in mainline Protestant churches. In all cases, whether the rite includes anointing, laying of of hands or both, the recipient need not be physically ill. Many churches offer this ritual for the healing of body, mind or spirit to anyone wishing to receive it. There is no limit on how often the rite can be administered. While confession of sins may accompany the rite (usually as a general confession and absolution), it is not required.
Protestant churches vary widely on the sacramental character of anointing. Evangelical churches generally use the term ordinance rather than sacrament. Mainline Protestants have two sacraments (the Lord's Supper and Baptism) with anointing being deemed one of the rites of the church. Some members of the Anglican/Episcopalian churches consider it a sacrament since they recognize the same seven sacraments of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Generally, Protestants only deem rites established by Jesus Christ himself to be sacraments. However, all accept that anointing of the sick is an "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace" which is the definition of a sacrament. Hence, most would accept that anointing has a sacramental character and is therefore a channel of God's grace.
Interestingly, with the shortage of Roman Catholic priests, US military chaplains are often Protestant ministers, but many soldiers are Catholics. In recent conflicts in Iraq, many Protestant chaplains are often called upon to give wounded or dying soldiers Last Rites on the battle field or in field hospitals. Almost all do so since no priest is available and charity demands that the minister offer comfort to these persons in a form that is customary to them. Some Protestant chaplains carry the Roman Rite version of the Last Rites with them for this purpose.
Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
Latter Day Saint Christians (Mormons) -- who do not consider themselves Protestants -- also practice ritual anointing of the sick and anointing for other purposes. Mormons consider anointing to be an ordinance (for more information follow this link [link]).
External links
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