God created us to live and our nature rebels against dying. But we know that we have to come to terms with that fact, because dying is an integral part of our living. Dying is regularly associated with its preceding illness. Although every disease is not fatal, we are faced with the secret of suffering, which is connected with fear and anxiety before an uncertain future and before death. Illness is a trial for our faith, for our trust and for our love.

St. Paul says that " the sufferings of the present time are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us " (Rom 8:18), so he advises us to " fill up with our sufferings what is lacking in Christ's sufferings " (Col 1:24). This shows that suffering is not a curse, but can be a great blessing if it is patiently endured for the sake of God and for his body, the Church.

Jesus entrusted the Church to be present to the sick and to all those who suffer and to care for them as he would have done. He taught us that our suffering and death can and should be "saving" and "liberating", if we join them with love to his suffering and death.

From the beginning, Christ's community - the Church - paid special attention to the sick. Already the Apostles, according to Christ's order, " anointed with oil and healed many sick people " (Mk 6:13). And St. Jacob writes in his epistle: " Is anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders of the Church! Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, so the prayer of faith will save the weak; The Lord will raise him up, and if he has sinned, he will be forgiven " (James 5.74-15).

In Mark's Gospel and in the Epistle of James, it is actually about the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is in a special way a "sign" (symbol) of the meeting of the risen Christ and his communion with the sick. In this encounter, the attention and love of Christ and his Church towards sick brothers are manifested and given.

The sacrament was awkwardly called the last anointing. That's why people postponed it as long as possible, so they would receive it really near the end, often unconsciously. They regularly died behind him. This increased the fear of him even more, that he really is the "last". And as can be seen from the words of St. James, that " The prayer of faith will save the weak, the Lord will lift him up... " that sacrament is not only a privilege of the dying but is a day for the health of soul and body. That is why the post-conciliar Church introduced the celebration of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at Mass and outside of it.

During the celebration of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, the priest anoints the sick with holy oil on the forehead and hands, saying:

WITH THIS HOLY ANOINTING
AND HIS TOO GENTLE MERCY, MAY
THE LORD HELP
YOU WITH THE MERCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The patient and the community AMEN.

MAY THE ONE FREE FROM SIN SAVE YOU
AND RAISE YOU MERCIFULLY.

The patient and the community AMEN.

Anointing of the Sick

God created us to live and our nature rebels against dying. But we know that we have to come to terms with that fact, because dying is an integral part of our living. Dying is regularly associated with its preceding illness. Although every disease is not fatal, we are faced with the secret of suffering, which is connected with fear and anxiety before an uncertain future and before death. Illness is a trial for our faith, for our trust and for our love.

St. Paul says that " the sufferings of the present time are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us " (Rom 8:18), so he advises us to " fill up with our sufferings what is lacking in Christ's sufferings " (Col 1:24). This shows that suffering is not a curse, but can be a great blessing if it is patiently endured for the sake of God and for his body, the Church.

Jesus entrusted the Church to be present to the sick and to all those who suffer and to care for them as he would have done. He taught us that our suffering and death can and should be "saving" and "liberating", if we join them with love to his suffering and death.

From the beginning, Christ's community - the Church - paid special attention to the sick. Already the Apostles, according to Christ's order, " anointed with oil and healed many sick people " (Mk 6:13). And St. Jacob writes in his epistle: " Is anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders of the Church! Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, so the prayer of faith will save the weak; The Lord will raise him up, and if he has sinned, he will be forgiven " (James 5.74-15).

In Mark's Gospel and in the Epistle of James, it is actually about the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is in a special way a "sign" (symbol) of the meeting of the risen Christ and his communion with the sick. In this encounter, the attention and love of Christ and his Church towards sick brothers are manifested and given.

The sacrament was awkwardly called the last anointing. That's why people postponed it as long as possible, so they would receive it really near the end, often unconsciously. They regularly died behind him. This increased the fear of him even more, that he really is the "last". And as can be seen from the words of St. James, that " the prayer of faith will save the weak, the Lord will lift him up... " that sacrament is not only a privilege of the dying but is a day for the health of soul and body. That is why the post-conciliar Church introduced the celebration of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at Mass and outside of it.

During the celebration of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, the priest anoints the sick with holy oil on the forehead and hands, saying:

WITH THIS HOLY ANOINTING
AND HIS TOO GENTLE MERCY, MAY
THE LORD HELP
YOU WITH THE MERCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The patient and the communityAMEN.

MAY THE ONE FREE FROM SIN SAVE YOU
AND RAISE YOU MERCIFULLY.

The patient and the communityAMEN.