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Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick. PART 1. SUFFERING. “Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life.” (CCC 1500) Why me!? Why do I suffer!? Why has God allowed me to experience such pain!?

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Anointing of the Sick

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  1. Anointing of the Sick PART 1

  2. SUFFERING • “Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life.” (CCC 1500) • Why me!? • Why do I suffer!? • Why has God allowed me to experience such pain!? • If He is so great then why doesn’t he prevent horrible things from happening!? • Why do you believe we suffer? Is there a purpose?

  3. Answer??? • Suffering and asking the questions that result from experiencing suffering begin us on a search for God (to understand Him). • Increase our spiritual maturity. • Lead us to a discovery of what is truly important in life and what is not. • These answers may not suffice for you right now. However, we must keep in mind that God has a purpose for the suffering of humanity. We may not understand His objective now but will someday. • He is merciful

  4. “Law of Retribution” • Both the Hebrews and the Israelites believed that sickness and suffering were a result of one’s moral condition • Law of Retribution • Some Christians today still believe this • However, Jesus dismisses this notion • He gives meaning to human suffering through his Crucifixion

  5. Job • Even before Jesus, the Book of Job challenges Law of Retribution. • He faces the issue of THEODICY • The attempt to make sense of God’s justice with the fact that good people unjustly suffer • WHY IS GOD LETTING THIS HAPPEN TO ME!? • Does God bless those who are faithful with prosperity? • http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ip4Jx92F94

  6. He Suffers With Us • Regardless if you are satisfied or not with the answers to suffering take some comfort in knowing that God does not let us suffer alone. • He suffered through Christ! • This very fact at least proves that God loves us and out of His infinite knowledge has determined that it is best for us to undergo suffering for our ultimate benefit.

  7. The Church Heals the Sick • Jesus commanded his disciples to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons.” (Matthew 10:8) • To heal as he healed • The Church continues Jesus mission • Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. • (James 5:13-15) • How do you understand this?

  8. God’s grace is effected • The Church took up the practice of having ministers lay hands and anoint with oil, in imitation of Jesus and the Apostles • Realized that the physical actions symbolize what is effected, which is God’s grace allowing us to be healed of our suffering. • It becomes a Sacrament

  9. Why our healing is important • What is your initial reaction either to receiving news of a loved one suffering or you yourself experiencing pain?

  10. Why our healing is important • Sadness, confusion, anger. • Without the help of the Holy Spirit, suffering will not free a person to love. • It can break a person’s spirit and weaken his or her faith • Anointing of the Sick aids those who are suffering and helps them to use their suffering in service of Christ.

  11. Story Time • Has anybody received Anointing or witnessed the Sacrament? • Did you observe a change in the person? • Do you have a story of your suffering that either lead you to an increase in faith or at the very least gave you a greater awareness of what things are most important in life?

  12. History of the Sacrament • Early Church • The Sacrament was viewed as a source of God’s healing • Middle Ages • The Sacrament became a final reception of Reconciliation and Eucharist (Viaticum – “Food for the jouney”) • No longer viewed as a sacrament of healing but as a sacrament to prepare people for life after death • Even the name was changed to EXTREME UNCTION • Was reserved only for those who had no hope of physical recovery

  13. The Sacrament Today • Second Vatican Council updated the Sacrament in order to give people a greater understanding of the graces effected by it • Should they follow the practice of the Early Church or the practice of the Church in the Middle Ages? • The Council embraced both understandings • Emphasizes God’s healing and presence in our time of suffering • Prepares people to receive death • Any person of any age who has a serious or life-threatening illness or is about to undergo surgery may receive the sacrament.

  14. How Anointing of Sick is Celebrated Today • Determining when one should receive the Sacrament is up to the family • Before serious surgery • The elderly when they become weak but do not have a specific illness • Children when they are sick and there is good reason • Those who are sick and have lost consciousness • Those who have died • Do not receive the Sacrament but priest prays that God forgives them of their sins • If it is uncertain if person has died the Sacrament is administered conditionally • Can be administered anywhere • Can be celebrated for an individual as well as for a group • Reconciliation should be celebrated first

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