TOS040 Sacraments–Anointing of the Sick with Rick Brunner
For audio TOS040: The Sacraments – Annointing of the Sick – Truth of the Spirit (podcast) | Listen Notes
Welcome to Truth of the Spirit, I’m Patti Brunner, and tonight we continue our series on the Eucharist and Other Sacraments with the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Tonight we have Rick Brunner who will be presenting to you information to you about the Anointing of the Sick sacrament. Please welcome Rick Brunner.
Good evening. I want to share with you today a little about the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. It may be one of the most misunderstood sacraments because most people rarely ever receive it. Some may think it is for only those – who are at the point of death- but that is incorrect.
Anyone who is seriously ill or who may be scheduled for a serious surgery or even the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced may receive it. [CCC1515] And if the sick person recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. Also if during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. I personally have received this sacrament at least 4 times. When in doubt you can always ask your priest.
The Church was given its own rite for the sick as attested to by St James in chapter 5:14-15 of the book of James where he says, “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders 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 any sins, he will be forgiven.”
The Church has recognized in this rite one of the seven sacraments.
The Catechism #1520 references the Council of Trent to share with us the power in this beautiful sacrament. Our Church Fathers decreed at the SESSION XIII (Oct. II, 1551) Council of Trent:
“909 Furthermore, the significance and effect of this sacrament are explained in these words: “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him” [ Jas. 5:15]. For the thing signified is the grace of the Holy Spirit, whose anointing wipes away sins, if there be any still to be expiated, and the remains of sin, and relieves, and strengthens the soul of the sick person [can. 2] by exciting in him great confidence in divine mercy, supported by which the sick person bears more lightly the miseries and pains of his illness, and resists more easily the temptations of the evil spirit who “lies in wait for his heel” [ Gen. 3:15], and sometimes attains bodily health, when it is expedient for the salvation of the soul.”
Why would anyone avoid this sacrament? I think people often forget about asking for it, or think they have to wait until the last possible moment – but the problem with that is running out of time or focus.
Recently a friend of mine’s brother was seriously sick to the point of being in hospice care. After I asked him how his brother was doing, I asked if his brother had received the sacrament of anointing of the sick. He said, “You know I’m not sure,” but immediately a light bulb seemed to have come on in his head. The next morning he contacted the parish office to see if a priest could come and administer the sacrament to his brother. The same day a priest went to visit him and administered the sacraments including anointing of the sick. He died the very next day.
Sometimes people think that the priest will automatically know to come, especially if they are in hospice care or in a critical care unit of the hospital. The priest didn’t inquire even though we had been praying for his brother at mass. Even in smaller parishes, the priest needs to be asked. But the family knew he was close to death and the priest was very willing to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Again people need to know this. We need to encourage others to ask for this sacrament and plan for it when it is not a matter of such urgency. Encourage family members to suggest it; ask the wishes of your family, in case they are not able to request it due to coma when the time arises. Don’t rely on the priest to step forward and offer it; you choose it. And remember: Only a priest can administer this sacrament.
When I was a kid, it was poplar to carry a card or wear a medal that said, “I am a Catholic, please call a priest.” That way if there was an accident, hopefully someone would contact a priest for you and they would know that you desired this sacrament.
Another thing to know is that the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration, whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital or church, for a sick person or a whole group of sick persons. It is not a sacrament that is given in private even though it forgives sins like the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In our parish we have one or two healing masses each year that offers this sacrament with the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist. It is very fitting to celebrate it within the Mass. As the sacrament of Christ’s Passover the Eucharist should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the “viaticum” for passing over to eternal life.
Earlier in this series we learned that a sacrament is a sign. We see this sacramental sign In the Gospel of John, chapter 4, the second sign of the divinity and mission of Jesus. The first sign was at Cana, at the wedding feast, when he changed water into wine. At his return to Cana there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
John 4:47‐54 “When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While he was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when did he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. [Now] this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.”
Note the parallels of this sign with the Sacrament of the Anointing: The child is seriously ill, and the word of Jesus restores him to health. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick aims to unleash this same power of Jesus, to heal both a person’s soul and their body.
Catechism paragraph #1116 says: Sacraments are “powers that comes forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are “the masterworks of God” in the new and everlasting covenant.
“…The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.” [1210]
Jesus Christ, during his three year earthly ministry, performed numerous healings wherever he went as signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God. These signs announced a more radical healing: the victory over sin and death through his own Passover. On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the “sin of the world,” of which illness is only a consequence. By his passion and death on the cross, Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.
Let me share the complete Catechism paragraph 1520 about this particular gift of the Holy Spirit:
“The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age.
“This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation of discouragement and anguish in the face of death. This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God’s will. Furthermore, “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”” [CCC 1520]
[repeat:] Furthermore, “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations and his mortality. Every illness can make us glimpse death. [CCC 1500] Sometimes illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption and even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him. [CCC 1501]
I know in my life that has been the case for me. For several years prior to my own illness, my wife and I would take communion to the sick in our local hospital on weekends -once a month.
While ministering to these people we quickly realized how vulnerable they were and their need for a touch from the Lord’s grace. In addition to offering them communion we soon began to ask if we could also lay hands on them and pray for their needs. Almost without exception they would agree – even those who were away from the church and not properly disposed to receive communion. Many, I would say, had never experienced God’s love in this way. When we would return the next day many seemed to have become remarkably better especially in their countenance. Their openness to prayer I believe was directly related to their vulnerability due to their illness which helped them reach out to God.
When healing prayer and healing services tap into the grace of the Holy Spirit for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing, it is to point out the path to the fullness of God’s love.
They are partial healing but open the heart in hope and faith to walk towards Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit to be embraced by them – like the prodigal son was embraced by his loving father and restored. God wants to heal us all in body, mind, soul, and spirit so that we can spend eternity with him in heaven.
Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick!” The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments, and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St Paul suggests is connected with bodily health. [CCC 1509]
Each time a lay prayer team prays over someone for healing it is under the authority of this sacrament and sign given to the Church. The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is a healing –total healing – of the soul.
I know in my own illness several years ago when I was close to death and most vulnerable, I turned to God like never before. In my fear and anxiety I reached out to him in prayer and meditated on his word daily for several months. I eventually came to a point of peace in my heart after a complete cleansing and preparation with the help of the sacraments of Penance and Anointing Of The Sick which are both considered sacraments of healing. It didn’t happen immediately but eventually I reached the point that no matter the outcome of my illness it was going to be a win/win for me. Either a win with God’s healing grace or a win to be with him in heaven—the ultimate healing. That moment of glory when I fully accepted his love and healing grace–no matter the outcome—was truly a gift from God. You know, all of us eventually will pass on to judgment.
It is our love for Christ that allows us to step forward to ask for this anointing. When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped for effect is that the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, remember the first effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.
The Holy Spirit renews our faith in God and helps us withstand the temptations of the Evil One to be discouraged and despairing in the face of suffering and death. Also, importantly, a sick person’s sins are forgiven. Another effect of the Sacrament is union with the Passion of Christ. By uniting ourselves more closely with the sufferings of Our Lord, we receive the grace of sharing in the saving work of Christ. In this way, our suffering, a consequence of original sin, is joined to the Cross, and contributes to building up the People of God. This Sacrament also prepares us for our final journey when we depart from this life. The Anointing of the Sick completes our identification with Jesus Christ that was begun at our Baptism. Its grace and power fortify us in our final struggles before we go to the Father’s house.
I shared one healing story of my past reconciliations with God and now I want to share another.
When I went to a Cursillo retreat about 22 years ago I experienced a major conversion and touch from the Lord like I had never known. His love was so powerful that it enveloped my whole being. I was completely healed of depression, something I had suffered with for 20 years. They had offered confessions that weekend of Cursillo but I never got around to it and really didn’t want to think about my negative past. Just a few months later my wife and I were invited to be on a life in the spirit team – to travel around the state and help put on weekend retreats. But first they wanted the team members to go on a weekend retreat themselves and to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a couple to obtain a deep cleansing and healing for this mission we had accepted. We readily agreed since we were both newly anointed with the Holy Spirit. I remember and generally felt good about my confession but on the way home that day I mentioned to my wife that I had just thought of something else serious I had never confessed reaching all the way back to my childhood that I should have confessed . She said not to worry that we would make an appointment with our pastor as soon as we got home. So we did. We explained the weekend and what had happened and so I went to confession again.
Father was very gracious and affirming in the deep cleansing and healing I had received both spiritually and mentally. The healing was so complete that I can no longer remember those sins we confessed.
Some may not realize that the sacraments of penance and anointing of the sick are so closely related but they are. Both are sacraments of healing. I remember we had a mission priest here in our parish one time, Msgr. James, who had the gift of reading of hearts when he heard confessions. He could read into the hearts and conscience of an individual so as to be able to guide the person towards a greater union with God. This gift has been given to many priests throughout the centuries including St. Padre Pio, St. Anthony of Padua, St. John Bosco and St. John Vianney to name just a few. St. Padre Pio spent most of his later life in the confessional sometimes 15 to 19 hours a day. People would line up for days to go to him for confession. It is reported that in 1967 he heard over 25,000 confessions averaging about 70 per day.
Priests spending hours in the confessional is not uncommon today. 47 of our church teens went to a Steubenville Youth retreat with about 5,000 other kids and there were reportedly about 100 priests in attendance who offered confessions after each session. The response was overwhelming with confessions being heard into the late hours of the night. Some 2,300 kids or about half in attendance were able to experience the healing of confession that weekend which is a great sign of hope for our youth today.
Before I finish I would like to repeat the special grace and effects of this sacrament of Anointing of the Sick summarized by the Catechism paragraph #1532. They are:
1) The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole church;
2) The strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
3) The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
4) The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
5) And finally the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
Thank you!
You’ve been listening to Truth of the Spirit with Patti Brunner. We are so glad that you joined us for this series of the Eucharist and the Other Sacraments. And we will continue with this series, please tune in next week for the next episode and please check the website PatriarchMinistries.com to get some more details that presented in the talk of this episode. And you can check the box and subscribe, it’s free, and have those episodes delivered directly to your listening device. Bless you. I’m Patti Brunner and you’ve been listening to Truth of the Spirit.
References taken from Catechism of the Catholic Church, New American Bible, and Welcome to the Catholic Church.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1514 The Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.”130
#1528 The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.
#1515 If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.
#1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.
James 5:14-15, “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 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.”
CCC 1510 However, the apostolic Church has its own rite for the sick, attested to by St. James: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [presbyters] 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.”123 Tradition has recognized in this rite one of the seven sacraments.124
Council of Trent [Session XIII] #909 “Furthermore, the significance and effect of this sacrament are explained in these words: “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him” [ Jas. 5:15]. For the thing signified is the grace of the Holy Spirit, whose anointing wipes away sins, if there be any still to be expiated, and the remains of sin, and relieves, and strengthens the soul of the sick person [can. 2] by exciting in him great confidence in divine mercy, supported by which the sick person bears more lightly the miseries and pains of his illness, and resists more easily the temptations of the evil spirit who “lies in wait for his heel” [Gen. 3:15], and sometimes attains bodily health, when it is expedient for the salvation of the soul.
CCC 1530 Only priests (presbyters and bishops) can give the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, using oil blessed by the bishop, or if necessary by the celebrating presbyter himself.
John 4:46‐54 “46 Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. 48Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” 49The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. 51While he was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. 52He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” 53The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. 54[Now] this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.”
CCC 1116 Sacraments are “powers that comes forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are “the masterworks of God” in the new and everlasting covenant.
CCC 1210 “… The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.”
CCC 1505 Moved by so much suffering Christ not only allows himself to be touched by the sick, but he makes their miseries his own: “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”112 But he did not heal all the sick. His healings were signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God. They announced a more radical healing: the victory over sin and death through his Passover. On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the “sin of the world,”113 of which illness is only a consequence. By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.
CCC 1521 Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ’s Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior’s redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.
CCC #1520 A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death.135 This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God’s will.136 Furthermore, “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”137
CCC 1500 Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death.
CCC 1501 Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him.
CCC 1509 “Heal the sick!”121 The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments, and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St. Paul suggests is connected with bodily health.122
CCC 1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: —the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; — the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; — the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance; — the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; — the preparation for passing over to eternal life..
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever received or witnessed the Anointing of the Sick? Please describe the circumstances.
2. Who in your family qualifies to receive this Sacrament? Have they received it? If “no”, why not?
3. Which of the graces or effects of this Sacrament –listed in CCC 1532 and 1520—are most important in your opinion? Why?
4. Comment on tonight’s talk and the reference quotes.
