THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS
People often turned to Jesus for healing, sometimes for themselves and sometimes for others. St. Mark tells us about one of them:
One of the synagogue officials called Jairus came to Jesus. He threw himself down at his feet and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is very ill. Please come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” (Mark 5:22-24)
Jesus brought healing and peace by his words and by his touch. Many found healing and peace simply by being with him.
THE HEALING CHURCH
Jesus sent his disciples out with authority to heal the sick as part of their work in spreading the Good News. After the Resurrection they continued this work. A the Church grew, the healing ministry came to be expressed in the laying-on of hands with prayer, and in anointing the sick with oil.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE SICK
We can read about the anointing of the sick in the letter of James:
If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the Church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again, and if he has committed and sins he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)
Through the centuries the Church has celebrated the anointing of the sick with olive oil blessed for this purpose. The sacrament has been known by different names at various times. Today we call it “The Sacrament of the Sick”.
WHAT HAPPENS?
Before the Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated, the priest and the sick person usually spending time together talking about what is to happen. The Sacrament can be celebrated in Church, often during the Eucharist, or the priest can come to the sick person at home or in the hospital.
The service begins with an opportunity to call to mind our sins and to ask and receive God’s forgiveness. This can make us more receptive to his healing love. Then a Scripture Reading follows.
Next the priest lays his hands on the sick person’s head in silence. When he goes on to anoint the forehead he says:
Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
As he anoints the sick person’s hands he says:
May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.
Some prayers follow and the service ends with a Blessing.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
We believe our whole life is wrapped up in God’s love. The Sacrament of the Sick shows us that He cares for us in our sickness as well as in our health. God looks after us and meets our needs in many ways - by feeding us in the Mass, by blessing our marriages and by forgiving our sins. In this Sacrament, through anointing with oil, he helps us to find healing and strength.
HEALING, NOT A MAGIC CURE
We can be sure that God will answer our prayer for healing and strength. We may find ourselves cured of an illness or relieved from pain. But God’s healing may come in other ways. He may help us face our illness or pain with new courage. Or He may lead us gently to accept death as the natural end to our illness and the way to a closer relationship with Him in his glory.
CLEARING UP A MISUNDERSTANDING
Many people believe that if someone is anointed in the Sacrament of the Sick, it means they are about to die. This is a misunderstanding which the new service helps to clear up. In the past it is true that the full meaning of the Sacrament has been partly lost, and people were usually anointed only during the “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction”. The modern service makes it clear that the Sacrament of the Sick is very much for the living. It is a celebration of God’s love and care for his people in illness of body or mind.
WHEN CAN I ASK FOR THE SACRAMENT?
Coughs and colds usually sort themselves out, perhaps with the help of some medicine. But medicine bottles always carry a label saying “if symptoms persist, consult your doctor”. Even when we have been receiving medical care an illness may drag on and get us down. This may be a time to ask for the Sacrament.
Illness can be more complicated than it first seems. Anxiety and worry can make us ill. We can become depressed and feel all out of joint with life. Through the Sacrament of the Sick, God may help us to become less anxious.
For people facing surgery, even a minor operation, the Sacrament ca assure us of God’s love and bring confidence and trust at a testing time.
People often turned to Jesus for healing. They found strength and peace in his presence and in his words and healing touch.
IF you are looking for the peace and healing touch that comes from Jesus, the Sacrament of the Sick may be for you. If you are not sure, you can always talk to a priest about it.
WE CAN RECEIVE CHRIST’S HEALING TOUCH IN THE SACRAMENT OF THE SICK
Holy Unction
