by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M.

Q U I C K S C A N

What is the Sacrament of Anointing? The Last Rites?
What if there is no physical healing?

Readers reflect on Friar Jack’s musings

What is Anointing of the Sick? The Last Rites?

Jesus was so thoughtful of us in instituting his sacraments. Remember, a sacrament, besides being a visible sign of invisible grace, is also an encounter with Jesus himself. We Catholics have seven sacraments. (Seven is the biblical number for fullness.) When you think about them, they touch our full lives, from birth (Baptism) to death (Anointing) and many times in between (Penance, Eucharist, etc.).

If you look at Jesus’ ministry, frequently we hear of him healing the sick: the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8), lepers (Matthew 8:2-4) and the blind (Matthew 9:27-31). Further, Jesus promised that he would not abandon us—including the sick—when he ascended to the Father. True to his word, he gave us the sacraments, the Sacrament of Anointing being a continuation of Jesus’ healing. For many centuries, this sacrament was referred to and limited to the “Last Rites” or Extreme Unction as strictly a preparation for death. But with the liturgical changes in Vatican II, the Church wanted to provide healing not just as a preparation for death but also for the many times in our lives when we experience sickness. True, Jesus did raise the dead to life; but there are many more accounts of his restoring the sick to health and forgiving their sins.

The basis for this ancient rite is found in the Letter of James: “If there are sick among you, they should call in the presbyters (priests) of the Church. They in turn are to pray over him, anointing him in the name of the Lord. This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will restore him to health. If he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his” (5:14-15).

Anointing can be given any time a person is sick or when an illness takes a turn for the worse. Remember, as James tells us, this sacrament is “uttered in faith” that the Lord will heal as he wills. The beautiful prayer the priest prays as he anoints the forehead and the palms of the hands is: “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit and may the Lord raise you up and save you from sin. Amen.”

What if there is no physical healing?

Healings take place in body and spirit. However, if you recall, the physical healings at Lourdes, for example, are fairly limited. But spiritual and emotional healings occur in untold numbers. A paralyzed person may leave Lourdes still paralyzed but will testify with all his heart that he was healed within. An apparent lack of physical healing in no way indicates any lack of faith on the part of the person being anointed.

One of the most significant things to remember is that even though the priest anoints the person, it is indeed Jesus through the sacrament who heals. This is not just some religious motion we go throughRather it is, as said above, “an encounter with Jesus himself.”

In the case of someone who is dying, the priest also prays some of the most beautiful prayers of the Church: “Go forth, faithful Christian, in the name of God, the almighty Father, in the name of Jesus Christ his only son who suffered and died for you, in the name of the Holy Spirit who is poured out upon you, go forth, faithful Christian.” What is so significant is that the priest is not praying just as himself. He represents the entire Church on earth and in heaven. In other words, the entire Christian community is praying for this dying person, their brother or sister.

While a chaplain at a nursing home for eleven years, I anointed thousands of people, helping prepare individuals for their meeting with Jesus when they breathed their last. The sacraments remind us again that Jesus’ acts of healing did not end 2,000 years ago. He is with us always, touching us at all stages of our lives.

Friar Jack’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jack’s musings on “As a New Papacy Begins…”

Some comments from Friar Jack:
We received a good variety of letters on my last E-spiration regarding the new pope, Benedict XVI. We have space for only a few of them. We’ll just let the letters speak for themselves. As I’ve said before, I appreciate and read all your letters and pray for you and your loved ones. I regret I can’t publish or answer all of them. Friar Jack

Dear Friar Jack: Just a note to let you know that I am an Episcopalian. I am a senior citizen, working past retirement age at Holy Names University in Oakland, CA, which was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. I work for several of the Sisters who are a wonderful group, and after over 17 years here I feel as much “at home” in a Catholic service as in my own Episcopal church in Berkeley, California.

I wanted to let you know I always enjoy your newsletter. You are doing an amazing job and I appreciated your words about Pope Benedict. Know that he is in my prayers as is the Holy Catholic Church. I am pleased to see that ecumenism is on the list of priorities. It works well at our rather small Catholic university here and hopefully will work well in the world at large. God bless. Pat

Dear Friar Jack: Do you honestly think Pope Benedict will read the Second Vatican Council recommendations for the place of women in the Church? Where would we be without the help of women as Eucharist ministers and so many things. I don’t see much promise in his words. Will try to give him time. Thanks. MVF

Dear Friar Jack: As a convert to Catholicism from the Fundamentalist Baptist Church 15 years ago, my biggest stumbling block that was so hard for me to accept was the Communion of Saints. From my background, if one didn’t find it in the Bible word for word, then it wasn’t to be taken as belief.…I, now appreciating and believing in the Communion of Saints, am so blessed, as we all are, to have lived during the time of two most holy (soon to be) saints: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Pope John Paul II (The Great). I feel that His Holiness’s passing will bring many into the Church and hopefully bring those who have left the Church back into the Church! The news media did an excellent job in covering the funeral, conclave, etc. I have never been so proud to be a Catholic—as we all should be! May God the Holy Spirit fill and lead his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, may the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the angels and saints pray for him and the whole Church and may God bless him! God bless you and your ministry! Darren and Family

Dear Friar Jack: I have just read your latest newsletter. I have the feeling that when the "litany of the saints" is prayed that a roll call is taking place and the saints are there praying with us. F.

Dear Friar Jack: I am blessed by God. I was born on July 11, 1916, St. Benedict’s feast day. Benedict XV was our pope. God has given us the privilege of good health, sound mind and body to be alive when Benedict XVI is our Holy Father. Robert

Dear Robert: We are happy that you are alive and in good health and able to experience another Pope Benedict. May God continue to bless you.

For our readers’ information: Pope Benedict XV was pope from September 3, 1914, to January 22, 1922. Friar Jack

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

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