Importance of the Anointing of the Sick

In the New Testament numerous episodes are described in which Jesus Christ maintains a very close relationship with the people who suffer, especially with the sick and disabled. The closeness of Jesus Christ to the sick had a specific purpose: to provide him with spiritual comfort.

Apart from this, it must not be forgotten that some patients with gravity they were healed through one of his miracles. His healing miracles had a double purpose: the announcement of the kingdom of heaven and the healing physical and spiritual of those who suffer.

The anointing of the sick is a sacrament that is inspired by the attitude of Christ

In the Christian tradition, the different churches maintain the custom of approaching people who are sick or with some physical limitation. In this sense, there is a specific sacrament: the anointing of the sick. In the celebration of said sacrament, a priest personally visits the patient in his place of residence.

The priest anoints the faithful's forehead and hands with oil and then prays with him. With this ceremony the sins of the sick faithful are forgiven. Thus, this sacrament is received together with confession and the Holy Eucharist.

The Sacrament of Extreme Unction is given to people who are very close to death.

However, the anointing of the sick is not given to dying people but to those who suffer from an illness that prevents them from attending the Eucharist and receiving the sacraments. While the extreme rites are normally received near the time of death, the anointing of the sick can be received periodically.

From a spiritual point of view, this sacrament is an aid to accept and assume suffering on the part of the sick person. Thus, instead of adopting an attitude of restlessness and discomfort due to the fact of suffering some pain or limitation, the sick person manages to accept her limitations and suffering with resignation. In others words, with the anointing of the sick it is intended to provide a strengthening of the spirit.

In the Catholic tradition

The function of this sacrament is explained in the Catholic catechism. In the first place, with him the grace of the holy spirit is sought, that is, the union of the suffering of the sick with the suffering that Jesus Christ suffered on the cross.

Secondly, the holy anointing prepares the soul of the faithful to face their personal experience in the hands of God.

Thirdly, there is a union with the passion of Christ or, in other words, when someone requesting this sacrament is asking that the suffering of Christ be part of the suffering of the sick.

Lastly, a grace is obtained from the church and, at the same time, the patient prepares himself spiritually for the possible arrival of death.

Fotolia images: Morphart, Fluenta, Renata Sedmakova