Part 5 Pastoral and Canonical Issues

Chapter 53 Pastoral Issues

Preliminary Questions

What does it feel like when you are sick?  How do you feel when you are ministered to? How do you feel when you are getting well?

Ask the persons next to you to talk about how they feel when they are sick.  What was unique in these stories?  What was common?  Sense of loss.  Passivity.  Feelling alone, cut off, different from normal.  In pain.  Why me?  When will this end?  I will never be the same.  I can't do my work. (ergo: loss of identity).

What is your favorite passage of Scripture where Jesus heals someone?

What have you been taught about the meaning of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick? In what ways does your understanding of the sacramental and liturgical ministry to the sick complement what you have learned in your Clinical Pastoral Education?  In what areas does there seem to be a discrepancy? What is the difference between the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Extreme Unction? What is Viaticum?

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Bibliography

Borrelli, Susan. With Care: Reflections of a Minister to the Sick. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1980. 50 pp. $1.90. [Very readable and very practical suggestions for anyone who undertakes a ministry for the sick.]

Champlin, Rev. Joseph M. Together by Your Side: A Book for Comforting the Sick and Dying. Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1984.

Champlin, Rev. Joseph M. and Taylor, Susan Champlin. A Thoughtful Word, A Healing Touch: A Guide for Visiting the Sick. Twenty-Third Publications. 199?.

Suffering and The Catholic Tradition, Elizabeth Johnson, C.S.J., Ph. D. Audio Cassette Tape, St. Anthony Messenger Press A6831.

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The Mystery of Suffering

The current Ritual, Pastoral Care of the Sick, speaks of the "Mystery of Suffering" in the very first paragraph: 

Suffering and illness have always been among the greatest problems that trouble the human spirit.  Christians feel and experience pain as do all other people; yet their faith helps tem to grasp more deeply the mystery of suffering ad to bear their pain with greater courage.  From Christ's words they know that sickness has meaning and value for their own salvation and for the salvation of the world.  They also know that Christ, who during his life often visited and healed the sick, loves them in their illness.

1. The recipient of the sacrament. The key to understanding the recipient of the sacrament is to look to the text of the rite itself. As we apply the principal of Lex orandi. They key prayer is the Berakah Over the Oil.

Let us Pray
God of all consolation,
you chose and sent your Son to heal the world.
Graciously listen to our prayer of faith:
Send the power of you Holy Spirit , and the Consoler,
into this precious oil, this soothing ointment,
this rich gift, this fruit of the earth.

Bless this oil and sanctify it for our use.

Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it;
heal them in body, in soul, and in spirit,
and deliver them from every affliction.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you the Holy Spirit,
on God, for ever and ever.

R. Amen

Commentary TRR

Note that the epiclesis prays for healing in "body, in sole, and in spirit."

This relates to the three fold understanding of what makes us human. Body, that is we exist in the present, the here and now. Sole, that is we exist in the past and in the future and in Spirit refers to the transcendent dimension of our lives. These three elements relate to healing that is physical, mental, and spiritual.

8. As the eucharist is the basic sacrament, it gives it form and shape to all the sacraments. As the shape of the eucharist is gathering, story telling, meal sharing, and commissioning so the shape of Anointing is gathering, story telling, anointing, commissioning.

9. Gathering. The Rite begins with water, which reminds us of our baptism. This is next in line. This is not blessing the house, or simply forgiving sins, it reminds of the unity of all sacraments; below the iceberg which metaphor is active, that of the *shoebox* or that of the *ripples in the pond*. In baptism die with Christ to sarx in sinfulness and rise to new life. Anointing of the sick is one way in which this dying and rising is manifest. The ding is real dying as exemplified in illness and suffering. All sacraments work out our baptism.

Story Telling

The liturgy of the word is integral to all the sacraments sacraments are worded sign. The word makes present Christ in the scripture.

The two key passages are Mark 6 and James.

When the anointing is a regular occurrence in a parish, these passages are not to be used each time for they would then lose their meaning by overuse. Consider how the Sunday readings are most always appropriate for Masses healing the sick. Note in the table of liturgical days that one or the other reading can be substituted on those days that are not among numbers 1 to 4 in the table of liturgical days.

Blessing the Oil

Cannon 999 states that "incase of necessity, the priest may bless the oil." This necessity is not only in the cases where there is no oil, this necessity may also be pastoral necessity, that is the need for the people to hear the Berakah as it is proclaimed. Think of the parallel of the eucharist, a communion service and the eucharist itself.       

"The full participation of those present must be fostered by every means, especially through the use of appropriate songs, so that the celebration manifests the Easter joy which is proper to this sacrament" (#108).

"where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Mt. 18:20).

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Important Items for Catechizes

When students in 12:906 Sacraments of Vocation and Healing were asked (June 28, 1995), "What information do you think (now that you have studied and practiced this sacrament) would be most helpful to those to whom you minister and to Catholics in general?" They responded as follows:

1. The sacraments should be celebrated more frequently. (9 votes)

2. Eucharist is the paradigm for all the sacraments and consequently, also the paradigm for the anointing of the sick. One of the implications of this is that as the Second Vatican Council states, "When provision is made in a right for a communal celebration, this way of celebrating is to be preferred to a celebration that is quasi-private. The sacrament of anointing involves the entire community, the parish, family, and friends. (8 votes)

3. Touch is of the essence, imposition of hands is very important, people should take their time and show care. The touching should be personal, communal, reconciling, and sacred. The care givers and indeed the entire congregation should impose hands. (8 votes)

4. More catechizes should be given regarding the effects of the sacrament. The sacrament should result in peace and inner joy as a result of the encounter with the healing Christ in the community. Healing is much more than physical healing. Peace, unity, and spiritual healing are the sacrament’s certain outcome. All healing, both physical, spiritual, and psychological involves an awareness of God’s part in the process. (8 votes)

5. Anointing should be a sign of Christ’s company on our life journey. (6 votes)

6. As with Eucharist the sacramental symbols and gestures should be ample and rich. They should be large, genuine, and real. The anointing should signify God’s abundance. (6 votes)

7. The sacrament should truly be a celebration. Not only for those who are ill but also for the care-givers and the entire parish. (6 votes)

8. Jesus is the primordial sacrament. (4 votes)

9. Being present is the most important aspect of ministry. (4 votes)

10. The sacraments have developed through the centuries and continue to develop. Both in their liturgical celebration and in our theological understanding of them. (3 votes.)

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Guide for Visiting the Sick

During the course 12:425 Anointing and Funerals offered at Saint Meinrad School of Theology during the spring semester of 2006, the participants in the course each composed a list of "ministry guidelines", things that are important in our own ministry to the sick and/or things that we would make the major emphasis of a training session we might conduct for parish ministers to the sick. Together we evaluated and prioritized the items. The list that follows contains the 15 items that the participants voted most important.

1. “Good will” is not enough. Ministers must be trained. There should be training programs in each parish to prepare people to minister effectively. (9 votes)

2. We are merely “instruments.” It is the Lord who does the work– Christ within us. (9 votes)

3. The minister must have an accurate understanding of the Body of Christ. We are ministering to the sick as to Christ himself. And it is Christ himself who ministers in and through us.  (9 votes)

4. We must meet people where they are (not where we might want them to be).  (9 votes)

5. Realize we are mere instruments of God; the Lord enables; Christ is with us.   (9 votes)

6. The minister must carefully examine personal beliefs about sickness and suffering. The minister must be in a position to offer genuine hope and consolation (rather than platitudes and patronizing the patient). ( 7 votes)

7. Respect boundaries. Seek permissions. The sick person should always be in control of the visit.  (6 votes)

8. Strive to be a holistic healer; body, mind and spirit; not a "fix it" person.  (6 votes)

9. Honestly evaluating/reflecting on pastoral visits, to continually learn how to be a better minister to others. (5 votes)

10. Prepare yourself for this ministry through personal prayer and reflection, spiritual direction, and by reviewing previous visits and assessing areas of success and failure. Be prepared to witness to the scripture, tradition, and faith. (5 votes)

11. Be honest and authentic. This is giving another person the gift of yourself. Being your true self would seem the best indication that you are truly present, as well as shows reverence for God and for the person whom you're visiting.  (5 votes)

12. Empty yourself. As best you can, try to empty yourself of your own concerns and your own agendas prior to each visit so that you are better able to receive what they are giving. Praying beforehand is an excellent way to do this.  (4 votes)

13. Bring hope. Even in what may seem like a hopeless situation from a physiological perspective, be a witness to the hope that our faith offers. Proclaim the awesomeness of our loving and merciful God.  (4 votes)

14. Resolve issues of personal grief. Be aware of motivation and expectations.  (4 votes)

15. Pray for the sick outside of the ministry setting.  (4 votes)

A professional in the field makes these suggestions: 

A)  Keep a notebook of your visit.  Each visit should enable you to go deeper. 
B)  Do not pray unless you are invited to do so by the patient.  Often the desire to pray is meeting the needs of the minister and not the sick person.
C)  If you begin the visit by asking, "How are you feeling today?"  The question will often receive multiple answers.  You might ask, "Which of these is most important?"
D)  Help them find there own resources.  Do not give advice.  You are there as a spiritual companion, not a teacher. 
E)  Shortly after you leave record in your journal, "What happened pastorally?"  Was there a moment of grace? Did you agree on something? Did you agree to do something?

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Frequently Asked Questions

1.  When visiting someone terminally ill who is in great pain and they question why God is doing this? What do you tell them?   What is the purpose of suffering?  Is it not cruel of a "loving" God not to release them from this pain?

2.  Please say a few about anointing of the elderly and the recommended frequency.

3.  What kind (type) of oil? Does it need to be blessed? By whom? Will the parish priest share his from the Chrism Mass? Should we get our own at Chrism Mass?

4.  Recently a friend of mine was anointed with this sacrament of healing toward the end of the Saturday evening Eucharist. Although I felt this to be very effective for my friend, I felt somewhat saddened that the ritual took place below the communion rail and it was not possible for the community to participate. Is this typical? What insights do you have on this? This was the first time I had observed this sacrament.

I was always hesitant to call a priest for the sacrament of "extreme unction" even when I know that the person it would be administered to is dying because either the priest will say "I am busy right now" or "I’ll go tomorrow". Is there a clear cut rule or rule of thumb for a priest when called to administer this sacrament? In relation to the above, can we the extra-ordinary minister, be allowed to administer the Sacrament of Anointing when we can bring the Holy Eucharist to them?

Do you foresee that Anointing of the Sick can be extension of a communal celebration of sick?

For those who have the good fortune to receive the anointing repeatedly, what do you consider an appropriate interval between anointings?

I have a child that has Lourette’s Syndrome and is brain damaged and will never be cured. Can he receive the Sacrament of Healing? And if he can, how often?

I was healed of a serious cancer three years ago. How can I share that experience with the sick without sounding "proud" or "better" than other sick people?

I’m a new Catholic. What is the difference between the way a Catholic prays for healing and the way the television ministers pray? It is the same Spirit?

Some are miraculously healed and some aren’t. Some are gifted to heal. How do we know who they are?

With long-term illnesses and terminal sicknesses how are the healing or prayers given? We have many persons living in remission and it’s different from years ago. What do you say if someone will never be healed? Are there any conflicts between what the doctor says and the priest says?

Why are we healed sometimes and sometimes we aren’t? Are we predestined to live to a certain time? I was healed from headaches, now I have ulcers that are very painful.

Can a women administer extreme unction if there is no priest available?

On both a personal and pastoral ministry level, I have had to "shop around" to find a priest whose theology was geared to the needs of the sick, i.e. his own decision to withhold this sacrament of the sick. What are we to do when, e.g. a cancer patient who has been anointed several months previous and will be having another surgery, wants to be anointing again?

Can anyone administer the Sacrament of the Anointing?

Our Charismatic friends are confident in the healing power of the Holy Spirit. I feel that the healing gift in this sacrament is not taught. We should be excited as Catholics that the gifts and graces are so available in all our sacraments. Are we embarrassed to be anointed by God? Our sacraments should not only be a physical sign but a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Is there any movement toward the possibility of lay people being ministers of the sacrament? This seems appropriate since so many are involved in healing ministry.

You talked about the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick then you said the Eucharist was the sacrament of the dying. Is not the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick what we used to call the Last Rights of the Church? Please explain.

Could arthritis, though not crippling, be considered chronic enough disease to be eligible to receive the anointing of the sick?

Why can’t Deacons administer the sacrament?

What is the difference between a Charismatic anointing and the forgiveness of sin?

What to do with the oil in a home after you bless it.

What to do when they end up really oily?

What to do in emergency situations, e.g. auto accident?

What is the difference between a sacramental and a non sacramental anointing?

I have read that Eucharist should be taken to the shut-ins on Sunday if at all possible. How important is this requirement? Would I be considered selfish if I choose to use another day and keep Sunday open for my own rest or relaxation?

Please explain the difference between Sacrament of the Sick and the laying on of hands given by a "healing priest" at the Marian Conference.

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To Think About

1.  What ministerial skills would you like to possess in order to help your parishioners celebrate this sacrament fruitfully?

2.  What are you going to do in your parish to encourage the more frequent celebration of the sacrament?

3.  If you were to preach on the sacrament, what would be the major points of your homily?

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© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved.  This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.  Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own.  Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it.  This site was updated on 10/07/08 .  Your comments on this site are welcome at tomrichs@psci.net.