Secular History |
Church History |
Ministry to the Sick and Dying |
John L. Allen in The Future Church, writes that ministry to the sick, dying, and bereaved will become increasingly important in the years to come:
•Chaplains in nursing homes,
assisted living facilities, and hospitals;
•Ministry to shut-ins,
including the need for Eucharistic Ministers who can take the sacrament to
elderly parishioners;
•Demand for funerals and
anointing of the sick;
•Pastoral Programs to help
people deal with bereavement and loss;
•Catholic nursing homes,
hospitals and daycare centers.
In her 2005 book Theological Bioethics, Boston College theologian Lisa Sowle Cahill analyzes Western approaches to aging, decline, and death in terms of three contemporary trends: individualism, meaning self -determination; the medicalization of social problems, such as the proper balance between independence and dependence; and the refusal to accept that life has limits, resulting in frustration and despair when science, technology, and money fail to take away suffering that is inevitably part of life. One task for a contemporary theology of aging, she writes, is to develop an alternative Catholic understanding of death and dying, one more rooted in community, in spirituality and moral discipline, and in an acceptance of the finitude of life rooted in faith about the life to come." (John L. Allen, The Future Church. Double Day Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-0-385-52038-6. pp162-163, 168.)
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1975
December The Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy (BCL) (Now
= The Bishops' Committee for Divine Worship, BCDW) asked for a broad based consultation from those using the
Interim Rite. They ask about:
1) The translation of the text;
2) The layout
and presentation of the rite;
3) The selection and position of the scripture
readings;
4) The use and adequacy of individual rubrics;
5) The use and adequacy
of individual rubrics;
6) Suggested additions to the rite or its general
introduction;
7) Suggest adaptations for the dioceses of the United States;
8)
Suggestions as to how the rite might be made more pastorally useful.
1983 Sept 01 Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum (USA)
2001 March 20 The instruction Liturgical Translation, ICEL, and Vox Clara A shift "below the iceberg" has taken place regarding the translation of liturgical texts. “Comme le prevoit: On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation (1969)” is replaced by Liturgiam authenticam: The Fifth Instruction for the Right Application of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council." March 28, 2001. ICEL is reorganized. Vox Clara is established.
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Questions regarding the "minister" of the sacrament See the discussion in Chapter s33 The Minister of Anointing
Communal Celebrations at Sunday Eucharist As the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy stated: "It is to be stressed that whenever rites, according to their specific nature, make provision for communal celebration involving the presence and active participation of the faithful, this way of celebrating them is to be preferred, so far as possible, to a celebration that is individual and quasi-private." (SC 27) This begins to be applied also to the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Paul the VI himself presides at communal Anointings in St. Peter's Basilica and speaks very positively of these healing experiences.
MOODLE postings
Anointing is on forehead and then
both hands. Priest is only proper minister of the sacrament of anointing
of the sick.
Deacons or lay ministers may need to be extended
authorization to minister this sacrament due to shortage of priests.
Now defined a serious sickness and has come to include mental
problem, including PTSD. Perhaps there will come a time when Deacons can perform
the entire rite – continuing shortage of Priests.
The most significant change that remains
to take place is the Church's general understanding of the sacrament. All
the pieces are in place for it to play a significant role in the daily life of
the church except the general understanding of its significance and free access
to it. It remains connected in the minds af the average parishioner to
"Extreme Unction."
Effects of
lack of
priests. Question of
how sick one
must be to receive sacrament. Discussion of
what gets healed through the
sacrament – body, mind, spirit.
Matter - olive oil preferred. Rite for
communal celebration. For healing
mind, spirit, body. 'Seriously ill' definition still debated. Laity often
confused understanding the Sacrament.
Anoint for seriously ill still in effect, first onset of serious illness,
viaticum, food for journey is last sacrament received, communal anointing,
sacrament confers grace of healing body, mind and spirit which includes
forgiveness of sin, overall pastoral thrust, widens understanding of
priest/minister and recipient [Tom R – I don't think it was "confusion" -- It
was (and is) simply that the bishops hold different theologies of the sacrament
-- They are more confident than confused; it is just that they don't agree.]
The old ideas attached to "Extreme Unction" are slowly fading as familiarity
with the new "Rite of Pastoral Care for the Sick" takes hold. The new rite
emphasizes that the sick are to be
cared
for by all in the community (33) through prayers, visits, anointing, and
viaticum.
Use subjected to varying interpretations and limited availability; Need for more
catechesis of both clergy and laity. Communal anointing not yet fully utilized
or realized.
Ecumenical convergence: Eastern
Orthodox/Anglican Communion anoint; Episcopal - ministry of word and laying on
of hands; Lutheran; United Church of Christ; Presbyterian
AFTER VATICAN II sees the primacy of the experience vs. the doctrine and
mechanics. Becomes a
sacrament of
wholeness of body, mind, spirit. Issues "Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites
of Anointing and Viaticum". Allows communal anointing. Variety of
interpretations. Opens door for Eucharistic ministers as ministers to the sick
and elderly.
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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 07/23/10 . Your comments on this site are welcome at tomrichs@psci.net.