7/JESUS
7/2 ANOINTING OF THE SICK
JESUS CURED A LEPER. A leper came to
Jesus, knelt down in front of him, and begged to be cured. Jesus then touched
him and the man was immediately cured. Jesus then told him to go and see the
priest which was required to confirm his cure and to tell no one about the
cure. The man was so happy that he told others of his blessing. This is one
example of Jesus curing the sick as he also cured the blind, the deaf, the
lame, and many others.
PRAY FOR THE SICK. In the New
Testament letter of James, the people are instructed to pray for the sick and
suffering. The sick person should call for the help of a priest and they should
pray for him and anoint him with oil. The sick person will have his sins
forgiven and will be granted eternal life. This instruction of the early Church
follows the example of Jesus who cured and forgave the sins of the sick. This
act of mercy is continued today through the sacrament of the anointing by
praying for the sick and suffering.
THE RITE OF THE ANOINTING OF THE
SICK. Any sick person with a serious illness may request to receive this
sacrament. It may be ministered more than once. There are two parts to the
sacrament. 1) While the priest and the Catholics present pray for the ill person,
the priest places his hands on the head of the sick person asking for help. 2)
The priest then anoints the forehead and the palms of the hands of the person
with the sign of the cross. This results in the forgiveness of all of the sins,
the strengthening of the faith, and the hope of a cure.
