II. Sacrament of Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick

Sacrament Of Healing

• Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, man receives the new life of Christ

• Now we carry this life in earthen vessels and it remains hidden with Christ in God

Sacrament Of Healing

• We are still in our earthly tent, subject to suffering, illness, and death

• This new life as a child of god can be weakened and even lost by sin

• the lord jesus christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the paralytic's sins and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his church continue in the power of the Holy Spirit, His work of healing and salvation even among her own members

Sacrament Of Reconciliation

instituted by christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest’s absolution to those who with true sorrows confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same

Confession

• disclosure of conscience and revelation of sins in absolute confidentiality

Penance

• acts to deepen conversion and to sin no more

Conversion

• conformation to the image of christ

Biblical Foundation John

• On the evening of the first day of the week, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among the disciples, saying, “Peace be with you.”

• Jesus said again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then He breathed on them and said, Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Reconciliation: Sacramental Matter

• repentance

• confession or disclosure of sins to the priest

• the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation

• which sins must be confessed:

  • all grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance.

Reconciliation: Sacramental Form

• words of absolution

• "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Reconciliation: Valid Minister

• Priest &  Bishop

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

Apostasy, heresy, schism

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• violation of comsecreated species

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• physical attack on pope or bishop 

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• a priest who absolves an accomplice in sexual activity

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• unauthorized ordination of a bishop

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• direct violation by a confessor of the seal of confession

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• anyone who reveals the overheard confession of another

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• pretended celebration of the eucharist by a non priest

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• attempted marriage by a religious or cleric

Reserved Sins to the Pope or Local Ordinary

• formal cooperation in abortion

St. John of Nepomocene

• Every confessor, without any exception and under very severe penalties, is bound to maintain “the sacramental seal” which means absolute secrecy about the sins revealed to him in confession. (SEAL OF CONFESSION)

Examination of Conscience

• Review the Ten Commandments or the Seven Capital Sins. 

• Distinguish between mortal and venial sins.

  1. Mortal sin - a grave act committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.

Confession

• Desire God's mercy in the sacrament: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was…”

• Confess your sins: “These are my sins…”

Contrition

• “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.”

Satisfaction/Penance

• Prayer

• Offering

• Works of Mercy

• Service

• Self-Denial

• Sacrifices

• Patient Acceptance of the Cross

Absolution

Absolution

contrition

to make amends

imperfect contrition

motivated by fear or punishment

perfect contrition

motivated by fear of offending God (& His love)

Sacramental Grace of Reconciliation

• forgiveness of sins & Reconciliation w/God

• recovery of the state of grace

• remission of eternal punishment from mortal sins

• peace, serenity of conscience and spiritual consolation

• reconciliation w/the church

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

• intended to confer a special grace upon Christians experiencing the difficulties associated with serious illness or old age.

Former name: Extreme Unction (Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick)

• Last rites - this sacrament is not only for the dying but also for the infirm aged and those preparing for major surgery

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

• through this sacrament the church continutes to care for the sick and dying as jesus did during his earthly ministry.

• Illness and suffering remind us of our human limitations. Without Christ, suffering can lead to despair and rebellion against God

• Through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, we encounter Christ and transform suffering into a path of redemption.

Biblical Foundation James 5:13-16 

• If you're suffering, pray; if you're joyful, sing praise.

• Is anyone among you sick (asthenei)? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Confess your sins and pray for each other to be healed—the prayer of the righteous is powerful.

Important points from the letter of James:

Prayer is applied to three existential situations: (a) those who suffer should pray; (b) those are joyful should sing praise; (c) those who are sick should seek the prayer of the presbyters.

Important points from the letter of James:

Important points from the letter of James:

“Asthenia” does not refer to grave illness but to any illness. The presbyters are called to minister to the to the sick and not just the dying.

Important points from the letter of James:

While the illness may be bodily, the healing of the person is both bodily (anointing) and spiritual (prayer of faith).

Important points from the letter of James:

Those who are called to heal have ecclesial authority not merely charismatic power.

Anointing of the Sick: Matter

• Oil of the Sick

  • The anointing is typically done on the forehead and hands of the sick person, or on other parts of the body in the Eastern rite.

Anointing of the Sick: Form

• Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.

• The sacrament is celebrated by the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person or of other parts of the body. 

Anointing of the Sick: Form

• The administration of the sacrament of Anointing of the sick is encouraged in periculo mortis (in danger of death) not in articulo mortis (in the point of death). In articulo mortis means that the person is in the point of dying wherein his/her senses already falters and the administration of the sacrament seems meaningless to the person because of his/her condition.

Viaticum

Latin: provision for a journey

Sacramental Grace of Anointing of the Sick

• Viaticum (Latin: provision for a journey):

  • It is the Holy Eucharist given to those who are about to leave this earthly life and are preparing for the journey to eternal life.

• unites the sick to the Passion of Christ

• comfort, peace, courage, and forgiveness of sins

• restoration of physical health (if God wills it)

• prepares the sick for journey to the Father's house