CATECHISM FOR FILIPINO CATHOLICS CHAPTER 27 Christ’s Healing: Reconciliation and Anointing Bible Verse: Is there anyone sick aong yo!" He sho!ld ask #or the $resbyters o# the Ch!rch% They in t!rn are to $ray o&er hi' anointing hi (ith oil in the )ae *o# the +ord,% This $rayer !ttered in #aith (ill reclai the one (ho is ill' and the +ord (ill restore hi to health% I# he has coitted any sins' #orgi&eness (ill be his% (Jas 5:14-15)
1761. B!t Christ #oresa( that h!an ills and (eaknesses (o!ld lead e&en ba$ti-ed Christians to .t!rn aside #ro *their, /rst lo&e0 *c#% R& 2:1,% He there#ore e$o(ered his a$ostles (ith the Holy $irit to bring 3od’s o(n healing and #orgi&eness o# sins they coitted a#ter ba$tis *c#% 4n 25:2628,% The Christians ans'' then' then' is not not h!an h!an s!9erin s!9ering g and sin' b!t b!t %&'s pria priar! r! r"a#i r"a#i$! $! #or Christi %&'s "a#i*+ "a#i*+ and ,&r+i"*"ss o# sin% .e go so #ar as to ake 3od o!r boast thro!gh o!r +ord 4es!s Christ thro!gh (ho (e ha&e no( recei&ed reconciliation%0 *Ro ;:65, Reconciliation and the 176 176.. This cha$ter on Christ’s healing' ebracing both the acraent o# Reconciliation acraent o# Anointing' Anointing' oined >oined to the Risen Risen Christ Christ o!r a&ior' a&ior' in his his Body Body the Ch!rch% Ch!rch% ?oreo& ?oreo&er' er' the Eucharist (Chap. 26), 26), in (hich (e celebrate Christ’s redeeing sacri/ce' re$airs o!r less grie&o!s in>!ries and reconciles !s in o!r lo&ing relationshi$s (ith 3od and o!r neighbor% $artic!larly i$ortant beca!se Vatican Vatican II initiated a major renewal in the 176/. 176/. This cha$ter is $artic!larly !nderstanding o# both acraents o# Healing% First ' the coon naes o# both acraents ha&e been Grace, Grace, Sin, chan change ged d to brin bring g o!t o!t the the dee$ dee$er er'' #!ll #!ller er ean eanin ing g o# the the # aith-realities aith-realities involved involved:: Contrition, Forgiveness, Sickness, Sickness, an Healing. Second, the and Healing. the iag iage e o# Chri Christ st as “healing Physician” Physician” is regained% astl!, both astl!, both Reconciliation and Anointing deal (ith basic iss!es o# daily Christian li&ing o# (hat it eans to #ollo( 4es!s Christ as his disci$les in e&eryday li#e% 1764. =ili$inos are kno(n the (orld o&er #or their any healing (ays' and es$ecially #or their dee$ $ersonal relationshi$ relationshi$s% s% Th!s' both acraents o# Healing: Healing: Reconciliation Reconciliation and Anointing Anointing o# the ick' to!ch soething dee$ly rooted in o!r c!lt!re% The =ili$ino’s =ili$ino’s dee$ly#elt desire #or 3od’s orgiveness, and #or spiritual healing an! reconciliation, is clearly ani#ested thro!gh &ario!s $rayer counseling, almsgiving #or the and charisat charisatic ic gro!$s' gro!$s' and in social ser&ice ser&ice acti&itie acti&ities% s% $irit!a $irit!all counseling, $eo$l $eo$le e ca!gh ca!ghtt in nat!r nat!ral al dis disast asters ers'' asting #or s$irit!al s$irit!al #a&ors' #a&ors' and any $erd!r $erd!ring ing de&otional de&otional healing an! penitential practices, practices, all ha&e sho(n rearkable gro(th in recent years% s!$erstition and ignorance i$ede the #!ll
II. ANOINTIN% OF THE SIC0 (ay% =or ea$le' ?arriage heals sel#centeredness Con/ration 1. All sacraents heal in soe (ay% heals the #ear o# (itnessing to Christ PenanceDRec PenanceDReconciliation onciliation heals heals o!r sin#!lness% B!t this acraent o# Anointing is healing in a s$ecial sense: it brings Christ’s co$assionate lo&ing healing to bear on those s!9ering serio!s sickness (c". CCC #4$$)% #4$$) % By 2"a#i*+0 (e do not necessarily ean a cure or era!ication o# the disease the era!ication o# disease or de#ect' de#ect' (hich the edical edical $ro#ession $ro#ession $!rs!es% $!rs!es% hile soe diseases diseases healing” by holistic car " that and e&ils ay be .inc!rable0 in the edical sense' there can be “healing” soul, and spirit o# the sick $erson to!ches to!ches the "o!y , soul, $erson (c". # %hes 5:23)% 5:23) % Healing' Healing' then' eans the $rocess by (hich $ersons are hel$ed to reali-e their #!ll $otential be#ore 3od and their #ello( en and (oen% The 3ood )e(s is $riarily abo!t healing' not .c!re0 in the c!rrent edical sense%
A. Si3*"ss 1/. e ha&e all e$erienced sickness at soe tie in o!r li&es (c". CCC #5&&-#). ?any o# !s ha&e s!9ered #ro serio!s and $rolonged illness' either $ersonally or thro!gh $ersons close to !s% Thro!gh this e$erience' (e becoe $ain#!lly a(are o# the any serio!s e9ects in body and s$irit o# gra&e and $rolonged illness% Serious illness "rings out our powerlessness an! ra!ical limitations as nothing else does% hen in good health' (e are acti&e' #eel !se#!l and needed by others' a real $art o# the co!nity% B!t (hen serio!s sickness strikes !s' (e can no longer act as (e (o!ld% e becoe co$letely de$endent on others' #eel !seless and isolated #ro the and #ro the co!nity% orry and aniety begin to de$ress !s' and soeties e&en te$t o!r Christian =aith% .hy did 3od send e this sickness" hat did I do to deser&e this"0 14. n the other hand' sickness can "ring us to a more mature Faith, hel$ing !s to discern (hat is really i$ortant in o!r li#e' against all the s!$er/cial' $assing attractions that so o#ten doinate !s% As Christians' o!r =aith hel$s !s to 'nderstand etter the !ster! o" s'*erin+ and to ear pain ore ravel! % =ro Christ’s (ords (e kno( that sickness has eaning and &al!e #or o!r o(n sal&ation and #or others% e also kno( ho( Christ lo&ed the sick' and o#ten healed the o# their in/rities (c". #). . Si3*"ss a*' Si* 15. erio!s sickness and $ain bring be#ore !s the threat o# death' and sho( the $o(er o# e&il in the (orld% ?any =ili$inos relate sic/ness !irectly to personal sin, !ch like the disci$les did in asking 4es!s: .Rabbi' (as it his sin or that o# his $arents that ca!sed hi to be born blind"’ 4es!s ans(ered F)either % % % it (as to let 3od’s (ork sho( #orth in hi’ 0 (0n $:2-3)% Christ (as sinless' yet .it (as o!r in/rities he bore' o!r s!9erings he end!red0 (1t :#) to #ree !s #ro o!r sins and death% ?oreo&er' Christ still s!9ers (hene&er (e s!9er' ebers o# his Body' the Ch!rch% 16. B!t (hile a $artic!lar sickness is not !s!ally directly related to a s$eci/c sin' sickness and sin are nevertheless relate! in a ore +eneral a! % ickness is the concrete sign o# the dee$er' ore general s$irit!al e&il in the (orld% ince sickness (eakens !s and $!lls !s do(n' it lays bare o!r hel$lessness and o!r nee! or care an! support . Th!s' sickness becoes the concrete sym"ol o# o!r inesca$able need #or deli&erance #ro the 'ltiate evil o" everlastin+ death. #t is rom this "asic evil that $esus has li"erate! us. C. Cris$ia* A$$i$'" $& Si3*"ss 17. As Christians' (e reali-e that rst, .it is $art o# the $lan laid do(n by 3od’s Pro&idence that (e sho!ld struggle against all sickness and care#!lly seek the blessings o# good health so that (e can #!l/ll o!r role in h!an society and in the Ch!rch0 ( 3). Secondl! ' (e reali-e that sic/ness is a si+n not o# a $artic!lar' $ersonal sin' b!t o" the oppressive presence o evil in o!r h!an sit!ation% %hirdl! ' this eans that all those (ho are serio!sly ill nee! the special help o# 3od’s grace lest' they be broken in s$irit and #all into te$tations and the (eakening o# their #aith (c". 5)% astl!, by >oining o!r s!9erings (ith Christ’s' our very su%erings can take on creati&e' sa&ing and trans#oring meaning an! value (c". S 24*). . Cris$ $" P!si3ia* 1. 4es!s cae to redee !s #ro all e&il and th!s ina!g!rate the .Gingdo o# 3od%0 By #orgi&ing sin and healing the sick and in/r' 4es!s sho(ed that .3od had &isited His $eo$le0 (c". / :#6) and .the Reign o# 3od (as at hand0 (c". 1/ #:#5)% He cleansed le$ers (c". / #:#2-#$), ga&e sight to the blind (c". 1/ #&:46-52), healed the dea#!te (c". 1/ :3#-3), the $aralytic (c". 1/ 2:3#2), the de#ored (c". 1/ 3:#-6), those s!9ering #ro dro$sy (c". / #4:#-6) heorrhage *c". 1/ 5:25-34), and $ossession (c". 1/ #:2#-27 CCC #5&3). 18. B!t in healing' 4es!s did not $er#or soe sort o# !ivine magic, nor did he intend to take the $lace o# all doctors and n!rses by (i$ing o!t all sickness% He healed only a &ery sall $ercentage o# the sick in Israel% E&en the relati&ely #e( (ho (ere c!red in body by 4es!s (o!ld grad!ally yield to old age and #!rther ills% The real i$ortance o# the "o!y&cures' then' (as to act as signs o" the ore radical healin+ over sin and death' the salvation o the whole person. 4es!s ne&er healed the body as an end in itsel#' b!t al(ays in &ie( o# bringing sal&ation to the (hole $erson, od! and so'l. Concretely' these healings in&ol&ed ,ai$ in 4es!s' and #ollo(ing hi in lo&ing obedience to 3od the =ather% 4es!s’ healing inistry !st !ltiately be gro!nded in his o(n li#e o# s!9ering' dying' and rising #ro the dead' (hereby he trans#ored the (hole eaning o# sickness and death% .At one and
the sae tie Christ has ta!ght !s to do good by o!r s!9ering and to do good to those (ho s!9er0 (S 3&7 c". CCC #5&4-5).
E. T" 2H"a#i*+ Cr39 1/. 4es!s ta!ght this care #or the sick to all (ho (o!ld #ollo( hi and #or his Ch!rch% In his $arable o# the 3ood aaritan (c". / #&: 2$-37 c". S 2*) and his descri$tion o# the +ast 4!dgent' Christ $ortrayed care #or the sick and in/r as a basic corporal work o mercy and a nor #or >!dging o!r &ery sal&ation% He e&en identi/ed hisel# (ith the sick: .I (as ill and yo! co#orted e' in $rison and yo! coe to &isit e0 (1t 25:36). Th!s (ithin the Ch!rch' (hile some ha&e recei&ed a s$ecial charism o healing #ro the Holy $irit (c". # Cor #2:$), all are calle! to visit the sick an! care or them (c". CCC #5&6). 1/1. 4es!s $assed on this inistry o# healing to his a$ostles in a $artic!lar #or% .4es!s s!oned the T(el&e and began to send the % % % they anointe! the sick with oil and (orked any c!res0 (1/ 6:,#3). The Risen Christ $roised the Ele&en that the sick !$on (ho they lai! their han!s (o!ld reco&er (c". 1/ #6:#). The Ch!rch #ashioned the acraent o# Anointing #ro these tets and #ro 4aes ;:616;% Is there anyone sick aong yo!" He sho!ld ask #or the $resbyters o# the Ch!rch% They in t!rn are to $ray o&er hi (ith oil in the )ae o# the +ord% This $rayer !ttered in #aith (ill reclai the one (ho is ill' and the +ord (ill restore hi health% I# he has coitted any sins' #orgi&eness (ill be his% (0as 5:#4", 8'oted ! %rent7 9 #6367 c". CCC #5#&). 1/. This tet (as !sed by Vatican II to re&ise and rene( the Rite o# the acraent o# Anointing% First ' since the acraent is #or ba$ti-ed Christians (ho are sick , not only .#or those (ho are at the $oint o# death'0 (c". SC 37 CCC #5#4) its nae is changed #ro .Etree @nction0 to '(nointing o the Sick.) The re&ised rit!al akes a clear distinction bet(een Pastoral Care .o# the ick'0 cliaed in the .Anointing o# the ick'0 and .o# the Jying0 (hich #oc!ses on . *iaticum0 or the E!charist .ith !o' on-the-a! 0 to the net li#e% Second, the ministers o the sacrament are not the charisatic .healers'0 b!t the $resbyters *$riests,' the .elders0 (hose a!thority ass!res the co!nity’s solidarity and !nity% They can' there#ore' act in the nae o# the (hole co!nity% Vatican II teaches it is .the whole Church0 (hich .coends those (ho are ill to the s!9ering and glori/ed +ord0 ( ##7 c". CCC #5#6). 1//. %hird, the sacraent heals not thro!gh any agic or nat!ral edicinal ca!ses' b!t thro!gh 'the prayer o Faith) and 'anointing in the name o the +or!.) Vatican II !rges the sick to .contrib!te to the good o# the (hole Peo$le o# 3od by #reely !niting thesel&es to the Passion and Jeath o# Christ0 ( ##). +ike the other sacraents' the Anointing o# the ick celebrates the Paschal ?ystery o# Christ and incor$orates those celebrating the sacraent ore dee$ly into Christ’s ?ystery% 1/4. Th!s' (e see once ore Christ as the Primor!ial Sacrament, and the Church as the Foun!ational Sacrament , acting (ithin this acraent o# the ick% T" Ris"* Cris$ is $" H"a#"r ' acting (ithin his Body' the Ch!rch' (hich a$$lies the )aeD$o(er o# .the s!9ering and glori/ed +ord0 to the sick Christian% Anointing is a sacraent o# ,ai$ .the sick $erson (ill be sa&ed by his #aith and the #aith o# the Ch!rch (hich looks back to the Jeath and Res!rrection o# Christ' the so!rce o# the sacraent’s $o(er' and looks ahead to the #!t!re Gingdo (hich is $ledged in the sacraents0 ( ). 1/5. astl!, .$racticalinded0 =ili$ino Catholics are o#ten te$ted to >!dge that the acraent .(orked0 i# the sick $erson got better' or .#ailed0 i# not% B!t this is a serio!s is!nderstanding o# the acraent% Christ’s &ictory o&er sickness and death is not conditional b!t absol!te% Celebrating the acraent does t(o actions: it $roclais Christ’s &ictory to the sick $erson as a truth o Faith, and elicits the sick $erson’s response o Faith in the $o(er o# the Risen Christ .(ho (ill gi&e a ne( #or to this lo(ly body o# o!rs and reake it according to the $attern o# his glori/ed body0 (;hil 3:2#). The Sacraments healing is the total' $ersonal healing' a .sa&ing and raising !$ o# the (hole $erson%0 )o ao!nt o# sickness' $ain' s!9ering and death itsel# can shake o!r con/dent =aith that o!r !ltiate healing is ass!red in Christ 4es!s% F. C"#";ra$i&* &, $" Sa3ra"*$ 1/6. A#ter the initial reetin+, and recoended ;enitential ite siilar to the one !sed in the ?ass' the acraent consists o# three distinct actions% First, “the prayer o aith” in (hich the co!nity' the $eo$le o# 3od re$resented by the $riest' the #aily' #riends and others' $ray #or those
to be anointed% Second, “the laying on o han!s” iitating 4es!s’ o(n gest!re o# healing (c". / 4:4&), and in&oking the coing o# the Holy $irit (ho brings the blessing o# 3od’s healing grace !$on the sick $erson% %hird, '(nointing with oil) ade holy by 3od’s blessing' signi#ying the strengthening and healing that coes #ro the $irit% Anointing the #orehead and hands o# the sick' the $riest $rays: Thro!gh this holy anointing ay the +ord' in His lo&e and ercy' hel$ yo! (ith the grace o# the Holy $irit% Aen% ?ay the +ord (ho #rees yo! #ro sin sa&e yo! and raise yo! !$% Aen (c". CCC #5#3)
%. E<"3$s &, $" Sa3ra"*$ 1/7. The ne( rite describes the acraent o# Anointing as $ro&iding the sick $erson (ith the grace o# the Holy $irit by (hich the (hole $erson is bro!ght to health' tr!st in 3od is enco!raged' and strength is gi&en to resist the te$tations o# the E&il ne' and aniety abo!t death (;astoral Care o" the Sic/ 67 c". CCC #52&)% oeties e&en $hysical health is restored a#ter recei&ing the acraent i# it (ill be bene/cial to the sick $erson’s sal&ation% hen needed' the sacraent also o9ers the sick $erson #orgi&eness o# sins and co$letes the sal!tary $enance (c". id). 1/. These e9ects are bro!ght abo!t by uniting the sick person with the Passion an! -eath o the ;riordial Sacraent, Cris$= $" H"a#"r% Th!s' the sacraent trans#ors the eaning and signi/cance o# the sick $erson’s illness into a sharing in the sa&ing (ork o# 4es!s' the Redeeer' /lling !$ (hat is lacking in the s!9erings o# Christ #or the sake o# his body' the Ch!rch (c". Col #:24) and #or the sal&ation o# the (orld as (e look #or(ard to all creation being set #ree in the glory o# the children o# 3od ( 37 c". CCC #52#). This !nion (ith Christ is an ecclesial grace' since the Ch!rch both intercedes #or the sick $erson' and is in t!rn blessed by the sick $erson’s sel#o9ering in #aith% Th!s' the Ch!rch eercises its role as Fo'ndational Sacraent in this acraent o# Anointing (c". CCC #522). III. PASTORAL CARE OF THE >IN%?ECEASE A. H&#! @ia$i3 1/8. The re&ised rit!al’s .Pastoral Care o# the Jying0 describes ho( the Ch!rch cares #or' co#orts' and strengthens the dying Catholic in the $assage #ro this li#e (c". CCC #524). This inistry to the dying (hich incl!des both anointing and the rece$tion o# the E!charist as o!rney0 (CCC #525).
. Ri$" &, F*"ra#s 14. e =ili$inos are noted #or the any #aily and c!lt!ral c!stos relating to death in the #aily% The re&ised .Rite #or =!nerals'0 (hile coending the dead to 3od' s!$$orting the Christian ho$e o# the $eo$le and (itnessing to #aith in the res!rrection o# the ba$ti-ed (ith Christ' stresses >!st s!ch c!stos% It ad&ises Christians to serio!sly consider the .#eeling and $ractice o# their o(n tie and $lace #aily traditions' and local c!stos0 ( 2). Contrary to soe .odern0 sec!larist tendencies in (estern society to co&er !$ the .grie&ing $rocess0 and eliinate all #!neral rites' =ili$inos are &ery !ch att!ned to the s$eci/cally Christian eanings o# #!neral rites% 141. The ne( rite hel$#!lly $ro$oses the ost signi/cant eanings o# Christian #!neral rites: 3od is (orshi$$ed' the Paschal nature o the Christians !eath is $roclaied' and Christian ho$e o# re!nion in the Gingdo o# 3od is strengthened (c". 2 Cor 5:7 CCC #6#-3). Thanks and res$ects are gi&en #or the li#e o# the deceased intercession is ade #or 3od’s ercy on the deceased and the berea&ed #aily and #riends are o9ered the consolation o# #aith in their &ery sorro( and grie#% In brie#' thro!gh the Ch!rch rit!al (e $ray #or the dead' $ro#ess o!r #aith in eternal li#e' and recei&e ho$e and consolation in the lit!rgy (hile e$ressing o!r sorro(#!l #are(ell to o!r belo&ed dead (c". CCC #64$&).
