Anointing of the Sick Reconciliation/Penance

The Sacraments of Healing

also known as Confession

Sacraments of Healing

The two Sacraments of Healing are: • Reconciliation (Penance) • Anointing of the Sick

Through the sacraments of initiation we receive life in Christ, carrying it in human vessels, subject to suffering, sin and death. The Sacraments of Healing continue, through the Holy Spirit, Christ’s work of healing and forgiveness of sins so that we can most fully live our lives in Christ who saves us.

Anointing of the Sick

The purpose of this Sacrament is to confer grace for those who are seriously or chronically ill, or who are suffering difficulties due to age. It can be given for both physical and mental illness.

Anointing of the Sick can be received each time a person is gravely ill, or as an illness worsens, or in anticipation of serious surgery.

Priests and bishops are the ministers of this Sacrament.

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament includes reading from Scripture and a penitential prayer, followed by individual prayer over the person, anointing of the forehead and hands with the Oil of the Sick.

Graces imparted in this sacrament include: Uniting the individual with the passion of Christ for his/her own

good and the good of the Church;

Strength, peace and courage for the individual to endure his/her sufferings in a Christian manner;

Forgiveness of sins, if the person is unable to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance;

Restoration of health, according to God’s plan for salvation of the individual;

Preparation for passing to eternal life, if that is God’s plan.

Viaticum

For the person in imminent danger of death, Anointing of the Sick is accompanied by Penance and Eucharist. Eucharist received at time of death is referred to as Viaticum (food for the journey.)

The Sacrament of Penance

This is a sacrament of conversion. In it, we are reconciled to God and to each other.

Sin is above all else, an offense against God.

Conversion includes God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, accomplished

through the Sacrament.

SIN

Do good, avoid evil, but…..

Physical Evil

There are physical evils that are not caused by anyone/anything, but just part of earthly life. Natural events - Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.

Moral Evil

Moral evil is the result of human choice. A choice for evil is a sin. All moral evil can be avoided. Both the agent and the recipient

are harmed by moral evil.

Definitions of Sin

Augustine: Sin is any deed, word or desire against eternal law. Aquinas: Sin is the voluntary transgression of the divine moral law; a turning away from God toward creatures in a disordered way.

Sin is a Personal Act

Sin is a human act, therefore a person is always responsible for

his/her sins.

Five Classifications of Sin

1. Original or Actual 2. Mortal or Venial

3. Formal or Material 4. Commission or Omission

5. Internal or External

Five Classifications of Sin

1.Original or Actual Original Sin was committed

by Adam and Eve and gives all humans concupiscence.

Actual Sin is committed by individuals

Five Classifications of ACTUAL Sin

Gravity: Moral or Venial Venial sins are lesser sins, but by repetition can lead to mortal sin and/or a

life a vice

Mortal Sin requires three things: Grave Matter Full knowledge of the sinfulness of the act Complete consent – act is committed freely and deliberately

Five Classifications of Sin

Formal or Material (Consider Intent)

Formal sin is a voluntary and freely chosen action contrary to God’s law:

carries culpability Material sin is an involuntary action without either full knowledge or full

deliberation – does not have culpability.

Five Classifications of Sin

Commission or Omission Commission is choice to do an evil act Omission is choice not to do something that you should (help a person in danger, attend Mass)

Five Classifications of Sin

Manifestation: Internal or External?

External sin is committed with words or actions

Internal sin is committed with thought or desire

Occasion of Sin

Along with avoiding sin, one also has the obligation to avoid occasions of sin: any person, place or thing that will likely lead to sin. Avoid temptations that will likely lead to sin.

Cooperation in Evil Formal cooperation: agreeing with

or cooperating in the commission of evil Explicit Implicit Material cooperation – helping another do

an act that is not in of itself evil but helps another do evil.

Immediate Mediate: proximate and remote

Effects of Sin

Weakening/ break in love of God Those who sin are called to conversion and forgiveness

Sacraments of Forgiveness

BAPTISM is the primary sacrament of forgiveness – all sin: original, venial and mortal is forgiven in Baptism

For sins committed after Baptism, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the ordinary path to forgiveness and should be received regularly.

Justification

Justification is possible because of Christ’s Passion and Death.

We receive justification at Baptism Justification is the remission of sins, sanctification of the person and the voluntary reception of grace and gifts.

Contrition

Sincere sorrow for having offended God. Perfect contrition immediately forgives sin- sorry because we have offended God Imperfect contrition with sacramental absolution forgives sin – sorrow because of shame, or because we fear the punishment for our sins.

Conversion

Christ is always willing to forgive us

Parable of Prodigal Son is best example of the power of conversion.

St. Paul lists many sins in his writings.

Romans 1:29-31; 13:13

1 Cor 5:10-11; 6: 9-10

2 Cor 12:20-21

Gal 5: 19-21

Eph 4:31; 5:3-5

Col 3: 5-8

1Tm 1:9-10; 4:12; 6: 9-11

2 Tm 3:2-5

Ti 3:3

History of the Sacrament of Penance Christ gave Peter and the Apostles (the 12) the

power to reconcile sinners, but only God forgives sin.

It is offered to those who, after Baptism, need to recover the grace of justification.

In the early Church, this applied only to those who committed very grave sins. They were given a rigorous penance (often lasting for years) that could only be reconciled once in a lifetime.

During the 7th century, Irish missionaries, inspired by Eastern monastery practice, took the practice of private confession (between penitent and priest) to Europe. It is in these practices that the current practice of the Sacrament is rooted.

Celebration of the Sacrament Penance may be celebrated as

often as the penitent feels necessary. The Church requires us to celebrate this sacrament once a year, or any time we commit a MORTAL sin.

In most parishes, a Penance Service is held during the seasons of Advent and Lent, and confessions are heard weekly, or by appointment with a priest.

The minister of Penance is a priest or bishop.

Ordinarily, Penance is celebrated before First Eucharist around the age of seven.

Celebration of the Sacrament Confessions may be heard face-to-face (seated,) or behind a screen (kneeling.) This is usually at the preference of the penitent. BEFORE confession, the penitent makes an Examination of Conscience. These are usually based on the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes. Entering the confessional, or as the penitent approaches the priest, he/she may greet the priest using these or other appropriate words: Good morning, hello, or traditionally - Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, then, it’s been ----- since my last confession (or this is my first confession) and making the Sign of the Cross.

Celebration of the Sacrament The penitent then shares with the priest whatever sins

he/she wishes to confess. Not necessary to have a litany of sins but must include

serious and/or habitual sins. The priest may offer some advice or ask clarifying

questions before giving the penitent a penance to do. At the end of sharing, penitent will include all sins in Act

of Contrition by saying “for these sins and all other sins I have committed, I am truly sorry,” followed by an Act of Contrition that includes a promise to change. Penitent may read one of the traditional prayers or speak to God directly from his/her heart.

The priest then prays the 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 of the Holy Spirit. Amen.“ As the priest says, in the name of the Father,… the penitent makes the Sign of the Cross. He will generally dismiss the penitent with “Peace be with you” or similar words.

After confession

Penance is done as prescribed by the priest. It may be prayer, acts of charity or other acts intended to bring healing to relationships, restitution for wrong-doing and a habitual change in the sinner’s behavior. Regardless of the penance, ordinarily the penitent spends time in prayer immediately after confession.