In some dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church it is customary for the bishop to visit each parish or region of the diocese some time during Great Lent and give Anointing for the faithful, together with the local clergy.
Anglican churches
The 1552 and later editions of the Book of Common Prayer omitted the form of anointing given in the original (1549) version in its Order for the Visitation of the Sick, but most twentieth-century Anglican prayer books do have anointing of the sick.[3]
Some Anglicans accept that anointing of the sick has a sacramental character and is therefore a channel of God's grace, seeing it as an "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace" which is the definition of a sacrament. The Catechism of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America includes Unction of the Sick as among the "other sacramental rites" and it states that unction can be done with oil or simply with laying on of hands.[35] The rite of anointing is included in the Episcopal Church's "Ministration to the Sick" [36]
Article 25 of the Thirty-Nine Articles, which are one of the historical formularies of the Church of England (and as such, the Anglican Communion), speaking of the sacraments, says: "Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God."[37]
Lutheran churches
Anointing of the sick has been retained in some Lutheran churches since the Reformation.[38] Although it is not considered a sacrament like baptism and the Eucharist, it is known as a ritual in the same respect as confession, confirmation, holy orders, and matrimony.
Liturgy
After the penitent has received absolution following confession, the presiding minister recites James 5:14-16. He goes on to recite the following:[39]
[Name], you have confessed your sins and received Holy Absolution. In remembrance of the grace of God given by the Holy Spirit in the waters of Holy Baptism, I will anoint you with oil. Confident in our Lord and in love for you, we also pray for you that you will not lose faith. Knowing that in Godly patience the Church endures with you and supports you during this affliction. We firmly believe that this illness is for the glory of God and that the Lord will both hear our prayer and work according to His good and gracious will.
He anoints the person on the forehead and says this blessing:
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life everlasting. Amen.
Other Protestant communities
Among Protestants, anointing is provided in a wide variety of formats but, for the most part, however, it has fallen into disuse. Protestant communities generally vary widely on the sacramental character of anointing. Most Mainline Protestants recognize only two sacraments, the Eucharist and baptism, deeming Anointing only a humanly-instituted rite. Non-traditional Protestant communities generally use the term "ordinance" rather than "Sacrament".
Mainline beliefs
Liturgical or Mainline Protestant communities (e.g. Presbyterian, Congregationalist/United Church of Christ, Methodist, etc.) all have official yet often optional liturgical rites for the anointing of the sick partly on the model of Western pre-Reformation rites. Anointing need not be associated with grave illness or imminent danger of death.
Charismatic and Pentecostal beliefs
In Charismatic and Pentecostal communities, anointing of the sick is a frequent practice and has been an important ritual in these communities since the respective movements were founded in the 19th and 20th centuries. These communities use extemporaneous forms of administration at the discretion of the minister, who need not be a pastor. There is minimal ceremony attached to its administration. Usually, several people physically touch (laying on of hands) the recipient during the anointing. It may be part of a worship service with the full assembly of the congregation present, but may also be done in more private settings, such as homes or hospital rooms. Some Pentecostals believe that physical healing is within the anointing and so there is often great expectation or at least great hope that a miraculous cure or improvement will occur when someone is being prayed over for healing.
Evangelical and fundamentalist beliefs
In Evangelical and Fundamentalist communities, anointing of the sick is performed with varying degrees of frequency, although laying on of hands may be more common than anointing. The rite would be similar to that of Pentecostals in its simplicity, but would usually not have the same emotionalism attached to it. Unlike some Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Fundamentalists generally do not believe that physical healing is within the anointing. Therefore, God may or may not grant physical healing to the sick. The healing conferred by anointing is thus a spiritual event that may not result in physical recovery.
The Church of the Brethren practices Anointing with Oil as an ordinance along with Baptism, Communion, Laying on of Hands, and the Love Feast.
Evangelical Protestants who use anointing differ about whether the person doing the anointing must be an ordained member of the clergy, whether the oil must necessarily be olive oil and have been previously specially consecrated, and about other details. Several Evangelical groups reject the practice so as not to be identified with charismatic and Pentecostal groups, which practice it widely.
Use of Catholic rite among Protestants
Some Protestant US military chaplains carry the Roman Rite version of the Anointing of the Sick with them for use if called upon to assist wounded or dying soldiers who are Catholics. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches consider invalid as a sacrament the administration of Anointing of the Sick by such chaplains, who in the eyes of those Churches are not validly ordained priests. The rite performed by them is thus seen as having the same by no means negligible value of any other form of prayer offered for the sick or dying.
Latter Day Saint movement
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Latter-day Saints, who consider themselves restorationists, also practice ritual anointing of the sick, as well as other forms of anointing. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consider anointing to be an ordinance.[40]
Members of the LDS Church who hold the Melchizedek priesthood may use consecrated oil in performing the ordinance of blessing of the "sick or afflicted", though oil is not required if it is unavailable. The priesthood holder anoints the recipient's head with a drop of oil, then lays hands upon that head and declare their act of anointing. Then another priesthood holder joins in, if available, and pronounces a "sealing" of the anointing and other words of blessing, as he feels inspired. Melchizedek priesthood holders are also authorized to consecrate any pure olive oil and often carry a personal supply in case they have need to perform a blessing. Oil is not used in other blessings, such as for people seeking comfort or counsel.[40][41]
In addition to the James 5:14-15 reference, the Doctrine and Covenants contains numerous references to the anointing and healing of the sick by those with authority to do so.
Administration to the sick is one of the eight sacraments of the Community of Christ, in which it has also been used for people seeking spiritual, emotional or mental healing.
See also
References
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^ P. J. Hartin, Daniel J. Harrington James -- 2003 Page 267 "Anointing of the sick was a customary practice in both the Hellenistic and Jewish worlds. The use of oil for healing purposes is referred to in the writings of Hippocrates: "Exercises in dust differ from those in oil thus. Dust is cold, oil is warm."
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^ John Lightfoot Horæ hebraicæ et talmudicæ: Hebrew and Talmudical exercitations Volume 2 - Page 155 "On the ninth day of the month Ab, and in the public fasts, anointing for dress is forbid ; anointing not for dress is allowed." [Hebrew text] They anointed themselves often, not for excess, or bravery, or delight, but for the healing of some disease, "
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^ a b c d e f g Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article "unction"
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^ Sacram Unctionem InfirmorumApostolic Constitution , Catechism of the Catholic Church, Code of Canon Law, Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, , etc.Summorum Pontificummotu proprio
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^ For example, United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
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^ Holy See Press Office bulletin
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^ Constitution on the Liturgy, 73
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^ Fourteenth Session
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^ a b c d e f Catholic Encyclopedia (1913): article "Extreme Unction"
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^ Community of Christ: The Sacraments
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^ Sacrament of Unction of the Sick
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^ Unction of the Sick; etc.
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^ Sacred Mysteries (sacraments)
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^ "Every priest, but only a priest, can validly administer the anointing of the sick" (Code of Canon Law, canon 1003 §1)
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^ Code of Canon Law, canon 1003 §3)
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^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1532
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^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1513
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^ Code of Canon Law, canon 999
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^ "The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age" (Code of Canon Law, canon 1004 §1).
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^ Code of Canon Law, canon 1007
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^ Code of Canon Law, canon 1005
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^ Code of Canon Law, canon 1006
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^ Code of Canon Law, canon 1004 §2
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 97
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 111-130
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 131-148
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 149-160
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 115-117
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 118
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 113
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 119-123
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^ a b Pastoral Care of the Sick, 124
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^ Pastoral Care of the Sick, 23
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^ Summorum Pontificum, art. 9
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^ Episcopal Church, 1979 Book of Common Prayer, p.860
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^ Episcopal Church, 1979 Book of Common Prayer, p.456
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^ Thirty-Nine Articles
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^ Fink, Peter E., S.J., ed. Anointing of the Sick. Alternative Futures for Worship, vol. 7. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1987
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^
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^ a b "613 Administering to the Sick", LDS.org Gospel Topics.
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^
External links
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Church Fathers on the Anointing of the Sick
Western
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The Anointing of the Sick
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Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
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"Extreme Unction" in Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)
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Apostolic Constitution "Sacram unctionem infirmorum"
Eastern
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Holy Anointing of the Sick article from the Moscow Patriarchate
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Unction of the Sick article from the Sydney, Australia diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
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The Mystery of Unction Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, DC
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Coptic Unction on Holy Saturday (Photo)
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