- Formerly:
- extreme unction
- Related Topics:
- Christianity
- sacrament
- chrism
- death rite
anointing of the sick
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What is the anointing of the sick in Christianity?
In Christianity, the anointing of the sick, also known as extreme unction, is a ritual anointing of the seriously ill, the frail elderly, or children who understand its significance, to give strength and comfort. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches administer this sacrament to unite the suffering of the ill with that of Christ.
A priest performs the rite, praying over the person and anointing their head and hands with chrism (holy oil). The priest can administer the Eucharist and hear confessions. The sacrament can be received as many times as needed; it is directed against the remains of sin and strengthens both soul and body. In Eastern Christianity, the sacrament is not confined to those near death, and its administration by multiple priests is for the recovery of health rather than solely as a final rite.
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Who can receive the anointing of the sick?
In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, the anointing of the sick is a ritual anointing of the seriously ill, the frail elderly, those awaiting surgery, or ill children old enough to understand its significance. It is administered to give strength and comfort to the ill and unite their suffering with that of Christ.
A person can receive the sacrament as many times as needed throughout their life, and those with chronic illnesses might be anointed again if the disease worsens. However, imminent death from external causes does not render one apt for the sacrament. The rite can be performed in a home or hospital by a priest, who prays over the person and anoints their head and hands with chrism (holy oil).
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Who performs the anointing of the sick?
In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, a priest performs the anointing of the sick. The priest prays over the person and anoints their head and hands with chrism, or holy oil. The sacrament is meant to give strength and comfort to the seriously ill, the frail elderly, those awaiting surgery, or ill children who understand its significance, uniting their suffering with Christ's Passion and death. If desired, the priest may also administer the Eucharist and hear confession. If a person is dying, the priest gives a special apostolic blessing known as the Last Rites.
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What is used during the anointing of the sick ceremony?
During the anointing of the sick ceremony, a priest prays over the person and anoints their head and hands with chrism (holy oil). The priest may also administer the sacrament of the Eucharist and hear a confession if desired. The sacrament is administered to give strength and comfort to the ill and to unite their suffering with that of Christ. It can be given to those with serious illness or injury, those awaiting surgery, the weakened elderly, or to ill children who understand its significance.
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What is the purpose of the anointing of the sick?
The purpose of the anointing of the sick in Christianity, particularly in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, is to provide strength and comfort to those who are seriously ill, weakened by age, or awaiting surgery. It serves to unite their suffering with the suffering of Jesus Christ's Passion and death.
The sacrament, administered by a priest, involves anointing the head and hands with blessed oil while offering prayers. It is not exclusively a final rite for the dying, but a ritual that can be repeated as needed throughout a person's life, especially if a chronic illness worsens. The anointing of the sick aims to fortify both the soul and body, addressing the spiritual and physical toll of serious illness.
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How has the meaning of anointing of the sick changed over time in Christianity?
From apostolic times, the anointing of the sick was widely practiced as a rite to bless and recover from illness, or to fortify believers in the eternal world. By the 8th and 9th centuries, it became known as extreme unction, a sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church, often delayed until death was near.
In Eastern Christendom, it was never limited to those near death, nor was the blessing of oil by a bishop required. The sacrament, administered by multiple priests, aimed to recover health rather than being a mortuary rite.
In modern times, a more lenient view allows anointing for the less seriously ill, though the Church prefers administering it while the person is conscious. The sacrament is meant to strengthen both soul and body, addressing the spiritual weakening caused by serious illness.
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anointing of the sick, in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, the ritual anointing of the seriously ill and the frail elderly. The sacrament is administered to give strength and comfort to the ill and to mystically unite their suffering with that of Christ during his Passion and death. It can be given to those who are afflicted with serious illness or injury, those who are awaiting surgery, the weakened elderly, or to ill children who are old enough to understand its significance.
A person can receive the sacrament as many times as needed throughout his or her life, and a person with a chronic illness might be anointed again if the disease worsens. Imminent death from external causes—such as the execution of a death sentence—does not render one apt for the sacrament. The rite can be performed in a home or a hospital by a priest, who prays over the person and anoints his or her head and hands with chrism (holy oil). The priest may also administer the sacrament of the Eucharist and can hear a confession if so desired. If a person is at the point of death, the priest also administers a special apostolic blessing in what is known as the last rites.
It has long been recognized that serious illness saps the spiritual resources and physical strength of the sufferers so that they are not able to meet the crisis of mortal danger with all their powers. Anointing of the sick was widely practiced from apostolic times as a sacramental rite in association with the ceremony of the imposition of hands to convey a blessing or recovery from illness or with the last Communion to fortify the believer safely on his or her new career in the fuller life of the eternal world. Not until the 8th and 9th centuries, however, did extreme unction, another term for the final anointing of the sick, become one of the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. The sacrament was long regarded as a last rite, usually postponed until death was imminent; that is, when the dying Christian was in extremis. In modern times a more lenient interpretation permitted anointing of the less seriously ill. Still, the sacrament is often administered to unconscious or heavily sedated patients even though the church urges that the sacrament be given, if possible, while the person is conscious.
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In Eastern Christendom it has never been confined to those in extremis (near death), nor has the blessing of the oil by a bishop been required; the administration of the sacrament by seven, five, or three priests was for the recovery of health rather than being administered exclusively as a mortuary rite. In the Greek Orthodox Church the sacrament is sometimes administered to well persons to prevent illness.