SACRAMENTS OF HEALING

Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to bring healing to the world through his ministry of
reconciliation. We ask you to help us experience the healing power of Jesus through the
Holy Spirit working in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Epistle of James

"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the
sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be
forgiven"

INTRODUCTION:

Through the sacraments of Christian initiation we receive the new life of Christ. But the
weakness of human nature and our inclination to sin continues to remain and affect our
lives. The Church offers us the sacraments of healing to assist in our daily journeys of
conversion and reconciliation.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus forgave sins and healed those who were physically and
spiritually broken. Those he forgave were healed, renewed in faith and restored to health
of mind and body. The Church continues even today. in the power of the Holy Spirit, the
healing work of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the
sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

(Read the thesis statement)

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The sacrament of healing, which encompasses both Penance (also known as

Reconciliation or Confession) and Anointing of the Sick, is a spiritual process that
involves personal ongoing conversion within the context of God's loving forgiveness. This
conversion is made possible by the continued presence of the Risen Christ, who offers
liberation and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit within the Christian community.

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Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament administered to those who are facing physical or
spiritual illness or nearing the end of their lives. It involves the anointing with holy oil and
the prayers of the priest. This sacrament is intended to bring comfort, strength, and
healing to the sick person, both physically and spiritually. It is a sacrament of hope and
trust in God's loving presence during times of suffering and vulnerability. This Sacrament
may be received during times of sickness in your life (more than once) due to the
dynamic and ongoing nature of human life and our relationship with God.

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What is needed for this Sacrament?
•Holy Water
•Oil
•Host (Body of Christ)
•Reading from the Gospels

What actions are used in this Sacrament?

•Anointing
•Laying on hands
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The sacrament of the anointing of the sick can be received by any member of the faithful
who is in danger of death due to sickness or old age. It is celebrated through an anointing
with oil on the forehead, hands, and other parts of the body. The priest leads the prayer,
invoking the special grace of this sacrament.

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Confession emphasizes the significance of recognizing our sins and seeking God's
forgiving grace. The Sacrament of Reconciliation highlights the interconnectedness
between reconciling with God and reconciling with our fellow human beings. Penance, or
Reconciliation, is a sacrament in which a person confesses their sins to a priest and
receives absolution, or forgiveness, for those sins. It is a process that involves
acknowledging one's wrongdoing, expressing contrition, and resolving to make changes.
Through this sacrament, individuals experience the transformative power of God's
forgiveness and are reconciled with both God and the Christian community.

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A person is obligated to confess mortal sins when they have reached the age of
discretion. It is required to confess mortal sins at least once a year and always before
receiving Holy Communion. In the sacrament of confession, Christ is present, and the
priest acts as the minister, exercising the power to forgive sins in the name of the Holy
Trinity.

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In summary, the sacraments of healing, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick, are part of a
process of personal ongoing conversion within the context of God's loving forgiveness.
These sacraments provide avenues for individuals to experience the transformative
power of God's forgiveness, to seek healing in times of illness and suffering, and to grow
in their relationship with God and the Christian community. The presence of the Risen
Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit are central to the efficacy of these sacraments, as
they bring liberation, healing, and ongoing transformation to those who participate in
them.