Anointing of the Sick (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A) : Revision Note
Meaning of Anointing of the Sick
A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace
Anointing of the sick is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
It is given to strengthen those who are seriously ill, elderly, or preparing for surgery
It is known as a sacrament of healing
It can be received more than once, like Reconciliation and the Eucharist
Anointing of the sick follows the practice of Jesus, who showed great care for the sick and encouraged his followers to do the same
It continues the practice that early Christians learned from Jesus:
‘Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.’ James 5:14-15
There are signs, symbols and important words or actions in each sacrament. In the anointing of the sick these are:
The priest lays his hands on the person’s head: this is a sign of calling upon the Holy Spirit to be with the person
The priest anoints the person’s forehead and hands with blessed oil to give them strength to bear their suffering
The priest says a blessing: ‘Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.’
Effects & Importance of Anointing of the Sick
The anointing of the sick is important to Catholics because:
It brings the person who is ill spiritual comfort - through the anointing of the sick they receive God’s grace via the Holy Spirit
It means their sins are forgiven - when they die, they will be healed, and all sin removed
It gives the person strength and courage to accept illness - the person must have faith in God and his plan for their salvation
It gives relief from anxiety: the person can gain peace and thus be less anxious about death
If it is God's will, it can lead to physical healing
However, it gives the person and their loved ones comfort, hope, peace and courage if death is close
The Catechism teaches that this sacrament gives 'strength, peace, and courage to endure suffering' (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1520)
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which the sacrament of the anointing of the sick affects the lives of Catholics
(4 marks)
The sacrament of anointing of the sick brings the person who is ill spiritual comfort, because they receive God’s grace via the Holy Spirit to help them bear their illness (2 marks)
It also means their sins are forgiven. This can bring great comfort and peace to someone who is dangerously ill because if they die, their sin has been removed and they can be with God in heaven (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You might be asked to evaluate the significance of anointing of the sick in comparison to the other sacraments of the church. The statement might say:
‘The sacrament of anointing of the sick is the most significant of all sacraments’
As you revise each sacrament, ensure that you can explain why it is important or significant to believers. For anointing of the sick, remember the importance of the sacrament in a person’s life when they are most in need of God’s presence: when they are very ill, facing an operation or close to death. The sacrament can help a person to cope with the most serious and upsetting time of their lives.
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