Our Lady of Lourdes

Sacraments of Healing

 

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  

-James 5:14

 

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament by which the Holy Spirit consoles and strengthens a seriously ill Christian. The priest anoints the sick person with the “Oil of the Sick” (oleum infirmorum), a holy oil consecrated by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. Anointing brings a deep intimacy with the suffering Christ. It also strengthens the soul with the power of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of one’s own resurrection. It’s common to make a Confession, if possible, before being anointed.

Anointing of the Sick is not necessarily the Last Rites. A priest may anoint any seriously ill or gravely injured Christian upon request. A person may be anointed more than once, especially if they take a “turn for the worse.” The elderly can be anointed when the frailties of age or dementia begin to take their toll. Anointing isn’t proper for normally resolvable issues like sore throats, colds, flus, and common injuries.

If you or a Catholic loved one in the area would like to be anointed, please contact a priest at the Rectory Office.

 

Jesus came to forgive sins.

 

The angel told St. Joseph in a dream, "You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). By forgiving sins, Jesus reconciles us with the Father and makes us holy.

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his Apostles and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn. 20:22-23). This is the biblical roots of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession. It also shows where Jesus passes on to priests His mission and authority to forgive sins in His name.

In order for sins to be forgiven, a person must be sorry for them. A person must also have a “firm purpose of amendment” - the intention to avoid the sin and the “occasion of sin” in the future. An “occasion of sin” is a person, place, or thing that provokes sinful behavior.

Not all sins are the same. Some are “mortal.” Others are “venial.” Mortal sin is a direct, conscious, and free violation of one of the Ten Commandments in a serious way. It wrecks the grace of Baptism. As part of God's plan, all mortal sins committed after Baptism must be confessed to a priest in order to be forgiven.

Venial sin is less grave than mortal sin. It does not wreck the grace of Baptism but tarnishes it. The Church recommends – but doesn’t require – the confession of venial sins. If you are unsure whether a sin is “mortal” or “venial,” ask the priest. Always feel free to ask him questions.

The “Examination of Conscience” below is a wonderful aid to preparing for a good confession. Most parishes schedule weekly confessions, often on Saturdays. You may also call the Rectory Office and make a confession appointment with a priest.

How to Go to Confession  Examination of Conscience