What is the Sacrament of Holy Unction?
The Sacrament of Holy Unction is a Sacrament in which, through the prayers of priests and laity, by anointing the sick person with consecrated oil, the grace of God is given to him, i.e., to the sick person, for the forgiveness of sins and for healing from bodily illnesses.
When was this Sacrament established in the Church?
It has always existed from the time the Church of Christ came into being on earth.
Is there testimony about this Sacrament in Holy Scripture?
Yes. The Apostle James writes: "Is anyone 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, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15).
Who can perform the Sacrament of Holy Unction?
As is clear from the quoted words of the Apostle James, Holy Unction should be performed by presbyters, or priests; laymen cannot themselves perform this Sacrament.
How many priests perform the Sacrament of Holy Unction?
According to the rule of the Church of Christ, this Sacrament should be performed by seven priests, but if necessary, fewer may officiate, and even one presbyter. However, the sick person is anointed with consecrated oil seven times.
Are the sick truly healed through the Sacrament of Holy Unction?
We usually perform this Sacrament over patients who are already hopeless, but nevertheless they often recover from their ailment and in any case receive relief from their painful sufferings.
Do the sectarians have this Sacrament?
The sectarians have no true sacred hierarchy, no grace-filled presbyters; therefore, they cannot perform the Sacrament of Holy Unction.
How do the sectarians justify their lack of this Sacrament?
The sectarians say that James 5:14-15 is not about a Sacrament. According to the sectarian concept, it speaks here of ordinary treatment with oil, as the Apostles also treated during their preaching (Mark 6:13).
What to answer the sectarians for this invention?
The sectarians are deluded when they think that Holy Unction is not a special Sacrament. The Apostles indeed "anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them" (Mark 6:13), but this is not what the Apostle James speaks of. A similar (i.e., the one spoken of in Mark 6:13) anointing with oil has been preserved in the Church of Christ in another pious custom: in all its holy places, Christians take consecrated oil for anointing the sick, and the sick are often healed. But besides this, there must also be the Sacrament of Holy Unction. If the Apostle James were speaking of simple treatment with oil, why would he command to call "the elders of the church" for special prayer and anointing?! It is clear that a special grace-filled Sacrament is spoken of here. This is even clearer from the fact that during the Sacrament of Holy Unction, besides help from bodily ailment, the sick person is also granted forgiveness of sins. If the Apostle James were speaking of ordinary medicinal anointing with oil, as the sectarians think, then he would not have mentioned the forgiveness of sins.
No comments:
Post a Comment