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T h e F a t h e r s K n o w B e s t
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
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This Rock
Volume 4, Number 8
 August 1993 
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THE biblical foundation for the sacrament
of holy anointing is found in Mark 6:7-13 and James 5:14-15. The
earliest Christian writers knew those verses and this sacrament well.
We suggest you read the verses before reading on.
Origen
"[T]here is also a seventh [method of forgiveness
for the sinner] . . . when he does not shrink from declaring his sin
to a priest of the Lord and from seeking medicine . . . [of] which
the apostle James says: 'If then there is anyone sick, let him call
the presbyters of the Church, and let them impose hands upon him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of
faith will save the sick man, and if he be in sins, they shall be
forgiven him" (Homilies on Leviticus 2:4 [ca. A.D. 250]).
Aphraates
"[F]rom the glistening olive fruits are put forth
[that is, olive oil], in which there is a sign of the sacrament of
life, by which Christians are perfected, as well as priests and kings
and prophets. It illuminates the darkness, anoints the sick, and leads
back penitents in its secret sacrament" (Treatises 23:3
[A.D. 345]).
Serapion
"We beseech you, Savior of all men, you that
have all virtue and power, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
and we pray that you send from heaven the healing power of the only-begotten
[Son] upon this oil, so that for those who are anointed . . . it may
be effective for the casting out of every disease and every bodily
infirmity, and for an antidote against every demon, for escape from
every unclean spirit, for the expulsion of every evil spirit, for
the banishing of every fever and chill and every weakness, for good
grace and remission of sins, for a remedy unto life and deliverance,
for health and integrity of soul, of body, and of spirit, for perfect
vigor" (The Sacramentary of Serapion 29:1 [ca. A.D. 350]).
John Chrysostom
"The priests of Judaism had power to cleanse
the body from leprosy--or rather, not to cleanse it at all, but
to declare a person as having been cleansed . . . . Our priests have
received the power not of treating with the leprosy of the body, but
with spiritual uncleanness; not of declaring cleansed, but of actually
cleansing ... Priests accomplish this not only by teaching
and admonishing, but also by the help of prayer. Not only at the time
of our regeneration [in baptism], but even afterward, they have the
authority to forgive sins: 'Is there anyone among you sick? Let him
call in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall
save the sick man, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has
committed sins, he shall be forgiven'" (On the Priesthood
3:6:190ff [A.D. 387]).
Ambrose
"Why, then do you [Donatists, who deny the sacrament
of penance] impose hands and believe it to be the effect of the blessing
if perchance some sick person recovers? Why do you presume that any
can be cleansed by you from the filth of the devil? Why do you baptize,
if it is not allowed that sins be forgiven through men? In baptism
too there is forgiveness of sins; what is the difference whether priests
claim this power is given them to be exercised in penance or at the
font? The mystery is the same in both" (On Penance 1:8:36
[ca. A.D. 388]).
Pope Innocent I
"Celestine, the deacon, has also added in his
letter that [you have] raised a question concerning what was written
in the epistle of the blessed apostle James: 'If there is anyone sick
among you, let him call in the presbyters and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of
faith will save the sufferer, and the Lord will raise him up, and
if that man has committed sin, he will forgive him.' There is no doubt
that this is to be taken or understood in regard to the sick faithful,
who are able to be anointed with the holy oil of chrism, which, having
been confected by a bishop, is permitted not only to priests but also
to all as Christians . . . But it cannot be administered to penitents,
because it is a kind of sacrament. For how should it be supposed that
one kind of sacrament could be granted to those who are denied the
other sacraments?" (Letters 25:8:11 [A.D. 416]).
Ceasar of Arles
"As often as some infirmity overtakes a man,
let him who is ill receive the Body and Blood of Christ; let him humbly
and in faith ask the presbyters for blessed oil, to anoint his body,
so that what was written may be fulfilled in him: 'Is anyone among
you sick? Let him bring in the presbyters, and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil; and the prayer of faith will save the
sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he be in
sins, they will be forgiven him.' See to it, brethren, that whoever
is ill hasten to the church, both that he may receive health of body
and will . . . obtain the forgiveness of his sins" (Sermons
13:3 [ca. A.D. 522]).
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