Episode 13: Holy Orders & Anointing the Sick
The Good Shepard
An opening mediation
“He made them, the vicars of his love.”
Priests have a special call to develop an intense spiritual life to allow them to be Good Shepherds of the flock. Thus, they stand as an imitation of Christ in the Church, encouraging the lay faithful to deepen their own relationships with Christ. This also allows them to minister to the faithful in other ways, such as during illness.
The Spirituality of a Priest
[Priests] should be taught to seek Christ. This along with the quaerere Deum [the search for God] is a classical theme of Christian spirituality. It has a specific application in the context of the calling of the Apostles. When John tells the story of the way the first two disciples followed Christ, he highlights this "search." It is Jesus himself who asks the question: "What do you seek?" And the two reply, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day" (Jn 1:37-39). In a certain sense, the spiritual life of the person who is preparing for priesthood is dominated by this search; by it and by the "finding" of the Master, to follow him, to be in communion with him. So inexhaustible is the mystery of the imitation of Christ and the sharing in his life that this "seeking" will have to continue throughout the priest's life and ministry. Likewise, this "finding" the Master will have to continue in order to bring him to others, or rather in order to excite in others the desire to seek out the Master. But all this becomes possible if it is proposed to others as a living "experience," an experience that is worthwhile sharing. This was the path followed by Andrew to lead his brother Simon to Jesus. The evangelist John writes that Andrew "first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah (which means Christ)" and brought him to Jesus (Jn 1:41-42). And so Simon too will be called, as an apostle, to follow the Messiah: "Jesus looked at him and said, 'So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas' (which means Peter)" (Jn 1:42).. .. An essential element of spiritual formation is the prayerful and meditated reading of the Word of God, a humble and loving listening to him who speaks.... Familiarity with the Word of God will make conversion easy, not only in the sense of detaching us from evil, so as to adhere to the good, but also in the sense of nourishing our heart with the thoughts of God, so that faith (as a response to the word) becomes our new basis for judging and evaluating persons and things, events and problems. (Pope John Paul II, I Will Give You Shepherds [Pastores Dabo Vobis], nos. 46-47)
Priests should, therefore, occupy their position of leadership as men who do not seek the things that are their own but the things that are Jesus Christ's (cf. 1 Jn 4:1). They should unite their efforts with those of the lay faithful and conduct themselves among them after the example of the Master, who came... "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt 20:28). Priests are to be sincere in their appreciation and promotion of lay people's dignity and of the special role the laity have to play in the Church's mission. They should also have an unfailing respect for the just liberty which belongs to everyone in civil society. They should be willing to listen to lay people, give brotherly consideration to their wishes, and recognize their experience and competence in the different fields of human activity. In this way they will be able to recognize along with them the signs of the times. (PO, no. 9)
The ministerial priesthood of bishops and priests and the common priesthood of all the faithful participate in the one priesthood of Christ, each in its own proper way. The two priesthoods complement each other and are ordered to each other while differing essentially. In what sense? The common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace through a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Holy Spirit. The ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood by unfolding the baptismal grace of all Christians (cf. CCC, no. 1547).
The members of the common priesthood, among other things, are encouraged "to share their priests' anxieties and help them as far as possible by prayer and active work so that they may be better able to overcome difficulties and carry out their duties with greater success" (PO, no. 9).
Prayer of a Priest:
“May the tribute of my humble ministry be pleasing to you, Holy Trinity.
Grant that the sacrifice which !-unworthy as I am-
have offered in the presence of your majesty may be acceptable to you.
Through your mercy may it bring forgiveness to me
and to all for whom I have offered it, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Good Shepherd Psalm
The sick and the dying of every age have been consoled by the verses of the Shepherd Psalm (Ps 23). They are further inspired by Christ's words, "I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine known me.... I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:14, 10). It is not hard for them to see Jesus as the shepherd of the twenty-third Psalm. The Psalm expresses trust in the divine shepherd so needed when one is ill. "The Lord is my shepherd; I there is nothing I lack" (v. 1).
"In green pastures, you let me graze" (v. 2). A shepherd leads his sheep to the rough herbage, then to the smoother grass, and then to the sweet grass of the green pastures where they rest. Jesus abides with the sick throughout their rough moments and guides them to peaceful acceptance and an experience of a soul at rest.
"To safe waters you lead me" (v. 2). Sheep are nervous about drinking from running streams. The shepherd often constructs pools of still waters to ease their thirst. Illness breaks the running pace of life, but there is still the need of calming down. Jesus brings the patients an inner stillness that permits the believers to drink of the renewing fountains of his love.
"Even when I walk through a dark valley, I I fear no harm, for you are at my side; I your rod and staff give me courage" (v. 4). In search of better pastures, the shepherd sometimes leads the sheep through dangerous valleys. The sheep may fall into a hole. The shepherd uses the curved part at the top of his staff to gently pull the sheep to safety. Wild dogs and wolves may come to threaten the flock. The shepherd uses the pointed end of his staff to kill them or drive them away. Jesus knows that suffering people are in their own dark valley. Jesus is with them to remove their fears and awaken their hope. There are times that Jesus drives away life-threatening ills through his ministers in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
"You set a table before me. I . .. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (v. 5). In some pastures there is so much rough herbage that the shepherd must harvest the edible grasses and place these on table-like stones from which the sheep may dine. Jesus himself is the Bread of Life who comes to his friends in pain. Communion for the sick is one of Christ's most consoling gifts. When the sheep have wounds caused by thorns, the shepherd anoints them with oil. When they have a fever, the shepherd bathes their heads in cool water. With holy oil Jesus anoints the sick.
"I will dwell in the house of the LORD I for years to come" (v. 6).
The shepherd knows the sheep need him to guard their home. Jesus says he is the gate of the sheepfold (the enclosure where they live). In biblical times the shepherd served as the gate to the sheepfold. He was the living gate, guarding them with his body. To enter the community of Christ the beloved, both the sick and the healthy must enter through his body that will guard them. People in suffering and pain are disposed to the faith that sees these truths. Christ is their guardian.
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, you chose to share our human nature, to redeem all people, and to heal the sick. Look with compassion upon your servants whom we have anointed in your name with this holy oil for the healing of their body and spirit. Support them with your power, comfort them with your protection, and give them the strength to fight against evil. Since you have given them a share in your own passion, help them to find hope in suffering, for you are Lord for ever and ever. Amen.”
Weekly
Prayer
Intentions
To be prayed daily
Pause for some silence
Pause for some silence
The Sign of the Cross
Start by touching your right hand to your forehead, then your stomach, followed by your left and right shoulders while saying "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen"
Prayer for Vocations John Paul II
Holy Father, you call us to be holy as you are holy. We pray to you that in your Church there may never be lacking holy servants and apostles who through the Word and Sacraments, open the path of encounter with you. Merciful father, grant to straying mankind, men and women who, through the witness of a transfigured life, in the image of your Son, May joyfully travel, together with the rest of their brothers and sisters toward the heavenly fatherland. Our Father, with the voice of your Holy Spirit, and trusting in the maternal intercession of Mary, we call fervently to you: send your Church priests who are courageous witnesses of your infinite goodness. Amen.
Specific intentions:
Lord, bring to the Church solace in times of trouble.
Lord, bring to the Church strong priests to shepherd the flock.
Lord, bring to the Church durable communities of holy men and women.
Personal intentions:
Please add your own intentions here.
Our Father:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Glory Be:
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end, Amen.
Weekly
Journal
Prompt
Weekly Readings
From a faith perspective, what value does an experience of illness have for an individual and for the parish community to which he or she belongs? Why is it important to acknowledge and incorporate those who are sick and dying into the faith community? Take a few minutes to write down your thoughts on these personal reflections.
Click on the Link to download each of the articles for further reading this week.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
What does it mean to be a priest? Click here to download
The Priest’s 3 Duties
What are a priest’s duties in the community? Click here to download
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
Why is this not just last rites? Click here to download
Weekly Activity:
Praying the Mass Daily
In order to deepen their spirituality, priests are required to say the Liturgy of the Hours every day. They are also highly encouraged to say the Mass everyday. As Priests are our shepherds in the process of deepening our spiritual life, we can also take a page from their recommended spiritual practices to deepen our own faith.
So your task for this week is as follows:
Attend daily mass at least once this week.
If your schedule allows, like the priest, go to daily mass every day. I
f daily mass won't fit into your schedule, consider taking the time to say Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, or Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.
The Priest does all these things every day! How busy they are!