anointing

Lawrence says: Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments. Only a priest or bishop can administer it because of its relationship to the forgiveness of sins.

However, in the case of Last Rites, a designated lay person or ordained minister can also offer the Viaticum (Eucharist or communion rather than sacramental anointing).

In the Roman Catholic Church, Canon 1004 of the Code of Canon Law indicates succinctly who may receive the sacrament: "The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age." A new illness called a renewal or worsening of the first illness enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time.

And "in the case of a person who is chronically ill, or elderly and in a weakened condition, the sacrament of anointing may be repeated when in the pastoral judgment of the priest the condition of the sick person warrants the repetition of the sacrament".

The text of the Rite also states that the sacrament of anointing can be administered to an individual whether at home, in a hospital or institution, or in church; and several sick persons may be anointed within the rite, especially if the celebration takes place in a church or hospital; the celebration may also take place within Mass.

In the Greek Church anointing of the sick is performed annually in church for the benefit of the entire congregation on the evening of Holy Wednesday. In other sacramental churches it may be offered to anyone seeking physical, mental, or spiritual healing.

The Catholic Church views that, as the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. Through the sacrament is given a gift of the Holy Spirit that renews confidence and faith in God and strengthens against temptations to lapse into discouragement and anguish at the thought of death and the struggle of death. It thus leads to spiritual healing with forgiveness of sins.

Our Restless Senses (Black Saturday)

Ellen says: Most of us can concentrate long enough on a specific task in order to complete it, particularly when we are pressured by time. But when we are without external constraints we easily become less focused. this is especially the case when we set time aside to pray and to be still. Our restless senses catapult us from one thing to another.

Our coming to God is not an attempt to impress him regarding our disciplinary skills. Instead we need to bring ourselves to God as we are -- with our restless senses. When we come in this way we will eventually experience God quietening presence, particularly when we confess our sins, unburden our hearts, lay down our issues and allow ourselves to be blown in a new direction by the breath of God spirit.

You were in His prayer ( Good friday)

Ellen says: The final prayer of Jesus was about you. His final pain was for you. His final passion was for you. Before He went to the cross, Jesus went to the garden. And when He spoke with his Father, you were in His prayers...

And God couldn't turn His back on you. He couldn't because He saw you, and one look at you was all it took to convince Him. Right there in the middle of the world which isn't fair. He saw you cast into a river of life you didn't request. He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw you with a body which gets sick and a heart which grows weak.

On the eve of the cross, Jesus made His decision. He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.

Removing Doubt (Holy Thursday)

Ellen says: In Jesus' day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for a servants but for the lowest of servants. Every circle has its pecking order and the circle of household workers was no exception. the servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.

In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel before his disciples. Hours before His own death, Jesus' is singular. He wants His disciples to know how much He love them. More than removing dirt. Jesus is removing doubt.

Free of Stress

Ellen says: You and I could name things, specific things that we've gone through in the last several years that make no logical sense whatsoever...but that's okay. We can't figure them out. But let me assure you. God is at work doing His mysterious plan (mysterious to us), which defies human logic. So quit trying to make it humanly logical. Trust Him !

Do you realize what a peaceful life you can live if you decide to live like this? Do you realize how relaxed you can be, how free of stress? Honestly.It's so helpful for me to remind myself: He is the One who is unfathomable. He is unsearchable. I'm neither.

See the Big Picture

Ellen says:When we reflect on things, give ourselves quite time to contemplate, we generally understand our lives as a whole. We see not the tiny pieces of our life, but the entire life we live. this view help us maintain our calm as we face challenges, or even when we experience successes. In the heat of the moment, however, the tiny pieces of our life are sometimes all we can see. We let our frustration block out our vision of everything else, and that frustration can overwhelm us.. When you fell defeated by a problem, step back from the situation and look at your life with a longer-range perspective.

If you look closely enough, everything can be seen as as an obstacle. It is easy to get caught up in every problem you have, to race from one thin to the next, and never really see where you are going. Habit undermines our ability to persevere. It becomes so much easier to think it's possible, it's not worth our time, let someone else do it. when you are not in touch with your larger purpose.

I always encourage an attitude of being capable, motivated and responsible. To do the importance of thinking big. Every body knows how to live for today. Everybody knows how to make decisions that instantly please them. What is important is to learn to think beyond that. When you learn to balance your natural tendency to live for today with along term vision, you can start really planning for what you want and valuing the things that will pay off in the long term, whether your family , school or work or anything you are dedicated to.

I strongly recommends that adults should share their experiences, their life history. Nothing makes the reality of long term causes and effects real like a person who has lived them. Tell the stories of how you persisted in the face of temporary frustrations and you are sharing the big picture and making it easier for others to appreciate what they need beyond today.

Make What Real Into What's Ideal

Ellen says: Objectively, there is a life we have, filled with certain relationships and certain events. Regardless of how we feel about it, it is the life we have, the life that exists. But humans are not objective beings. The way we understand our lives not through an objective measurement, but through perpective we've built that pays attention to some things, exaggerates some things and ignore other things.

Whatever your life is like, it will not feel good or fulfilling if you spend your time comparing it to what you imagine to be perfect life. Do not set your family life up for failure by setting impossible standards.

Wonderfully Made

Ellen says: The next time you pick up your little baby, or grandbaby, look into the face of that marvelously made child and say, "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." And wouldn't hard to repeat that statement throughout her childhood. Children need to know how valuable they are in God's sight- and ours. Nothing gives greater security than a strong sense of self esteem.

Hear this well, busy parents-especially who tends toward impatience, who are always on the run.... Your children have been put together in an altogether unique fashion, like no one else on earth.... They need you to help convince them they are unique persons, each one different, each one his or her own person. Childrens longing in our arms longing to be known, longing to accept themselves as they are, to be who they are. So when they wade into the swift current of their times, they will be able to stand firm, and won't depend on peer pressure to give them their standard.