A Liturgy For The Long-term Seriously Ill

This liturgy is designed as a communal celebration of the sacrament of the anointing to take place within the context of a eucharistic liturgy. Family, friends, and, if possible, caregivers are invited to gather with the seriously ill in a place suitable for worship. The primary community of worship, however, remains the ill persons themselves. Care should be taken that the liturgy not be celebrated in such a way that the sick persons become passive observers because of a pace set by the healthy. Care should be taken too that the sick persons gathered achieve some sense of relationship among themselves, in addition to their relationships with family and friends.

Gathering for Worship As the people gather in the space set aside for worship, music which is soft and inviting and yet which proclaims the presence and comfort of God should be playing. It may be recorded music or music sung by a small group of singers. As the people gather, the presiding celebrant greets each of the sick in a personal manner and also welcomes the accompanying families and friends. When all are gathered, the presiding celebrant and ministers go to the front and begin the service. Call to Worship

Presider: My brothers and sisters,

welcome to God's house. I wish you peace and healing and the deep strength of our common faith in God and in Jesus Christ. You who are sick especially are honored guests in God's house. And we who join you in prayer are honored to be with you. May the peace and blessing of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. All: And also with you.

(The presider goes now to each of the sick and asks in these or similar words:)

Presider: [Name], as you come into God's presence this day, what special prayer do you bring to God

(Each of the sick is invited to name a special prayer. When all have been given an opportunity to do so, the presider addresses all the sick:)

Presider: You have each named a special prayer of your own, and have heard each other's special prayers. Will you pray for each other that God may bless you all?

(Some word or gesture of assent is invited, for example:)

The Sick: We will

(The presider then addresses all who are gathered:)

Presider: And you who gather in love with this blessed community of faith and hope, will join in prayer for all the sick that God will heal them and give them peace? All: We will. Opening Prayer

Presider: Then let us now pray:

Good and gracious God, in your Son Jesus Christ, you reach out to the sick and touch them with your healing power. Be with us now with this same healing power. You hear the desires of our brothers and sisters who come before you in hope and in trust. You see us all gathered in love before you. Show yourself once more a God who blesses and cares and gives peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Liturgy of the Word Presider: And now let us listen and take comfort in the word God speaks to us. Reading (Isa. 43:1–4a) Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 63) Refrain: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Gospel Acclamation (cf. James 1:12) Alleluia. Blessed are they who stand firm when trials come; when they have stood the test, they will win the crown of life. Alleluia. Gospel (Matt. 11:25–30) Other appropriate readings, psalms, and verses may be chosen. Homily Intercessions Liturgy of Anointing Instruction

Presider: My brothers and sisters,

we come now to the time of special grace, the time of anointing. The apostle James asked: "?Are there people sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them.?" My brothers and sisters who are sick among us, it is our privilege as a priestly people to pray God's healing and anointing upon you. Know that it is in your power to offer even your sickness as a gift of worship to God. In God's power may you be healed.

Laying on of Hands Joined by some of the friends and family, the presider goes to the sick one by one, places hands on each of them, and prays silently.   Anointing (The presider then anoints the sick on the forehead and hands, saying: [anointing the forehead])

Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you

with the grace of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. Presider: [anointing the hands] May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up. All: Amen. Prayer after Anointing

(When all have been anointed, the presider invites the sick to join hands, if this is possible, during the following prayer:)

Presider: Good and gracious God,

God of love, ever-caring, we give you praise and thanks through your Son, Jesus Christ. In him you show us how much you love us; In him you have tasted the beauty and the pain of all human life. Those who were sick came to him and found healing. Those who had sinned asked of him and found your forgiveness. With oil that is blessed and hearts that are humbled we have anointed our sisters and brothers here present. With us at their side they offer to you their fears and their doubts, their suffering and pain, their human lives, fragile and broken. Send our own spirit of love upon them. Speak the healing words of your Son to them. Give them the grace of your loving presence. Keep their eyes fixed firmly upon you in the eager hope and expectation that with you, and with you alone, their lives will be transformed. Where sin and death will be no more, where sickness and sorrow will be overcome, there may we know together that you are our God, and we the people you call your own. All glory be to you, Father, and to your Son, and to your Holy Spirit, now and forever. All: Amen.

(If this service of anointing takes place apart from the Eucharist, the Lord's Prayer and a final blessing follow. If it takes place during the celebration of the Eucharist, the liturgy continues as usual:)

Liturgy of the Eucharist (If possible, while the gifts are brought to the altar or table, some personal effect of each of the sick is also to be brought forward. This serves to unite their own sickness and suffering symbolically with the offering of Christ enacted in the Eucharist.) (At the sign of peace, where it is possible, the sick extend the greeting to each other.) (The following orations are suggested:) Prayer over the Gifts Presider: Lord our God, giver of all good gifts, from among the many you have given to us,

we bring bread and wine to give you thanks and praise.

In simple gifts we bring all that we are and all that we hope for. Look with special kindness on our brothers and sisters who are sick among us. Give them healing and peace. Be pleased with us and the offering of our lives. Unite us to Christ and his own sacrifice of praise. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. All: Amen. Concluding Prayer

Presider: Lord Jesus Christ,

you are the beginning and the end of all God's creation. You have gone before us to prepare the way. Yet you remain among us as companion and friend. As you have nourished us with your food of life, help us to be strong in faith, a source of courage to each other, and a gift of praise to the God you have revealed. We ask this in your name, for you live and reign forever and ever. All: Amen. Pastoral Note There will, of course, be some who will not be able to participate in this communal form of anointing. For the long-term ill, the regular enactment of this anointing will serve as the context, the "?world remembered,?" when they no longer can participate with the others. For these, it would be helpful if some of the "?community of the sick?" join in the prayer of the anointing. For others too, it would be helpful if some continuity with this communal celebration could be established so that the witness it represents may be a ministry to all who are anointed in whatever circumstances it proves necessary to anoint them. It might be helpful to conclude the communal service with a "?dismissal?" that sends those who have been anointed to minister in some way to those who were not able to attend. The anointing of these others would then be held as part of the communal celebration itself.