24. The sacraments of healing

24. THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS OF PENANCE AND THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK THE CHURCH CONTINUES CHRIST'S HEALING MINISTRY
Compendium 295-320 James 5:14-15
1. God's love and mercy is greater than our sins.
2. On that first Easter evening, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Healing, Mercy and Repentance and empowered the apostles and their successors, bishops and priests, to forgive sins.
3. Although Baptism gives us a new life in grace, there is still a tendency to sin as a result of the Fall: concupiscence.
4. Mortal sin separates us from God and venial sin weakens our relationship with him and one another.
5. The Sacrament of Reconciliation restores those relationships.
6. We are called to lifelong conversion and that is made possible by this sacrament.
7. After confessing, we can show our sincere repentance for sin through prayer, fasting and giving alms.
8. We cannot receive the Eucharist if we commit mortal sin until we go to Confession.
9. The confession of venial sins helps us to grow in virtue and resist temptation.
10. We prepare for confession by examining our conscience with the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes and the 7 Virtues and 7 Vices, 7 Corporal Works of Mercy and 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy.
11. Confession removes eternal punishment and reduces temporal punishment due to sin.
12. Prayers and good works bring Indulgences which reduce or eliminate temporal punishment for ourselves and the souls in purgatory.
14. This Sacrament also brings peace, serenity, joy and strength.
15. We must resolve not to sin again and to avoid occasions of sin.
16. General Absolution without individual confession is only used in grave emergencies.
17. The Anointing of the hands and forehead of the sick and aged with holy oil unites them to the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ and prepares them for eternal life and forgives sins if they are not able to confess. It also brings comfort, serenity, consolation and courage.
18. It can often help physical healing.
19. It is of eternal importance to encourage one another to avail ourselves of these sacraments.
20. The fear of alarming the person who is approaching death is a failure of love. There is no love without truth and there is no truth without love. We must pray to the Holy Spirit for the wisdom and courage to tell the truth with love.