Understanding Forgiveness and Anointing Sacraments

The Sacrament of Forgiveness

Forgiveness means completely giving up your debt and canceling all obligations. It is an attitude and good behavior by which we forget the wrongs done to us and give others another chance. There are two types of wrongs:

• Natural wrongs: These are caused by nature.
• Moral wrongs: These are produced by people due to selfishness, envy, greed, etc.

Confession: This comes from talking and means to recognize, admit, and confess. A penitent Christian confesses their sins.

Reconciliation: This is the behavior of mutual forgiveness between estranged people.

Sprinkling: Sprinkling involves scattering liquid, ash, or dust on a person, object, or place.

Anointing: The anointing is performed on patients in general. Perfumed oil was blessed by the bishop, and lay Christians took it home to anoint their families.

Viaticum: This means provisions for the journey. From the beginning, it was a valuable habit of Eucharistic communion for Christians in danger of death.

The Sacrament of Forgiveness Process

1. Regret: The penitent must acknowledge the sins committed before God and themselves.
2. Confess sins: Confess sins to a priest to receive forgiveness from God.
3. Receive absolution: The priest pronounces the sacramental formula while placing his hand on the penitent's head and making the sign of the cross.
4. Accept penance or satisfaction: The Christian, having been forgiven, accepts and agrees to perform the penance or good works proposed by the priest as a sign of their willingness to grow closer to God.

What is the Anointing?

The anointing is the celebration of the sacramental encounter with Christ, the healer and savior, who heals, soothes, and liberates the sufferer from evil.

The Rites of Anointing

1. The priest performs a sprinkling of holy water on the sick and the room, while pronouncing the ritual.
2. Reading the word of God, usually from Matthew 8:5-10.
3. The priest performs the anointing with blessed oil on the forehead and hands of the patients, saying the ritual.
4. The Lord's Prayer is recited, and the priest performs a blessing.