Unit Ten: Rites of Healing
Reconciliation; Anointing; Funerals
Alternative title: Rites of Restoration.
These rites all deal with DAMAGE and LOSS: to:	baptismal innocence
health
life
relationship
They are concerned with subjects often considered taboo: sin, sickness, and death (in others and oneself) and in facing up to them.
PENANCE deals with realities about 	God's mercy and call
Oneself and others
the Church
ANOINTING is concerned with sickness and its implications:
Weakness of body, spirit, faith 
Danger of death
ORDER OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS deals with the reality of death:
what the deceased has left unfinished 
what we have left unfinished
Rites help with acceptance of and coping with serious events.
•	role of the Word of God (OCF 4)
•	ministry of the community in reconciling, care (APCS), consoling (OCF)
Music has different roles at different times:
•	in Penance: an aid to reflection
•	OCF: music 'expresses what words alone fail to convey'
Environment has to be appropriate; e.g. reconciliation room; 'ambience' or funerals
Role of the Laity in these rituals (as leaders) to be stressed where necessary
1. PENANCE
•	not part of the current experience of many people in the church today
Vatican II (SC72): the rite was to be revised 'to give more luminous expression
to the nature and effect of the sacrament'.
The First Rite stresses the call of Christ to conversion; his welcome and
reconciliation of sinners; the Apostolic Charge
(N.B. Baptism and Eucharist are also sacraments of forgiveness)
The Rites:
•	the three rites retain the traditional structure
•	outline of the history of the rites
•	Penance as feature of Lent
•	Non-sacramental services of penance
•	possible future developments
2. ANOINTING AND PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK 
Principles of reform: SC73–75
Revised rites (1983 ICEL rite expands the original version)
VIATICUM
VISITS TO THE SICK
PRAYERS WITH THE DYING
•	communal celebrations: show community involvement and help share burden of anxiety
3. ORDER OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS
1990 version introduces new elements:
•	enriched introduction and pastoral notes  
•	Stress on: 	Ministry of consolation 
Preparation
Music
•	more prayers
•	no longer 'three stations'
•	New provisions:
Cremation
Burial of ashes 
Commendation of Infant
Bibliography and Documentation
The Rite of Penance, Collins, Goodliffe Neale, 1976, Introduction.
Pastoral Care of the Sick, Geoffrey Chapman 1983: Cf. Apostolic Constitution and Introductions.
Order of Christian Funerals, Geoffrey Chapman, 1991: General Introduction and Pastoral Notes.
D.A.Withey, Catholic Worship: Kevin Mayhew 1990, ch. 15.
J .D.Crichton, Christian Celebration, Part 2: The Sacraments, chs. XI, IX X. [Ch. X needs updating the light of the new Order of Christian Funerals]
Stephen Dean (ed.) The Parish Funeral. Great Wakering: McCrimmons, 1991 
Torn Coyle (ed). Christian Ministry to the Sick. Geoffrey Chapman, 1986,