Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick heals not only physical ailments but also spiritual ailments, as long as it is God’s will for healing to occur. Illness makes people confront the weakness of the human body and the real possibility of death. It can lead to one turning away from God and becoming self-absorbed and sorrowful. Jesus has the power to heal us and to forgive us from the sin we fell into as a result of sickness—He comes to heal both the body and the soul of the person. In the Gospels, there are many stories of Jesus healing the sick. One correlation in all these circumstances is Jesus touching those sick or the sick touching Him and being healed: this is demonstrated in the sacrament. Along with laying of hands on a person in silence, blessings with a consecrated oil follow. This sacrament is not only for those who are close to death, but also meant for anyone who has any sickness or upcoming procedure. Priests, only, are allowed to perform this sacrament. There are many graces that are a result of this sacrament. Some of them are strength, peace, courage, union with Christ, and renewal of trust in God.
Penance and Reconciliation
Penance and Reconciliation is God pardoning the offenses committed against Him and at the same time, reconciling with the Chruch who have been wounded by the sins. There are many names for the sacrament: Conversion, Penance, Confession, and Reconciliation. Conversion because it is the first step in returning to the Father from a person who strayed through sin. The Sacrament of Penance because it consecrates a person’s steps to forgiveness. Confession because it is the disclosure or confession of all the sins committed to a priest. It is called the Sacrament of Reconciliation because the offenses are reconciled between God and the sinner. A person receives the graces to sin no more and to fight the temptation to sin. This sacrament is completed through an ordained priest. Through Penance, sins are not only forgiven, but there is a challenge to also forgive those who have sinned against us. There is a pdf attached with a more in-depth description on how to go to confession, this can be brought into the confessional with you and used during the sacrament.