SAKRAMENT NAMASZCZENIA CHORYCH: ŁASKA CZASU STAROŚCI
The Sacrament of the Sick: the grace of old age

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present the Sacrament of the Sick in the context of its recipients, who include elderly people. The Sacrament is often mistakenly associated by the faithful with the moment of death, becoming an expression of powerlessness against death and the last event of one’s Christian life. In view of the doctrinal statements of the Church Magisterium however, the Anointing of the Sick does not necessarily have to be applied to the dying and its reception does not mean the termination of life. The anointment is the sacrament designed for the sick and for those who painfully experience their old age, and its grace may assist in suffering an illness or various impairments of old age. Being an elderly person makes one eligible to receive the sacrament, although pastoral experience shows that this possibility is not taken advantage of to the full extent. The first part of the article presents historical and doctrinal approaches to the Sacrament of the Sick: starting with the obligation to anoint the sick found in the Letter of Saint James, through the Middle Ages, the accomplishments of the Synod Of Trent, up to the latest teachings of the Magisterium. Subsequently, on the basis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the analysis of the Sacrament of the Sick is made from the charitological perspective. The grace of the sacrament of anointment given to elderly people can have many dimensions and can provide them with an opportunity to experience their old age in relation to the sphere of “sacrum”. After this analysis the article shows the anointing in terms of providing support to elderly people in relation to two essential problems connected with “the third age”, i.e. social and psychological problems. Sacramental grace may provide support to cope with them.

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