Día Mundial del Enfermo

El 11 de febrero, con ocasión de la festividad de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, la Iglesia celebra el "Día Mundial del Enfermo". Quiero aprovechar la oportunidad para hablar un poco del sacramento de la Unción de los Enfermos. Antes del Concilio Vaticano II, se le llamaba "Extemaunción", porque sólo se impartía a los moribundos y agonizantes. A partir del Concilio, este sacramento es para quien "empieza a estar en peligro de muerte por enfermedad o vejez" (CIC #1514). Sólo puede ser administrado por un sacerdote o un obispo.

Referencias bíblicas: a) Cristo da poder a los Apóstoles para sanar enfermos: Lucas 9,1-2; Mateo 10,7-8; b) los Apóstoles sanan enfermos: Hechos 5,15-16; Santiago habla del poder de la Unción impartida por los presbíteros: 5,14-15.

El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica (CIC) presenta un resumen sobre este sacramento en los #s 1526-1532. Este último nos dice: "La gracia especial del sacramento de la Unción tiene como efectos: la unión del enfermo a la Pasión de Cristo, para su bien y el de toda la Iglesia; el consuelo, la paz y el ánimo para soportar cristianamente los sufrimientos de la enfermedad o de la vejez; el perdón de los pecados si el enfermo no ha podido obtenerlo por el sacramento de la Penitencia; el restablecimiento de la salud corporal, si conviene a la salud espiritual; y la preparación para el paso a la vida eterna".

Su amigo y servidor

Padre Jesús Camacho

World Day of the Sick
February 11th is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes which is also the date in which the Church celebrates “World Day of the Sick”. I’d like to take this opportunity to talk a little about the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Before Vatican II it was called “Last Rites” because it was only administered to those who were dying. This sacrament is now “not a sacrament for only those who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for them to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1514). This sacrament can only be administered by a priest or bishop. Biblical references: a) Christ gives power to the Apostles to heal the sick: Luke 9: 1-2; Matthew 10: 7-8; b) The Apostles heal the sick: Revelation 5:15-16; James speaks of the power of the Anointing imparted to the presbyters: James 5; 14-15.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) presents a summary of this sacrament in numbers 1526-1532. This last one tells us: “The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life.”
Your friend and servant
Fr. Jesús Camacho