The Ministry to the Sick – The Prayer Book Society of Canada

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ON VISITING A SICK PERSON
AN ACT OF FAITH AND PRAYER
A FORM OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK
FORMS FOR THE LAYING ON OF HANDS AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK
A SUPPLICATION FOR THE DYING

THE

MINISTRY TO THE SICK

When any person is sick, notice thereof shall be given to the Pastor of the Parish, who shall minister to the sick person after the form following, or in like manner.

I. ON VISITING A SICK PERSON

The Minister may begin by saying:

PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.

THE eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33. 27.

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.
Isaiah 40. 31.

In nothing be anxious: but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4. 6, 7.

Or the Comfortable Words in the Communion Service.

Then may he say:

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Minister. O Lord, save thy servant;
Answer. Who putteth his trust in thee.
Minister. Send him help from thy holy place;
Answer. And evermore mightily defend him.
Minister. Be unto him a strong tower;
Answer. From the face of the enemy.
Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister.

GOD of all grace and power: Behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant; look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him in all danger, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us;
Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

DOMINUS REGIT ME. PSALM 23.
THE LORD is my shepherd; / therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture, / and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He shall restore my soul, / and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; / for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
THOU shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them that trouble me; / thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.
Surely thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; / and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Or Psalm 43, 103, or 121.

O SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us;
Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

SPECIAL PRAYERS which may be said with this Office, at the discretion of the Minister.

For a sick child.

O HEAVENLY Father, watch with us, we pray thee, over this child for whom our prayers are offered, and grant that he may be restored to that perfect health which it is thine alone to give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the recovery of a sick person.

O LORD and heavenly Father, who dost relieve those who suffer in soul and body: Stretch forth thine hand, we beseech thee, to heal thy servant N., and to ease his pain; that by thy mercy he may be restored to health of body and mind, and show forth his thankfulness in love to thee and service to his fellow men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For a blessing on the use of means.

O LORD Jesu Christ, thou great Physician: Look with thy gracious favour upon this thy servant; give wisdom and discretion to those who minister to him in his sickness; bless all the means used for his recovery; stretch forth thy hand and, according to thy will, restore him to health and strength, that he may live to praise thee for thy goodness and thy grace; to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

For submission to the will of God.

O GOD our heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: Grant to this thy servant grace to desire only thy most holy will; that, whether living or dying, he may be thine; for his sake who loved us and gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey: Be now and evermore thy defence; and make thee know and feel that there is none other name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom, thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then shall the Minister say:

UNTO God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The LORD bless you, and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

II. AN ACT OF FAITH AND PRAYER

Let us affirm our faith in the redeeming love of God, and say:

I BELIEVE In God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee: Grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant, that he may be sustained and sanctified by thy Holy Spirit, and strengthened in soul and body; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, giver of health and healing: Grant to this thy servant such a sense of thy presence that he may have perfect trust in thee. In all his suffering may he cast his care upon thee, so that, enfolded in thy love and power, he may receive from thee health and salvation according to thy gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III. A FORM OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

The sick person may make a general confession of his sins by saying the General Confession in Morning and Evening Prayer, or that in the Communion Service, or after the form following. After which the Priest shall say the Absolution. In times of need the Priest may say the Confession in the name of the sick person, who shall say at the end, Amen.

O HEAVENLY Father, I confess that I have sinned greatly against thee in thought, word, and deed, and have done that which is wrong in thy sight. I ask thee to forgive me my sins, and to give me grace always to resist temptation and to do thy holy will; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

The Absolution, to be pronounced by the Priest alone:

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, have mercy upon you, and forgive you all your sins, deliver you from all evil, preserve and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If the sick person feel his Conscience troubled with any weighty matter, he shall be moved to make a special confession of his sins.

The Priest may first say:

THE Lord be in thy heart and on thy lips, that thou mayest truly confess thy sins to Almighty God.

Then the Penitent shall say:

I CONFESS to God that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by my own fault. And especially … I pray to God to forgive me all my sins for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Then the Priest shall say:

Let us pray.

O MOST merciful God, who, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more: Look upon this thy servant, who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. And forasmuch as he putteth his full trust only in thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but strengthen him with thy blessed Spirit; and whenever thou art pleased to take him hence, take him into thine everlasting favour; through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

After which the Priest shall absolve him (if he humbly and heartily desire it) after this sort:

OUR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him: Of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences. And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

IV. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK

Forasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour both of the souls and of the bodies of men, the Curate shall exhort those who are sick and infirm to the often receiving of the holy Communion; and if such persons are unable to come to the Church, due notice having been given, the Curate may celebrate the holy Communion in the sick person’s house, beginning with the Mutual Salutation and the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel following, or those of the day, at his discretion.

THE COLLECT.

THE EPISTLE. 2 Corinthians 1. 3.

BLESSED be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.

THE GOSPEL. St John 10. 14.

JESUS said, I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall pluck them out of my hand.

After which the Priest shall proceed according to the form before prescribed for the holy Communion beginning at these wordy: Ye that do truly.

If the sick person be very weak, and necessity so require, it shall suffice to use for this Office, the Confession. Absolution, Prayer of Consecration, Form of Delivery of the Sacrament, Lord’s Prayer, and Blessing. But in case of extreme necessity the Priest may begin with the Prayer of Consecration, and immediately after the delivery of the holy Sacrament to the sick person end with the Blessing.

At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall first receive the Communion himself and after minister unto them that are to communicate with the sick; and last of all to the sick person.

But if a man, either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for want of warning in due time to the Curate, or by any other just impediment, do not receive the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood: he shall be instructed that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Cross for him, and shed his Blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty thanks therefor; he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soul’s health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth.

V. FORMS FOR THE LAYING ON OF HANDS AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK

If the sick person earnestly desires the laying on of hands, the Minister shall prepare him to receive the same, using such portions of I, II, and III as may be considered advisable, and calling upon all those present to pray for him.

Priest. The Lord be with you;
People. And with thy spirit.
Priest. Let us pray.

Then shall a pause be made for silent prayer.

O ALMIGHTY God, whose blessed Son did lay his hands upon the sick and heal them: Grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant on whom we now lay our hands in his Name, refreshment of spirit, and, according to thy gracious will, restoration to health of body and mind; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall he lay his hands upon the head of the sick person, and say:

I LAY my hands on thee In the Name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, beseeching him that through his merits and precious death he will grant thee forgiveness of thy sins, relief from thy pains, and recovery of health in mind and body, to the glory of his Name. Amen.

Then shall the Priest say:

UNTO God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. The LORD make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK

This Office is to be used only for those who earnestly desire it and have made such preparation as their condition will permit.

Where possible, it is desirable that more than one Priest should take part in the administration.

If the Oil be not already blessed by the Bishop, the following consecration prayer shall be said by the Priest:

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast taught us in thy holy Word to pray for the sick and anoint them with oil, that they may recover their bodily health: Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy creature of oil; and grant that those who shall be anointed therewith may receive healing of body and mind, and strengthening of spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Priest shall prepare the sick person, using such portions of I, II, and III as shall be thought advisable in order that his assurance of God’s love and mercy may be quickened, and that he may be in humble dependence on the same.

And then one of the Priests shall read the following Lessons:

ST JAMES 5. 14-16.

IS any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

ST MARK 6. 7, 12, 13.

AND he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits. And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Then shall the Priest say:

O ALMIGHTY God, who art the giver of life and health and the aid of them that seek thee: We call upon thee for thy help and goodness mercifully to be shown upon this thy servant, that being healed of his infirmities of body, mind, and spirit, he may give thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then, with oil on his thumb, the Priest shall anoint the sick person on the forehead, making the sign of the Cross. and saying:

N. I ANOINT thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

As with this holy oil thou art outwardly anointed, so may our heavenly Father grant that thou mayest be inwardly anointed with the Holy Spirit.

May he of his great mercy restore unto thee health and strength to serve him, and send thee release from pain in body and mind. May he forgive thee all thy sins, preserve thee in all goodness, and bring thee to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Service shall conclude with the prayer The Almighty Lord and the Blessing on page 585.

Then the Priest shall remove the oil from the forehead of the sick person and from his own hand.

Passages of holy Scripture suitable for use with the sick person.

Old Testament:
o Penitence: Psalms 51, 130, 143; Isaiah 38; Daniel 9. 3-19.
o Encouragement: Psalms 13, 16, 91, 121; Isaiah 26. 1-9; 40. 1-11; 55. 1-3, 6-13; Lamentations 3. 22-26.
o Praise: Psalms 34, 40, 63, 145.
o General: Psalms 31, 84.

New Testament:
o Penitence: St Luke 15. 1-10; 15. 11-24; St John 3. 14-21.
o Encouragement: St Matthew 5. 1-12; 6. 25-34; St Mark 10. 46-52; St Luke 10. 38-42; 22. 14-20; 24. 36-48; St John 6. 47-58; 11. 20-27; 14. 1-27; 15. 1-11; St James 5. 13-18; 1 St Peter 2. 20-25; Revelation 7. 9-17; 21. 1-7; 22. 1-7.
o Our Lord’s works of healing: St Mark 2. 1-12; 5. 22-43; 9. 14-29; 10. 46-52; St Luke 17. 11-19; St John 5. 2-9; 9.
o The Apostles’ healing ministry: St Mark 6.7-13; Acts 3. 1-10; 9.32-42.

VI. A SUPPLICATION FOR THE DYING

The Minister may say these or other words of holy Scripture.

THOU wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.
Isaiah 26. 3.

Comfort the soul of thy servant; for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psalm 86. 4.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27.1.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Psalm 23. 4.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
St John 14. 1-3.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, thou God of truth.
Psalm 31. 6.

Then shall the Minister say;

The Lord be with you;
Answer. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.

A LITANY

O GOD the Father;
Graciously hear us.

O God the Son;
Graciously hear us.

O God the Holy Spirit;
Graciously hear us.

O Holy Trinity, one God;
Graciously hear us.

Behold, O Lord, this thy servant, and in thy loving mercy,
Good Lord, deliver him.

From darkness and doubt,
Good Lord, deliver him.

By thy holy Incarnation,
Good Lord, deliver him.

By thy Cross and Passion,
Good Lord, deliver him.

By thy Death and glorious Resurrection,
Good Lord, deliver him.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God: and that it may please thee to pardon all his sins,
We beseech thee, good Lord.

To receive him to thyself,
We beseech thee, good Lord.

To grant him a place of refreshment and everlasting blessedness,
We beseech thee, good Lord.

To give him joy and gladness in thy kingdom with thy saints in light,
We beseech thee, good Lord.

To bring him into thine eternal glory,
We beseech thee, good Lord.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world;
Have mercy upon him.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world;
Grant him thy peace.

NOW unto him that is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Commendatory Prayers.

O ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect: We humbly commend this thy servant, our dear brother, into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and most merciful Saviour. Wash him, we pray thee, in the blood of the immaculate Lamb, that was slain to take away the sin of the world; that whatsoever defilements he may have contracted in the midst of this wicked world, through the lusts of the flesh or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, he may be presented pure and without spot before thee; through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord. Amen.

DEPART, O Christian soul, out of this world,
In the Name of God the Father Almighty, who created thee;
In the Name of Jesus Christ, who redeemed thee;
In the Name of the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth thee.
May thy rest be this day in peace, and thy dwelling-place in the Paradise of God.