So when the Church tells you that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and Jesus taught that only belief was necessary, in whom do you put your trust? Part 7: Anointing of the Sick

Faith and the Sacraments: Trusting What Jesus Actually Taught

by Keith Abell, RPh MI

Part 7: Anointing of the Sick – Grace in Suffering

“So when the Church tells you that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and Jesus taught that only belief was necessary, in whom do you put your trust?”

Welcome to Part 7 of our 7-part series exploring the Sacraments and answering one of the most important questions Catholics face today: If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?

As we conclude this journey, we turn to a sacrament that many Catholics rarely think about until suffering enters their lives or the life of someone they love: Anointing of the Sick. I had always known it was part of the Church’s care for the dying, but I hadn’t realized how deeply biblical it is — how it was practiced in both the Old and New Testaments, and how Jesus Himself instituted it as a way to bring healing, peace, and grace to those in physical and spiritual need.

This sacrament reminds us that God does not abandon us in suffering. He meets us there — through the Church, through the priest, and through the sacred oil and prayer — to strengthen us, forgive us, and prepare us for healing or eternal life.

Faith Alone? Why Anointing Matters

Jesus didn’t just preach belief — He touched, healed, and anointed. He sent His apostles to do the same. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is not a symbolic gesture — it is a real encounter with Christ, who brings grace in our most vulnerable moments.

James 5:14–15

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

This is one of the clearest biblical foundations for any sacrament — and it shows that healing and forgiveness are deeply connected.

Biblical Foundations of Anointing of the Sick

Old Testament Foreshadowing

• Isaiah 1:6 – Speaks of wounds not soothed with oil, implying the healing power of anointing.
• Psalm 23:5 – “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
• Sirach 38:9–10 – Encourages prayer and turning to God in illness, while also honoring the role of physicians and healing remedies.

These passages show that healing, prayer, and anointing were already spiritually linked in Jewish tradition.

Jesus Heals with Touch and Compassion

• Mark 6:13 – “They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”
• Matthew 10:8 – Jesus commands the apostles: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.”
• Luke 4:40 – “At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to Him. He laid His hands on each of them and cured them.”

Jesus didn’t just heal — He empowered His Church to continue His healing ministry.

What the Early Church Believed About Anointing

• St. Hippolytus (3rd century)
  “Let the bishop bless the oil for the sick… and let the priest anoint those who are ill, that they may be healed in body and spirit.”
• St. John Chrysostom
  “The priest stands as a physician of souls… and the anointing is a medicine of grace.”
• St. Gregory the Great
  “Let the sick be anointed with holy oil, that their sins may be forgiven and their bodies healed.”

The early Church saw this sacrament as a continuation of Christ’s healing work, not just for the body, but for the soul.

Conclusion: Grace in Suffering

Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of hope, not despair. It is a reminder that suffering is not meaningless — it can be united to Christ’s Passion and transformed by His grace. Whether healing comes in this life or the next, the sacrament brings peace, strength, and forgiveness.

So when someone asks, “If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?” — we can answer:

Because Jesus didn’t just say “believe.” He said, “Anoint the sick… and they will be healed.” He gave us this sacrament so that no one would suffer alone — and so that grace would meet us even in our final moments.

Thank You for Joining This Journey

This concludes our 7-part series on the Sacraments — a journey that began with a simple question and led to a deeper understanding of the faith we’ve lived, sometimes on autopilot, for years.

If this series has helped you rediscover the beauty and power of the Sacraments, I invite you to share it with others — especially fellow cradle Catholics who may be searching for deeper meaning in their faith.

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