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Extreme Unction and Anointing of the Sick
June 20, 2006
"Doctor, Doctor I Am Sick, Call The Father Very Quick!"
This is the title of a local TV program here in Bacolod City that tackles relevant issues concerning health and medical matters in reflection that many of the physical sickness is psychosomatic-which means that the sickness of the body is due to the sickness of the soul. "If the soul is healed, most often the healing of the body follows."
It aims to highlight the unity of the body and the spirit; to point out that the spiritual care leads to physical health; to present to the viewers the health and medical programs being implemented in Bacolod and to encourage them to participate in promoting these programs; to educate the viewers of the illnesses and diseases- their cause, prevention and cure; to encourage the public to be health-conscious at all times; to inform the viewers of the roles and responsibilities of the hospitals, health centers, doctors, nurses in keeping the people of Bacolod safe and away from serious and contagious diseases; and to instill in the minds of the viewers that "prevention is, indeed, better than cure."
The show lasts for one hour, including commercial gaps on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10:30-11:30 AM and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30-8:30 PM. It is already taped ahead and is aired by Progress Channel through SkyCable. The major sponsor of the program is the Riverside Medical Center.
The rationale is to keep the people of Bacolod away from health and medical problems by educating and updating them on various health issues. Through the Progress Channel, medical programs and other health-related concerns will be easily disseminated to the public through a very effective medium, the television. This aims to emphasize the wholistic approach of health care.
I, Rev. Fr. Nilo M. Justalero, M.D., a licensed physician and chaplain of the Riverside Medical Center, Bacolod City, host the show. I graduated from West Visayas State University, College of Medicine in 1986. I was ordained to the priesthood on December 5, 2002 by Most Rev. Vicente M. Navarra, DD, bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod. My first assignment being the Procurator of the Sacred Heart Seminary from January 2003-March 2004 prior to the present assignment. I am also a guest lecturer in Bioethics at the College of Medicine, University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City.
What is "extreme unction"? What is "anointing of the sick"?
My colleagues, most often your patients are Catholics and at one time or the other, you have heard from your patients or from their folks requesting for "extreme unction". If you are a Catholic doctor this is not new, of course. But if you belong to another religious sect, then you may wonder what is this is all about.
According to the "Catechism For Filipino Catholics": The second Vatican Council used the text, James 5:14-15, to revise and renew the sacrament of anointing of the sick. "Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the priests of the church. They in turn are to pray over him with oil in the name of the Lord. This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will restore him health. If he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his."
This sacrament is for baptized Catholics who are sick-less serious to very serious, victims of accidents, and not only for those who are at the point of death. From exterme unction, it was changed to anointing of the sick. It is by faith that we ask for this sacrament and it is by faith that we recieve this sacrament and the gift of healing from God.
Encourage your patients to recieve this sacrament when they are admitted in the hospital as well as requesting for the sacrament of confession and recieving Holy Communion. Tell them to inquire from the nurses the spiritual services offered by the hospital and how to avail of them.
God Bless.
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Views expressed on this column and any other by-lined articles on this site are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization or its members.
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