Page 14 - The Sacraments

THE SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK
MSt. Maximilian Kolbe BARBARA YOFFIE
aximilian Kolbe was a Franciscan priest and missionary. His great love for the Blessed Virgin Mary inspired his work and spirituality. During the Second World
Anointing of the Sick. The cel- ebration of the sacrament con- sists of special prayers, laying on of hands, and anointing the fore- head and hands with holy oil.
Administered by a priest or bishop, the Anointing of the Sick may be celebrated individ- ually or communally and can be received more than once. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the sick are strengthened spiritually to bear the trials of their illness.
War, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp. The priest, now prisoner, secretly ministered to his fellow prisoners. He heard confessions, shared his food, and offered words of hope and encouragement.
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Jesus offers the sick and suf- fering his love and peace in the Anointing of the Sick.
Sacrament activities
■ The Parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:29-37) shows how we share in the heal- ing ministry of Jesus. How do you reach out to others?
■ Read about the lives of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Mar- ianne Cope. How did they share the love and peace of Jesus with people who suffered?
Take-home activities
■ Visit the sick or elderly in your community. Provide a sim- ple meal or a cheerful note, or offer assistance with household chores.
■ Maximilian is the patron saint of the pro-life movement. Join pro-life activities in your parish and give witness to the sanctity of life.
BARBARA YOFFIE, MRE, is a director of religious education and saint enthusiast. She is the author of the Saints and Me! series from Liguori Publications.
The special graces of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick give strength and peace to people who are seriously ill or dying. Maximilian was an instru- ment of God’s healing presence amid the horrors of war.
Maximilian Kolbe’s life
Maximilian was a bold evangeliz- er. He established a media com- plex in Poland and published newspapers, magazines, and books about the Catholic faith and devotion to Mary. Missionary work led him to Japan where he founded a monastery, a seminary, and a second media complex. Poor health forced his return to Poland in 1936.
Arrested for sheltering war refugees in his monastery, Max- imilian was sent to Auschwitz. Following an apparent escape, ten prisoners were sentenced to
the starvation bunker. He vol- untarily took the place of one of the condemned men who had a family. As each man slowly died, Maximilian prayed and com- forted them. After two weeks, Maximilian was killed by lethal injection.
Pope John Paul II canonized Maximilian Kolbe, declaring him a “martyr of charity” on October 10, 1982.
Saint activities
■ Maximilian always thought of others before himself. Consider ways you can put other people’s needs before your own.
■ Honor Mary by praying the Rosary, the Hail Mary, or the Memorare.
■ Pray that missionaries will be successful in their work of spreading the gospel.
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
The Church continues Jesus’ saving work of healing mind and body through the Sacrament of
MAXIMILIAN KOLBE 1894–1941
Patron saint of prisoners, drug addicts, journalists, and the pro-life movement
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