The sacraments of healing—penance and anointing—are the most misunderstood sacraments because they underwent the most extensive reforms after Vatican II. In a user-friendly Q&A format the author presents the latest information on these two sacraments for pastoral workers, teachers, and all curious Catholics. The older forms of these sacraments may have made them forbidding to many Catholics, but Vatican II restored them to their rightful role as places of encounter and reconciliation between the individual Catholic and the healing power of Christ through his church. Misunderstandings still linger, however, and the author, a priest experienced in parish as well as classroom settings, clears them up in this readable, accessible book. A brief overview of the sacraments of healing is followed by separate sections on each sacrament that cover their New Testament origins, history, and theology. Practical appendices round out the book to make it an indispensable pastoral resource as well as a valuable text for catechists, RCIA, parish adult education, and college and seminary courses on the sacraments. †
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