Unction: Father Matthew Presents the Sacraments

[dianaberry9393]

"The Priest lays his or her hands upon the person?" I don't understand the "his or her" part about this. I thought only priests could give the sacrament of the sick. Can sisters administer this sacrament as well? Is it like baptism, in an emergency anyone can administer baptism? I just don't understand...

[FatherMatthew]

@dianaberry9393 Priests are both male and female in the Anglican Communion (80 million Christians around the world). You can represent Christ and the Church and be any gender, really.

[dianaberry9393]

@FatherMatthew I am so sorry. I still don't understand. You have female priests? Like, women who perform the sacrament of the liturgy of the Eucharist?

[FatherMatthew]

@dianaberry9393 Absolutely. My rector, and boss, is a female priest. half of the people in my seminary class were female, and I was raised by a female priest who was a chaplain at the church school I went to as a child. The Episcopal Church has been ordaining women since the 70's.

[mmmail1969]

@FatherMatthew - no they can't! A woman cannot be a priest - simple as! Why you ask? Well, the term "priest" is gender specific! A woman may be a "priestess" but -- there is NO history of "priestesses" in Jewish/Christian heritage. Christ came to fulfill the law - not to do away with it (His words) - because the LAW itself is good and will stand 'til the end of time - it is afterall, God given law! The two foundations of the law - sacrifice and priest - NOT priestesses!

[ilove2run89]

@mmmail1969 Episcopalians/Anglicans believe that the call to priesthood is not limited to just men. Women feel that call just as strongly. We believe in equality in all things, most especially in ministry. We also allow gays and lesbians into the priesthood.

[mmmail1969]

@ilove2run89 - your reply makes no sense. "the call to priesthood is not limited to just men". Do you live on another planet? A woman cannot EVER be a "priest" she CAN 100% be a "priestess" - now find for me in Jewish/Christian heritage - priestesses???? When you've done that fine, go for it. We both know you can't - Christ Himself, came to fulfill the law - NOT to do away with it! Hence, Christ has a priesthood. Of course, the #1 call is to be a CHRISTIAN, open to ALL humanity.

[ilove2run89]

@mmmail1969 First of all, thank you for being so respectful of our faith, beliefs and practices (sarcasm). I suggest Father Matthew's video on biblical inerrancy.

[vegassDJ]

Please forgive my ignorance, but is this what is delivered to a dying person. Is this what people refer to when they say the "last rights?

[KempsGrl]

he's like a baby dinosaur

[shadowofaseraph]

I was looking for a definition of unction as it applies to the Episcopal church (I'm thinking of finding a new denomination) and I'm glad I ran across this video. You seem like a cool guy, Father Matthew, and I'll be watching the other videos when I have time.

[sidewalkpilot]

more more more

[gayboynky]

I am a catholic who LOVES FATHER MATHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LilliputTroupe]

I thought he was a catholic priest...

[tlh215]

Um, no, it says at the end of the video that this is a ministry of The Episcopal Church. Also, did you not notice his wedding band? He is married. You won't see that on the hand of a Catholic priest.

This is a very healing video, Fr. Matthew. Awesome stuff.

[canadianwritingchik]

Is the oil necessary? We definitely don't use it at our church (well we have some in the youth room but it never gets used). Heck, if someones sick it's usually just someone in the church who prays for them, not the paster (although he will if you ask) and if its really bad half the church goes up and prays for you.

Oil-not necessary.

[FatherMatthew]

Oil is not necessary for prayer. Heck, prayer isn't necessary for healing. But we don't only do what is necessary. We tend to do more. Like a birthday cake, icing and candles are unnecessary, but that doesn't mean you don't use them. Reducing worship to the bare necessities is poor stewardship of our history and tradition and the beauty and communicative power of the ancient sacraments.

[canadianwritingchik]

That makes sense I guess.

[danielcraigiii]

at least our priest listens to radiohead...

[FatherMatthew]

It is obvious that God designed both women and men to be capable of representing both Christ and the Church.

[catholicmilitant]

Obvious? Please...explain your theory.

[gladiator3543]

You should be careful not to confuse equality with inter-changeability. Men and women have equal dignity but are not the same. If it was so "obvious" that women should be priests why didn't Jesus ordain any? Do we somehow know better than he does? I think not and niether does the history for the church or the vast number of Christians today.

[FatherMatthew]

Um...Jesus didn't ordain ANY priests, let alone male ones. Again, women can represent Christ and the Church just as well as men. What is it, besides prejudice, that precludes a woman from performing these functions? How does the "essence" differ?

[gladiator3543]

Are you saying Christ did not institute the sacrament of the priesthood? If not, who did? If you hold that woman can be ordained then you you are contradicting the example of Christ and swaping it for a Godless view of sexuality that denies any intrinsic difference or complimentarity between the sexes. You cannot innovate, let alone better the example of Christ and the constant practice of the Church for more than 1,900 years. Was Christ prejudiced not to make women apsotles?

[FatherMatthew]

Christ DID have women apostles: Mary Magdalene is the apostle to the apostles, the first to announce the resurrection. The example of Christ is that both males and females have been apostles, hence the solely male priesthood is an innovation that limits God, humanity, and Creation. The sexes are different, but not so different that they can't both represent God and the Church in a sacramental way.

[gladiator3543]

Mary Magdalene is not named among the 12 apostles; where do you get that idea from?! (Mk 3:13-10, Mk 10:1-4, Lk: 6:12-16). The only way you can justify the ordination is by disregarding both the example of Christ who chose only men and by rejecting nearly 2,000 years of Christian tradition. Niether is it aquestion who who "represents God" we all are marked by his image and likeness. Your view swaps secular feminism for christian tradition; "be not converted to this world." (Romans 12:1-2)

[catholicmilitant]

"Apostle to the Apostles???" My My, the compulsion towards revisionism has become an obsession. This statement is absolute nonsense. In fact your entire statement appears to have been formulated from pure interpretative fantasy with no solid theology to back it up. I'm sorry if I come off as rather sarcastic but the nature of your commentary is appallingly erroneous! You're making this stuff up and there is nothing in Holy Scripture that can reconcile what you wrote.

[IustitiaPax]

Not in the apostolic succession, the college of the apostles, not as popes, not as priests or (sacramental) deacons. That is a grave error of the Anglican communion. Men and women are different, not in dignity, but in essence. I cannot become an abbess like the powerful Saint Hildegard of Bingen either. And Saint Hildegard could never become a valid priest. There are no priestess in Christianity. We have the spiritual priesthood of all, Our Lady gave the finest example of union with Her Son.

[FatherMatthew]

Roman Catholicism, through a pope, could decide to ordain women as priests someday. This would be more in line with the way that God created us for in Christ there is no male or female, both are able to represent Christ and the Church, but not in Roman Catholic polity of course. What does the Roman Catholic Church say about hermaphrodites? Can they be priests?

[IustitiaPax]

Reverend, it is impossible. Also, the Roman Catholic Church and the Mystical Body of Christ (the Church) are "one and the same thing" (Humani generis, 1950, 27). It is de fide catholica that women cannot become priests, and no pope can ever change this, as a pope is guardian of apostolic deposit of faith, of Tradition; a pope is not a creator of Revelation, of new revelations. A pope is a servant, the supreme guardian. Women cannot become priests. Hermaphrodites are either XX or XY in chromosome

[gladiator3543]

Wrong; Pope John Paul II solemnly declared in his letter 'Ordinatio Sacerdotalis' in 1994; "Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful."

[tlh215]

I agree with you on women priests, Fr. M. Here's how I work it out: Jesus = God. God made man in Godself's image; as the Scripture put it: "Male and female He created THEM." So from the start, both men and women were created in imago dei. I know that's more than enough justification for women priests for ME.

Anyone with me?

[tlh215]

But, since I am female myself, I suppose it stands to reason that I'd be in favor of women priests.

I am made in the image of God too.

[christiangoth84]

Not only is unction (like every sacrament) really cool, it's also fun to say.

Unction.

Unction.

Say it with me.

Unction.

=D

[theyouthspeaker]

I love the Music. You can't go wrong when U2 is in it!

[KeleTiva]

I was raised Catholic, but I've always had questions about the ins and outs of Christian faith. Your videos are so easy to understand and clear. Thanks Father Matthew!

[hlinskona]

Awesome video, Father! You say this will be on a DVD? I want it!

[AnHonestChristian]

How so? This a very informative video that explains the parallels between church tradition and Christian truth. Have I missed something?

[RCwasHere]

Great video. I liked it very much.

[nigologue]

What's the congregation size at Christ Church compared to St. Paul's?

[FatherMatthew]

St. Paul's:Christ's Church::15:400

[anglican]

I did NOT post the previous comment. I have no idea who or how someone has taken over my account!

[FatherMatthew]

Yikes! That is scary...

[gayboynky]

A Small Parish is often the best Parish. with more love and unity.

[kingjordana]

I'm glad to hear that it wasn't you.

[karmazach]

The Catholics call these one "anointing of the sick," or "the Last Rites"

[splashpont]

Last Rites refers to when the person is near death, and then special anointing prayers with the "food for the journey" (final communion or viaticum) are prayed. Customarily, the sacrament is now (since 1970s!) known as "Anointing of the Sick."

[catholicmilitant]

You are confusing the rites of the Episcopal church, which is in error, to the rites of the Catholic church. Please! There are definitive distinctions between the two and these distinctions are so devisive that they prohibit any reconciliation in the forseeable future.

[splashpont]

"The [RC] Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not...preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter.... They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities.... In all of Christ's disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ...." (Lumen Gentium, 15)

May we acknowledge good.

[Andante735]

This is the official stance regarding the rites and sacraments of the EC according to the RCC. It's interesting to see all the red thumbs given him, but not surprising. You always see that happen when people don't like to see the truth.

[Andante735]

This is in reply to catholicmilitant's comment - not sure why it found it's way here.

[holylight12]

Good video as always :)

[redhotpinktwink]

I have learned so much about the church from you.

[hampstercrazy]

Cool beans.