Unction: Father Matthew Presents the Sacraments
March 1, 2010 by Larry
Filed under Best Gift for Dad
A teaching piece on the anglican / episcopal Rite of Unction or Ministry to the Sick, one of the sacraments in the Episcopal Church. The seventh of eight videos that Episcopal priestblogger, the Rev. Matthew Moretz, is producing on the sacraments, the outward and visible signs of the inward and spiritual graces of God. This video will be part of a forthcoming DVD, and is also featured on the website Beliefnet.com. Father Matthew is the Curate (assistant priest) at Christ’s Church (Episcopal), Rye, NY www.fathermatthewpresents.com
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?
[Translate]
he’s like a baby dinosaur
[Translate]
Fr. Matthew is a young dynamic priest who can get the message through. Being a comedian is a big advantage too.
[Translate]
tlh215
“wedding band… You won’t see that on a hand of a Catholic priest.” You will see that on Catholic priests and nuns. Priests married to the Church, Nuns married to Jesus Christ. They receive it when ordained. This is the reason why women cannot become priests in RC. But God created Man and Woman equal and to his likeness. Yes, but for a different purpose. The explanation can go on and on like the litany of the Saints.
Peace and God Bless.
[Translate]
“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.
[Translate]
This is in reply to catholicmilitant’s comment – not sure why it found it’s way here.
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
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?
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
more more more
[Translate]
I thought he was a catholic priest…
[Translate]
I am a catholic who LOVES FATHER MATHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Translate]
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.”
[Translate]
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)
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
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?
[Translate]
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
[Translate]
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?
[Translate]
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?
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
That makes sense I guess.
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]
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.
[Translate]