Page 518 - Demo

The Prophet Daniel, by Gustave Doré (1866)
5:13 The sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation did not exist as we know them in the early Church, but here James gives a glimpse of the beginning of both sacraments. Oil was frequently used in medical treatments—to this day we use creams, ointments, and gels of many di erent kinds. The priest would anoint the person and pray with and over him or her; and God would grant healing in body and soul. In confession, we acknowledge our sins to the priest, another human being; but really we are confessing our sins to Christ and receiving his forgiveness.
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JAMES 
IV. THE POWER OF PRAYER
Anointing of the Sick. 13Is anyone among you su ering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. 14Is anyone among you sick?* He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord,j 15and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.*
Confession and Intercession. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. 17Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.k 18Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.l Conversion of Sinners. 19m My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, 20n he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.*
The Trials of Job, by Jan Mandyn (1502-1560)
* [5:12] This is the threat of condemnation for the abuse of swearing oaths (cf. Mt 5:33–37). By heaven or by earth: these words were substitutes for the original form of an oath, to circumvent its binding force and to avoid pronouncing the holy name of God (see Ex 22:10).
* [5:14] In case of sickness a Christian should ask for the presbyters of the church, i.e., those who have authority in the church (cf. Acts 15:2, 22–23; 1 Tm 5:17; Ti 1:5). They are to pray over the person and anoint with oil; oil was used for medicinal purposes in the ancient world (see Is 1:6; Lk 10:34). In Mk 6:13, the Twelve anoint the sick with oil on their missionary journey. In the name of the Lord: by the power of Jesus Christ.
* [5:15] The results of the prayer and anointing are physical health and forgiveness of sins. The Roman Catholic Church (Council of Trent, Session 14) declared that this anointing of the sick is a sacrament “instituted by Christ and promulgated by blessed James the apostle.”
* [5:20] When a Christian is instrumental in the conversion of a sinner, the result is forgiveness of sins and a reinstatement of the sinner to the life of grace.
j. [5:14] Mk 6:13.
k. [5:17] 1 Kgs 17:1; Lk 4:25.
l. [5:18] 1 Kgs 18:45.
m. [5:19] Mt 18:15; Gal 6:1.
n. [5:20] Prv 10:12; 1 Pt 4:8.