Anointing For Further Study

History and Theology

Cuschieri, Andrew. Anointing of the Sick (University Press of America, 1993) looks at the sacrament from the perspective of scholastic theology and canon law.

Dudley, Martin, and Geoffrey Rowell. The Oil of Gladness (Liturgical Press, 1993) surveys the use of oils in the Christian tradition, not just for anointing the sick but for other rituals as well.

Empereur, James. Prophetic Anointing (Michael Glazier, 1982) insightfully discusses the history, theology, and pastoral dimensions of the sacrament.

Gusmer, Charles. And You Visited Me (Pueblo, 1984) documents the history of the sacrament of anointing the sick, explains the revised rites for the sick and dying, and discusses ministering to them.

Wilkinson, John. The Bible and Healing (William B. Eerdmans, 1998) is a comprehensive if somewhat literalistic review of health and healing in both testaments.

Ziegler, John. Let Them Anoint the Sick (Liturgical Press, 1987) recounts the history of the sacrament and argues that deacons and others ought to be allowed to perform the anointing.

Pastoral Care

Collins, Mary, and David Power. The Pastoral Care of the Sick (Trinity Press International, 1991) is an issue of Concilium devoted to the anointing of the sick and related matters.

Coyle, Tom, ed. Christian Ministry to the Sick (Geoffrey Chapman, 1986) contains articles on the new rite and many of its pastoral dimensions.

Fink, Peter, ed. Alternative Futures for Worship, Volume 7: Anointing of the Sick (Liturgical Press, 1987) contains articles on the experience, ritualizing, and history of healing, as well as suggestions for new liturgical rites.

Niklas, Gerald, and Charlotte Stefanics. Ministry to the Sick (Alba House, 1982) discusses the value of presence, prayer, and sacraments in the pastoral care of the hospitalized.

Schlemon, Barbara, Dennis Lynn, and Matthew Lynn. To Heal As Jesus Healed (Ave Maria Press, 1978) discusses how the Rite of Anointing can be integrated into the ministry of healing.

Thomas, Leo, and Jan Alkire. Healing As a Parish Ministry (Ave Maria Press, 1992) discusses spirituality, health, religious healing, ministry, community, prayer teams, worship, and other basics. Healing Ministry (Sheed and Ward, 1994) discusses spiritual, pastoral and practical aspects of the ministry of religious healing.

Holistic Health and Healing

Champlin, Joseph. Healing in the Catholic Church (Our Sunday Visitor, 1985) reviews the entire spectrum of healing in Catholicism from miraculous cures at Lourdes to charismatic healing to anointing of the sick.

DiOrio, Ralph. Called to Heal (Doubleday, 1982) presents of personal theology of the author's ministry of healing.

Dossey, Larry. Healing Words (Harper San Francisco, 1993) is a secular look at religious healing through prayer.

Frazier, Claude, ed. Healing and Religious Faith (Pilgrim Press, 1974) is an ecumenical collection of articles about the role of religion and faith in spiritual and physical healing.

Heron, Benedict. Channels of Healing Prayer (Ave Maria Press, 1992) gives practical advice about praying for healing, as well as a chapter on sacraments and healing.

Israel, Martin. Healing As Sacrament (Cowley Publications, 1984) examines healing as a sacrament in the broad sense, within and apart from liturgical settings.

Jackson, Edgar. The Role of Faith in the Process of Healing (Winston Press, 1981) is a study of how personal faith affects physical recovery, emotional well being, and relationships.

Kelsy, Morton. Healing and Christianity (Augsburg Fortress, 1995) is a classic study of Jesus' healing ministry, the history of Christian healing, and spiritual healing today.

Lapsley, James. Salvation and Health (Westminster Press, 1972) discusses how these concepts got separated and can be reintegrated with one another.

Linn, Dennis and Matthew. Healing Life’s Hurts (Paulist Press, 1978) describes possibilities of emotional and physical healing through the process of the healing of memories.

Lynch, Martin and Sally. Healed for Holiness (Servant Books, 1988) recounts stories of physical and psychological healing by a Catholic couple in the charismatic renewal.

MacNutt, Francis. Healing (Ave Maria Press, 1974) relates Jesus’ ministry of healing to spiritual and physical healing in charismatic and sacramental settings. The Power to Heal (Ave Maria Press, 1977) expands on the author's earlier book, providing additional theological and practical reflection on healing. Deliverance From Evil Spirits (Baker Book House, 1995) gives practical advice based on the author's experience in the charismatic renewal and the healing ministry.

McManus, Jim. The Healing Power of the Sacraments (Ave Maria Press, 1984) presents a charismatic approach to the healing ministry through reconciliation, anointing, and the eucharist.

Melingo, Emmanuel. The World in Between (Orbis Books, 1984) tells of the author's experience in the healing ministry as an African Catholic bishop in Zambia.

Miner, Malcom. Healing Is for Real (Morehouse Barlow, 1972) describes the healing ministry of the author, who is an Episcopal priest.

Neal, Emily Gardiner. Celebration of Healing (Cowley Publications, 1992) presents selections from the author's seven books based on her involvement in the healing ministry.

Sanford, John. Healing and Wholeness (Paulist Press, 1977) relates the ancient understanding of spiritual well-being to the modern concept of psychological health through the psychoanalytic theory of Carl Jung. Healing Body and Soul (Westminster John Knox, 1992) discusses parallels between the meaning of illness in the gospels and in psychotherapy.

Schlemon, Barbara Leahy. Healing Prayer (Ave Maria Press, 1976) is a brief introduction to the ministry of healing by one who was engaged in it.

Stapleton, Ruth Carter. The Gift of Inner Healing (Word Books, 1976) relates stories from the healing ministry of the sister of President Jimmy Carter. The Experience of Inner Healing (Word Books, 1977) presents stories about various forms of spiritual healing.

Wilkinson, John. Health and Healing (Handsel Press, 1980) investigates the New Testament accounts of healing in light of the holistic concept of health found in the scriptures.

Christian Funerals

Aridas, Chris. Catholic Funerals: The Church's Ministry of Hope (Crossroad, 1998) explains the Catholic funeral rite (The Order of Christian Funerals) and relates it to the grieving process.

Marchal, Michael. Parish Funerals (Liturgy Training Publications, 1987) walks the reader through the revised Order of Christian Funerals.

Rowell, Geoffrey. The Liturgy of Christian Burial (SPCK, 1977) looks at Christian funeral rites from the earliest days to the present.

Rutherford, Richard. The Death of a Christian (Pueblo, 1980) describes the historical development of Christian wake and burial practices, and explains the recently revised Catholic funeral rites. The Order of Christian Funerals (Liturgical Press, 1990) looks at the Catholic funeral rite and pastoral issues surrounding it.

Sherman, Anthony, ed. Rites of Death and Dying (Liturgical Press, 1988) offers three commentaries on the rites and their meaning in the church today.