Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

22On the Holy Sacraments 43 44Quintessence of Religious Doctrinessacraments. If all those who are baptised have royalpriesthood, those of the priestly hierarchy alone haveministerial priesthood. In one of the ancient Syriac hymns,priesthood is extolled as follows. ‘While kingship is honoredin the world, priesthood is revered both in the world andheaven’. Therefore, no body shall raise the hands againstthe anointed of God. Priesthood is one of the notae ordistinguishing marks of the Church. And this mark is derivedfrom that of Apostolicity.6. Matrimony.Ref.: Mt. 19:5, 6. ... “For the reason a man will leave hisfather and mother and unite with his wife and thetwo will become one. So they are no longer two butone. Man must not separate, then what God hasjoined together. (G.N.B.)CommentFor our Lord Jesus, there was no doubt that marriage was ofdivine dispensation, although it is solemnised by humans.The participation of Jesus at the marriage at Cana speaksmuch of its significance. Jesus deprecated divorce. Followingthis, the Church considers marriage to be permanent andindissoluble. Aphrahat the Syrian Father, who was acontemporary of Mor Ephrem, writes in his ‘Demonstrations’that marriage was one of the good things that God hascommanded to be established. Mor Ephrem refuted the viewsof the heretical Marcionite school and asserted that marriage,family and possessions were lawful. Curiously enoughmarriage is not considered to be a sacrament by the AssyrianChurch of the East.7. Anointing of the sick or extreme unction.Ref.: (a) Jas. 5:14. If you are sick ask the priest to come andpray for you. Ask them to put olive oil on you in thename of the Lord. (L.B.)(b) Num. 8:1-2. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaronthat when he puts the seven lamps on the(c)Commentlamp-stand, he should place them so that the lightshines towards the front.” (G.N.B.)vide Num. 4:2. (G.N.B.)Anointment of the sick has come out of the healing ministry,which was a common feature during the Apostolic period.What the Church performs through the anointing of the sickis nothing but the fulfilment of the Mission performed by theMaster and His disciples. Two points are to be noted. It is notonly a medicinal act, but a religious one too, as sins areabsolved by the anointment. Secondly, it is not to beadministered to those persons only, whose end is drawingnear. Hence, a change in the conception of name regardingthe sacrament has come about. Accordingly, the emphasishas shifted from that of Extreme Unction to that of the‘Anointment of the Sick’. Perhaps the change might havebeen due to the psychological factor of relieving the tensioncaused by the name Extreme Unction, in the human mind.8. Out of these seven sacraments five are obligatory for all.Matrimony and Holy Orders are optional. Every sacrament mustbe solicited after due preparation and eligibility. Those whoreceive accordingly shall obtain new grace to those they alreadypossess.CommentNeither the approach of the candidates seeking sacramentsnor the attitude of the ministers who administer them shallbe perfunctory or casual. They must be based on religiousfervour because all the sacraments bestow divine grace.Hence the insistence on due preparation as a preliminarycondition, for the administration and reception of thesacraments.