Sarum Manual: the Order for Visiting the Sick (the Use of Salisbury, as printed in the early 16th century)

The Seven Psalms and the Entrance

The Order for Visiting the Sick.

¶ [First, as they go, let the ministers say the seven penitential psalms, each] with Glory be to the Father [the opening rubric is damaged in the scan], with the antiphon Remember not.

Psalm. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine indignation [Psalm 6]. Glory be to the Father. As it was.

Psalm. Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven [Psalm 32]. Glory be to the Father.

Psalm. Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger [Psalm 38]. Glory be to the Father.

Psalm. Have mercy upon me, O God [Psalm 51]. Glory be to the Father.

Psalm. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my crying [Psalm 102]. Glory be to the Father.

Psalm. Out of the deep have I called [Psalm 130]. Glory be to the Father.

Psalm. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider [Psalm 143]. Glory be to the Father.

Antiphon. Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neither take thou vengeance of our sins: spare, O Lord, spare thy servant, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood, and be not angry with him for ever.

¶ And when he entereth [the house], let him say:

Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell therein: peace to them that come in and to them that go out.

¶ And it is to be known that when the sick man is to be anointed, an image of the Crucified is to be offered to him and set before his sight, that in the image of the Crucified he may adore his Redeemer, and remember his passion which he suffered for his sins.

¶ Then let him sprinkle the sick man with holy water, and straightway let there follow:

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father.

Versicle. And lead us not into temptation. Answer. But deliver us from evil.

Versicle. O Lord, save thy servant [or thy handmaid]. Answer. My God, which putteth his trust in thee.

Versicle. Send him help, O Lord, from the sanctuary. Answer. And strengthen him out of Sion.

Versicle. Let the enemy have no advantage of him. Answer. Nor the son of wickedness approach to hurt him.

Versicle. Be unto him, O Lord, a tower of strength. Answer. From the face of the enemy.

Versicle. O Lord, hear my prayer. Answer. And let my cry come unto thee.

The Prayers for the Sick

The Lord be with you. Let us pray. O God, who didst send thy blessed Apostle Peter to thy handmaid Tabitha, that by his prayers she might be raised to life: hear us, we beseech thee, that this thy servant N., whom our frailty visiteth in thy Name, may by the healing of thy medicine, being entreated, be the sooner restored to health. Through Christ.

Let us pray. Almighty, everlasting God, who succourest them that labour in perils and necessity, we humbly entreat thy majesty that thou vouchsafe to send thy holy angel Raphael, to lift up with consolations thy servant labouring in straits and necessities, whereby he may both obtain help in the present and lay hold on eternal remedies. Through Christ our Lord. [Given by its opening words; supplied from the York manual, as Henderson directs.]

Let us pray. Hear us, almighty and merciful God, and vouchsafe to bestow thy visitation upon this thy servant N., whom divers sickness vexeth. Visit him, O Lord, as thou didst vouchsafe to visit Peter's wife's mother, and the centurion's servant, and Tobias and Sara by thy holy angel Raphael. Restore in him, O Lord, his former health: that he may be worthy to say in the courts of thy house, The Lord hath chastened and corrected me, but he hath not given me over unto death. O Saviour of the world, who with God the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

Prayer. O God, who didst give to thy servant Hezekiah fifteen years of life; so also may thy power raise up this thy servant from the bed of sickness unto health. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer. Look, we beseech thee, O Lord, upon thy servant labouring in the sickness of his body, and refresh the soul which thou hast created; that, amended by chastisements, he may feel himself forthwith saved by thy healing. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer. O God, who ever rulest thy creature with loving affection; incline thine ear to our supplications, and look graciously upon thy servant labouring under ill health of body, and visit him with thy salvation, and grant him the medicine of heavenly grace. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer. O God of the heavenly powers, who by the might of thy command drivest all sickness and infirmity from men's bodies; be favourably present with this thy servant, that, his infirmities put to flight and his strength recovered, he may bless thy holy Name, his health being speedily restored. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer. O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, who by the gracious pouring in of thy strength dost confirm the frailty of man's condition, that our bodies and limbs may be quickened by the saving remedies of thy goodness; look favourably upon this thy servant N., that, every need of bodily infirmity being shut out, the grace of his former health may be perfectly restored in him. Through Christ our Lord.

Let us pray. Look down, O Lord, from heaven, and behold, and visit this thy servant N.; bless him as thou didst vouchsafe to bless Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Look upon him, O Lord, with thine eyes, and fill him with all joy and gladness and with thy holy fear, and drive from him all the snares of the enemy. Send also, O Lord, the angel of peace, to keep this house in everlasting peace. Through Christ our Lord. [The last six prayers are given by their opening words, referring to the York order; supplied from it.]

The Exhortation

¶ Then, before the sick man be anointed or communicated, let the priest exhort him in this manner:

Dearest brother: Give thanks to almighty God for all his benefits, patiently and kindly receiving the sickness of body which God hath sent upon thee: for if thou bear it humbly without murmuring, it bringeth to thy soul the greatest reward and salvation. And, dearest brother, because thou art about to enter the way of all flesh, be firm in the faith. For he that is not firm in the faith is an unbeliever: and without faith it is impossible to please God. And therefore, if thou wilt be saved, before all things it is needful that thou hold the Catholic faith: which except thou keep whole and undefiled, without doubt thou shalt perish everlastingly.

The Articles of the Faith

¶ Then it is good and very expedient that the priest set forth to the sick man the fourteen articles of the faith, of which the first seven belong to the mystery of the Trinity and the other seven to the humanity of Christ; so that if perchance he have before erred, wavered or been doubtful in any of them, he may be brought back to firm faith before death, while the spirit is still united to the flesh; and the priest may say thus:

Now the Catholic faith is this, brother. [i.] To believe in one God: that is, in the unity of the Godhead in an undivided Trinity of three Persons. ii. To believe the Father unbegotten to be God. iii. The only-begotten Son of God to be God, in all things equal to the Father. iiii. The Holy Ghost, not begotten, not made, not created, but proceeding equally from the Father and the Son, to be God, consubstantial and also equal with the Father and the Son. v. [The creation] of every thing visible and invisible by the undivided Trinity. vi. The sanctification of the Church by the Holy Ghost and the sacraments, and all the other things in which the Christian Church communicates: by which it is understood that the Catholic Church with her sacraments and laws, ruled by the Holy Ghost, suffices for salvation to every man, however great a sinner; and that outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation. vii. The consummation of the Church by everlasting glory, in soul and in body to be raised again: by its opposite is understood the damnation of the reprobate. [Parts of this page are damaged in the scan; the gaps are filled from the sense.]

If therefore thou wilt be saved, brother, so think of the mystery of the Trinity. ¶ Then let him set forth the articles belonging to Christ's humanity, saying:

Likewise, dearest brother, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that thou believe and confess the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, his true taking of flesh by the Holy Ghost of the glorious Virgin alone. ii. The true birth of God incarnate of the Virgin undefiled. iii. The true passion and death of Christ under the tyranny of Pilate. iiii. The true descent of Christ into hell in the soul, to despoil hell, while his body rested in the sepulchre. v. The true resurrection of Christ, God, from death on the third day. vi. His true ascension into heaven. vii. The most sure expectation of his coming to judgement. This is the Catholic faith, brother, which unless thou believe faithfully and firmly, as holy mother Church believeth, thou canst not be saved.

¶ And if the sick man be simple and unlettered, let the priest ask him under this form:

Dearest brother: Dost thou believe the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost to be three Persons and one God, and that the blessed and undivided Trinity created all things created, visible and invisible? And that the Son alone, conceived of the Holy Ghost, was incarnate of the Virgin Mary; suffered and died for us on the cross under Pontius Pilate; was buried and descended into hell; on the third day rose again from the dead; ascended into heaven; and will come again to judge the quick and the dead; and that all men shall then rise in body and soul, to receive good and evil according to their deserts; [and] the remission of sins through the [ministration] of the sacraments of the Church; and the communion of saints: that is, that all men abiding in charity are partakers of all the good works of grace which are done in the Church, and that all who communicate with the just here in grace communicate with them in glory?

¶ Let the sick man answer: I believe firmly in all things, as holy mother Church believeth; and therefore before God and all the Saints I protest this to be my true and firm intention, howsoever any evil spirit may hereafter try to trouble my memory otherwise.

Charity, Hope and Confession

¶ Then let the priest say:

Dearest brother: Because without charity faith will profit thee nothing, as the Apostle beareth witness, who saith, Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing: therefore thou must love the Lord thy God above all things with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and thy neighbour for God's sake as thyself; for without such charity no faith availeth. Exercise therefore the works of charity while thou art able: and if thou hast much, give plenteously; if little, be diligent to give of that little. And before all things, if thou hast wronged any man, make satisfaction if thou be able; if not, it is expedient that thou humbly ask his pardon. Forgive thy debtors and others that have sinned against thee, that God may forgive thee. Love them that hate thee: render good for evil. Forgive (saith the Saviour), and ye shall be forgiven. Thou must also, brother, have firm hope and good trust in God and in his mercy: and if the multitude of thy sins come into thy thought, grieve; but in no wise despair. Rather think that (as the Scripture beareth witness) his mercy is over all his works: and that to him alone it belongeth always to have mercy and to spare: and that as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Hope therefore in God, and do good: for whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side. They that wait upon the Lord shall have strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall fly and not faint. For they shall fly from darkness to light, from prison to the kingdom, from present misery to everlasting glory.

¶ Then, the sick man being thus established in faith, charity and hope, let the priest say to him:

Dearest brother: If thou wilt come to the vision of God, thou must needs be clean in mind and pure in conscience: for Christ saith in the gospel, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. If therefore thou wilt have a clean heart and a sound conscience, confess all thy sins: for with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, as the Apostle saith. And because perchance before this, either through forgetfulness or the confusion of shame, thou hast left out, cut short or hidden some of thy sins or the circumstances that aggravate them, or hast confessed them too little: therefore now take them up again from the beginning and confess, for it is near that thou shalt enter the way of all flesh, and then thou shalt be able to confess no more. Tell thy sins therefore to one, that God may cover them before many thousands in the day of judgement. But if thou cover and hide them here, they shall be laid bare to thy confusion in the sight of all in the day of judgement. Think over therefore all thy years in the bitterness of thy soul: and let there be no care in thee for any creature or worldly things, but cast all thy care upon God, and be not unmindful of the salvation of thy soul. Much time hast thou spent in vain; now perhaps one hour only remaineth to thee in this life: and therefore spend it wholly for the profit and good of thy soul. Rise, brother, out of the pit of misery and the mire of sin by confession. For a great way remaineth for thee. Rise therefore, that, washed with the tears of contrition, thou mayest eat the bread of life, that is, the sacrament of the Body of Christ, which shall be thy strength and stay in this way that thou goest: and thou shalt walk by the grace of God in the strength of that meat unto the mount of God: which may he grant thee, the Redeemer of all the faithful, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Absolution

¶ [Here the sick man maketh his confession, as above, p. 17; the rubric is damaged in the scan.] Then let the priest say: Almighty God have mercy upon thee, and forgive thee all thy sins, deliver thee from all evil, preserve and strengthen thee in good, and bring thee to everlasting life. Amen. And let him absolve the sick man in this form:

Our Lord Jesus Christ of his great goodness absolve thee: and I, by the authority of the same God our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by the authority committed to me, absolve thee from all thy sins of which thou art contrite in heart and hast confessed to me with thy mouth, and from all thy other sins which thou wouldest willingly confess if they came to thy memory; and I restore thee to the sacraments of the Church. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ If the sick man have an apostolic bull [of full absolution at the point of death], let the bull be read, and the absolution made as above [in the York form: The Lord Jesus Christ of his great goodness absolve thee…].

¶ Then let the priest say the following prayer, with The Lord be with you, and Let us pray.

Stretch forth, O Lord, upon this thy servant the right hand of heavenly help: that he may seek thee with all his heart, and obtain that which he worthily asketh. Through Christ our Lord. Answer. Amen.

¶ There shall follow: The blessing of God almighty, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon thee and remain always. Amen.

¶ Then let the sick man kiss the cross, and the priest, and afterwards the others in order; and meanwhile let the priest say slowly: The Lord be with you, and Let us pray.

O God most merciful, O God most gracious, who according to the multitude of thy mercies blottest out sins by penitence, and by the pardon of remission makest void the guilt of past offences; look upon this thy servant N., and graciously hear him as he asketh with full confession of heart the remission of all his sins: renew in him, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been corrupted by frailty or defiled by the deceit of the devil, and restore him, a member, to the unity of the body of thy Church, having received remission. Have pity, O Lord, on his sighs, have pity on his tears, and admit him, who hath no trust but in thy mercy, to the sacrament of reconciliation. Through Christ our Lord.

Let us pray. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, that as thou wast appeased by the prayers and confession of the publican, so thou wouldest be appeased toward this thy servant, O Lord, and graciously favour his prayers; that, continuing in tearful confession and petition, he may speedily obtain thy everlasting mercy, and, restored to thy holy altars, may again be bound to thy divine service. Through Christ our Lord. [These two prayers are given by their opening words, referring to the York order; supplied from it.]

Absolution. We absolve thee, N., in the stead of blessed Peter, prince of the Apostles, to whom the Lord gave power of binding and loosing: and so far as the accusation pertaineth to thee and the remission to us, may almighty God be to thee life and health and the loving pardoner of all thy sins. Who liveth and reigneth with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

Extreme Unction

Of Extreme Unction.

¶ Before the sick man is anointed, let the priest begin the antiphon O Saviour of the world. Then let the psalm be said: In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion [Psalm 71]. The psalm ended with Glory be to the Father. As it was, let the whole antiphon be said:

O Saviour of the world, save us, who by thy cross and blood hast redeemed us: help us, we beseech thee, O our God.

¶ Then let the priest say The Lord be with you, and Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, who by thy blessed Apostle James hast spoken, saying, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with holy oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him; vouchsafe by our hands to anoint this thy sick servant N. with the sanctified oil, and by the power of thy blessing to restore him to his former health: that what is done outwardly by our ministry, thy divine power may work inwardly in the spirit and thy healing remedies invisibly. Through our Lord.

¶ Then the priest, coming to the sick man, shall begin the following psalm, and the choir or the clerk shall continue the whole: and so shall it be done with the other psalms following.

Psalm. How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord [Psalm 13]. Glory be to the Father.

¶ While the said psalm is said by the choir or the clerk, let the priest meanwhile take the oil of the sick upon his right thumb, and so with that thumb touch the sick man with the oil, making the sign of the holy cross, upon each eye, beginning at the right, and let the priest say in this manner:

By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by sight. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. I will magnify thee, O Lord [Psalm 30]. Glory be to the Father. Then upon the ears, saying: By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by hearing. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. Give sentence with me, O God [Psalm 43]. Glory be to the Father. Then upon the lips, saying: By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by taste and by unlawful words. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. Save me, O God, for thy Name's sake [Psalm 54]. Glory be to the Father. Then upon the nostrils, saying: By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by smell. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. Haste thee, O God, to deliver me [Psalm 70]. Glory be to the Father.

¶ The hands of a sick priest ought to be anointed on the outside, for the bishop anointed them on the inside; but the hands of any other sick man ought to be anointed on the inside. [Then upon the hands, saying:] By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by touch. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. Incline thine ear, O Lord [Psalm 86]. Glory be to the Father. [Then upon the feet, saying:] By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by the going of the feet. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. O Lord God of my salvation [Psalm 88]. Glory be to the Father. [Then upon the loins, saying:] By this unction and his most loving mercy, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by unlawful [thoughts] and by the heat of lust. Answer. Amen.

¶ [The anointing ended,] let the priest wash his hands with salt and water in the vessel in which the tow is put, which is to be burned in the fire and buried in the churchyard. Afterwards let him say over the sick man the blessing in this manner:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: be this anointing with oil to thee for the cleansing of mind and body, and for a bulwark and defence against the darts of unclean spirits. Answer. Amen.

Psalm. Lord, I call upon thee [Psalm 141]. Glory be to the Father.

¶ Then let the priest say The Lord be with you, and Let us pray.

O Lord God, our Saviour, who art the true health and medicine, from whom all healing cometh, and who by the voice of thine apostle James dost teach us to touch the sick with the liquor of oil and ask the mercy of thy goodness; look favourably upon this thy servant N., and him whom sickness tortureth toward his end, and failing strength draweth to his setting, restore to health by the healing of thy grace. Heal also, we beseech thee, O Lord, thou healer of all fevers, the torments of all sicknesses, and loose the pains of all diseases and griefs; heal the inward parts of the bowels and hearts. Heal also the hurts of the marrow and of the thoughts; empty out the corruption of ulcers and sores; close the old scars of consciences and wounds, and remove great sufferings: renew the substance of flesh and blood, and grant pardon of all offences. And so may thy goodness keep him continually, that neither health lead him at any time to corruption, nor sickness, with thy help now, to perdition. But may this anointing with sacred oil be to him the driving out of death and disease and of present sickness, and the longed-for remission of all sins. Who with God the Father livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen. [Given by its opening words, referring to the York order; supplied from it.]

The Communion of the Sick

¶ The anointing being done as aforesaid, it shall be expedient that the priest before communion ask the sick man whether any other sins come to his memory of which he had not confessed: for it may be that through the prayers and devout supplications of the priest or of others God may enlighten the sick man's heart and give him grace to confess more truly and fully. And afterwards let the priest ask him whether he acknowledge the Body and Blood of our Lord Christ, saying thus:

Brother, dost thou believe that the sacrament which is handled at the altar under the form of bread is the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? Let the sick man answer: I believe.

¶ Then let the sick man be communicated, unless he have been communicated before, or unless vomiting or some other irreverence be probably feared: in which case let the priest say to the sick man:

Brother, in this case true faith and good will suffice thee: only believe, and thou hast eaten.

¶ And note that the priest in communicating the sick is vested in a surplice and stole. Whence, communicating the sick man, let the priest say:

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep thy body and thy soul unto everlasting life. Amen.

¶ Then let the priest say, without The Lord be with you but only with Let us pray, the following prayer, which is not said save only when the sick man is communicated.

O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, we faithfully beseech thee that to this our brother N., receiving the most holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, it may be health both of body and soul; through the same Christ our Lord.

¶ Then shall follow the psalm. Praise the Lord, O my soul [Psalm 146]. Glory be to the Father. Which ended, let the priest say: Let us pray.

O God, who didst shew sinners and those weighed down with the burden of crimes to thy priests; O God, who didst command thy disciples to lay hands on the sick, that they might recover; O God, who by thine apostles didst teach that the sick should be anointed with holy oil and prayed for; O God, who by the laying on of hands with the calling upon of thy holy Name hast willed to loose sins; hear our prayers, and grant to this thy servant, oppressed by the hurt of sickness, through this holy mystery which thou hast willed us thine unworthy servants to perform, remission of all his sins; that through this anointing with sacred oil, and the receiving of thy Body and Blood, and the laying on of our hands, all his offences may be loosed by the grace of the Holy Ghost, and the health of soul and body restored. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. [Given by its opening words, referring to the York order; supplied from it.]

The Blessings

¶ Then let the priest bless the sick man, saying thus:

The Father bless thee, who in the beginning created all things. Answer. Amen. [And so is it answered to each blessing.] The Son of God heal thee. Amen. The Holy Ghost enlighten thee. Amen. Keep thy body. Amen. Save thy soul. Amen. Direct thy understanding, and bring thee to the country above, who in perfect Trinity liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Another blessing. The God of heaven bless thee. Amen. Christ the Son of God help thee. Amen. Make thy body to be kept and preserved in his holy service. Amen. Enlighten thy mind. Amen. Guard thy understanding. Amen. Increase his grace in thee to the profit of thy soul. Amen. Deliver thee from all evil. Amen. Blot out all thy sins. Amen. Defend thee with his right hand. Amen. He who ever helpeth his saints vouchsafe to help and preserve thee. Who liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Another blessing. God the Father bless thee, who in the beginning created all things. Amen. The Son of God bless thee, who came down from the seats above to save us, and refused not to undergo the cross. Amen. The Holy Ghost bless thee, who in the likeness of a dove rested upon Christ in the river Jordan. Amen. And may he sanctify thee in the Trinity, whose coming to judgement all nations await. Who with God the Father and the same Holy Ghost [liveth and reigneth]. Amen.

¶ This office ended, the following prayers, or some of them, may fitly be said by the sick man languishing at the last, if he please; namely:

Psalm. Have mercy upon me, O God [Psalm 51]. Also the psalm, Save me, O God, for thy Name's sake [Psalm 54]. Also the verse: Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be disappointed of my hope [Psalm 119:116]. And what is my hope? Truly my hope is even in the Lord [Psalm 39:8]. Also: Lord Jesu Christ, receive my spirit. Also: God be merciful to me a sinner. Also: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. Also: O remember not the sins and offences of my youth. Also: Cleanse thou me, O Lord, from my secret faults. Also: Cast me not away, O Lord, in the time of age; forsake me not when my strength faileth me.

¶ [The Commendation of the soul at the point of death follows here in the Manual, as a separate office.]