York Manual: the Order for Visiting the Sick (the Use of York, as printed in 1509)

Entering the House

The Order for Visiting the Sick.

¶ The priest, vested in a stole besides the chasuble as need requires, entering the house with the brethren, shall say:

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

¶ Then let him sprinkle holy water upon the sick man and through all the house, saying the antiphon: Thou shalt purge me, O Lord [Asperges me].

Psalm. Have mercy upon me, O God [Psalm 51].

Versicle. Shew us thy mercy, O Lord.

Let us pray. Hear us, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, and vouchsafe to send thy holy angel from heaven, to guard, cherish, protect, visit and defend all that dwell in this habitation. Through Christ our Lord.

The Lord be with you. Let us pray. Almighty and merciful God, we beseech thy boundless loving-kindness that, at the entrance of our lowliness, thou wouldest vouchsafe to visit with thy saving visitation this thy servant N., lying weary in this dwelling; and as thou didst visit, O Lord, Tobias and Sara, and Peter's wife's mother, and the centurion's servant, so may this man also, his former health of soul and body restored, give thanks to thee in thy Church. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son.

Let us pray the Lord Jesus Christ, and with all supplication ask him that he would vouchsafe by his holy angel to visit, gladden and comfort this his servant N.; who with God the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

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. Amen.

The Seven Psalms and the Litany

¶ Here are said the seven penitential psalms with the Litany.

Antiphon. Remember not.

Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143 [Domine, ne in furore; Beati quorum; Domine, ne in furore; Miserere mei, Deus; Domine, exaudi; De profundis; Domine, exaudi]. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was.

Antiphon. Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon him. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon him. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon him. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon him.

Holy Mary, help thou him. Holy Mother of God, help thou him. Holy Virgin of virgins, help thou him.

Saint Michael, help thou him. Saint Gabriel, help thou him. Saint Raphael, help thou him. All holy Angels and Archangels, help ye him. All holy orders of blessed Spirits, help ye him.

Saint John Baptist, help thou him. All holy Patriarchs and Prophets, help ye him.

Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Andrew, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Thomas, Saint James, Saint Philip, Saint Bartholomew, Saint Matthew, Saint Simon, Saint Jude, Saint Matthias, Saint Barnabas, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, Saint Martial, Saint Timothy: help thou him [after each]. All holy Apostles and Evangelists, help ye him. All holy Disciples of the Lord, help ye him. All holy Innocents, help ye him.

Saint Stephen, Saint Linus, Saint Cletus, Saint Clement, Saint Cornelius, Saint Cyprian, Saint Sixtus, Saint Thomas, Saint Laurence, Saint Vincent, Saint Chrysogonus, Saint Fabian, Saint Sebastian, Saint Christopher, Saint George, Saint Denis with thy fellows, Saint Maurice with thy fellows, Saint Eustace with thy fellows, Saint Blaise: help thou him. Saints John and Paul, Saints Cosmas and Damian, Saints Marcellinus and Peter: help ye him. Saint Alban, Saint Oswald, Saint Edmund: help thou him. All holy Martyrs, help ye him.

Saint Silvester, Saint Leo, Saint Gregory, Saint Ambrose, Saint Martin, Saint Nicholas, Saint Basil, Saint Germanus, Saint Augustine, Saint Paulinus, Saint John [of Beverley], Saint Wilfrid, Saint William, Saint Cuthbert, Saint Swithun, Saint Samson, Saint Edmund, Saint Jerome, Saint Edward, Saint Leonard, Saint Benedict, Saint Giles, Saint Aubin, Saint Hilarion: help thou him. All holy Confessors, help ye him. All holy Monks and Hermits, help ye him.

Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Mary of Egypt, Saint Pelagia, Saint Felicity, Saint Perpetua, Saint Agatha, Saint Agnes, Saint Cecily, Saint Lucy, Saint Anastasia, Saint Sabina, Saint Euphemia, Saint Faith, Saint Charity, [Saint Hope, in the Cambridge manuscript,] Saint Katherine, Saint Margaret, Saint Juliana, Saint Scholastica, Saint Petronilla, Saint Austroberta, Saint Hilda, Saint Everild, Saint Etheldreda: help thou him. All holy Virgins, help ye him. All Saints, help ye him.

Be merciful; spare him, O Lord.

From all evil, deliver him, O Lord. From the snares of the devil, deliver him, O Lord. From fleshly desires, deliver him, O Lord. From all uncleanness of mind and body, deliver him, O Lord. From sudden and everlasting death, deliver him, O Lord.

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, deliver him, O Lord. By thy Cross and Passion, deliver him, O Lord. By thy holy Resurrection, deliver him, O Lord. By thy wonderful Ascension, deliver him, O Lord. By the grace of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, deliver him, O Lord. In the day of judgement, deliver him, O Lord.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us. That thou vouchsafe mercifully to raise him from the bed of sickness, we beseech thee. That thou vouchsafe to restore him safe and sound to thy holy Church, we beseech thee. That thou vouchsafe to grant him remission of all his sins, we beseech thee. That thou vouchsafe to hear us, we beseech thee. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.

Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, spare him, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, hear him, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon him, O Lord. Christ, hear us. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Our Father. And lead us not. But deliver us.

O Lord, save thy servant: My God, which putteth his trust in thee. Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last: And be gracious unto thy servant. Send him help, O Lord, from the sanctuary: And strengthen him out of Sion. Let the enemy have no advantage of him: Nor the son of wickedness approach to hurt him. The Lord preserve him and keep him alive: And make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not into the will of his enemies. The Lord comfort him upon the bed of sorrow: Make thou all his bed in his sickness. Be unto him, O Lord, a tower of strength: From the face of the enemy. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts: Shew thy mercy, and we shall be whole. O Lord, hear my prayer: And let my cry come unto thee. The Lord be with you: And with thy spirit.

The Prayers for the Sick

Let us pray. O Lord God, who didst speak by thine apostle James, 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: cure, we beseech thee, our Redeemer, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, the sicknesses of this our sick brother N., and heal his wounds, and forgive his sins, and drive from him all pains of heart and body, and restore to him full health within and without; that, healed by the help of thy mercy, he may be restored to the former duties of thy service. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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. Amen.

Let us pray. 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. Amen.

Let us pray. Look, 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. Amen.

Let us pray. 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.

Let us pray. 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.

Let us pray. O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, who by the gracious pouring in of thy strength dost confirm the frailty of our human 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.

Confession and Absolution

¶ Here let the sick man confess; afterwards let him be absolved thus by each [priest present], and, according to some, kissed by all.

¶ Note that, although the priest may in fact absolve the sick man at the point of death from all his sins, yet if in confession any case occur from which the priest could not otherwise by law absolve him, the sick man is to be charged that, when he recovers, he present himself to confess to him who by law or custom ought to absolve him in that matter, to receive his commands and make satisfaction; for otherwise he falls again under the same sentence that he bore before.

¶ Then, having heard the sick man's confession and asked the needful questions, let the priest charge the sick man that, if he hold anything of another's unjustly, or have unjustly hurt or damaged any man, he restore it and make satisfaction, if he be able; if not, let him humbly ask pardon.

¶ Yet let not the priest enjoin him any penance, but say to him kindly in this manner:

Brother, thou hast committed so many and such sins, for which, if thou wert whole, thou oughtest to do such a penance until such a time [making known to him that penance in particular]. But because thou art sick, and perhaps thy life may not last to fulfil it, therefore I enjoin thee no penance. Yet I will that, if thou depart by this sickness, thou make such an alms, or at the least charge thy friends or executors to make it on thy behalf for that penance [naming the alms in particular]. But if thou recover, fulfil the penance that I have made known to thee, or come again humbly to confession, to me or to another who by law can and ought to give thee the benefit of absolution in this matter. And I grant thee that all the indulgences of whatsoever prelates granted or to be granted thee, and their blessings, all sprinklings of holy water, the devout beating of thy breast, the contrition of thy heart, this confession and all thy other devout confessions, all fastings, abstinences, alms, vigils, disciplines, prayers and pilgrimages, and all the other good things that thou hast done or shalt do, and all the evils that thou hast suffered or shalt suffer for God or wrongfully, the Passion of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, and the merits of the blessed and glorious Virgin Mary and of all the other saints, and also the suffrages of the whole holy Catholic Church, may avail thee for the remission of these and of all thy other sins, for the increase of merits and the attaining of eternal rewards. Amen.

¶ Then let the priest say in this manner:

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.

¶ If the sick man have an apostolic bull of full absolution and remission of all his sins, granted once at the point of death, then first let the priest read the effect of the bull. Then, the rest being done as aforesaid, let his absolution be made under this form:

The Lord Jesus Christ of his great goodness absolve thee; and I, by the authority of the same God and our Lord Jesus Christ and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of our lord the lord N., by divine providence chief pontiff, and by virtue of the grace granted thee and of thy choice whereby thou hast chosen me for thy confessor, committed to me in this behalf, 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 confess if they came to thy memory; from all breaking of vows, and from all omission of saving penances sacramentally enjoined thee, and from all transgression of the divine commandments: and I grant thee full indulgence of all thy sins, so far as the keys of the Church and the power of our lord the Pope extend. And if by meddling in divine things thou art or ever wast so entangled that thou hast contracted any mark of irregularity, or incurred the penalty of suspension, interdict or excommunication, by the same authority I take away and remove it, and dispense with thee, and restore thee to the sacraments of the Church. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ Another absolution, if the sick man have no apostolic bull of full absolution and remission of sins.

The Lord Jesus Christ, who said to blessed Peter and his other disciples, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; he absolve thee, N., from all thy sins, whatsoever thou hast negligently done in thought, word and deed; and, absolved from the bonds of thy sins, vouchsafe to bring thee to the kingdom of heaven. Who liveth and reigneth with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

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. Amen.

Extreme Unction

Let us pray. Almighty, everlasting God, who by thine apostle James didst command the elders of the Church to be brought in and the sick to be anointed with oil; grant, we beseech thee, that thou vouchsafe by our hands to anoint and bless this thy sick servant N. with the sanctified oil. And what we outwardly embrace as thy gifts, may thy divine power work inwardly in the spirit and thy healing remedies invisibly. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ [Henderson's text of the opening rubrics of the anointing is damaged in the scan.] Let the priest take the oil upon his thumb, and so with his thumb touch the sick man's eyes, beginning at the right, in this manner:

By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by sight. Amen.

¶ Let the priest take the [oil] of the sick and not another, until all the unctions are finished.

At the ears. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by hearing. Amen.

At the lips. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by taste and unlawful words. Amen.

At the nostrils. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by smell. Amen.

¶ 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.

Upon the hands. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by touch and working. Amen.

At the feet. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by the going of the feet. Amen.

At the heart. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by unlawful thoughts. Amen.

Upon the navel. By this holy unction and his most loving mercy, and by the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, the Lord pardon thee whatever thou hast sinned by the heat of lust. Amen.

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

¶ Let the priest wash his hands with salt and water in the vessel in which the tow of the oil is put, which is burned in the fire. Afterwards let the priest say this prayer, with 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.

The Communion of the Sick

¶ The anointing being wholly done, it is expedient that the priest before communion ask the sick man whether any other sins come to his memory which he had not confessed. For it may be that through the devout prayers 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 Jesus 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, saying: I believe.

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

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

¶ While the sick man is vomiting he ought not to receive the Body of Christ. Madmen, the drunken, those who believe amiss and children do not receive the Body of Christ. A sick man may not communicate more than once [in the same sickness]. And note that the priest who communicates the sick man is vested in a stole.

¶ Here let the sick man be communicated, the priest saying in this manner:

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 said 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.

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; that his guilt may no more avail to punishment than indulgence and reconciliation to salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessings

¶ If the bishop be present, let him bless the sick man and say these prayers; if not, let the priest fulfil them.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thee, to defend thee; within thee, to refresh thee; about thee, to preserve thee; before thee, to lead thee; behind thee, to justify thee; above thee, to bless thee. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

God bless thee; the Son of God heal thee; the Holy Ghost enlighten thee; keep thy body; save thy soul; shine upon thy heart; direct thy understanding; and bring thee to the life above. Who in perfect Trinity liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Let us pray. The God of heaven bless thee; Christ the Son of God help thee; make thy body to be kept and preserved in his holy service; enlighten thy mind; guard thy understanding; increase his grace in thee to the perfecting of thy soul; deliver thee from all evil; defend thee with his right hand; he who ever helpeth his saints vouchsafe to help and preserve thee. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Let us pray. God the Father bless thee, who in the beginning created all things. The Son of God bless thee, who for us came down a Saviour from the seats above. The Holy Ghost bless thee, who in the likeness of a dove rested upon Christ in the river Jordan. And may he sanctify thee in the Trinity, whose coming all nations await. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Let us pray. God the Father bless thee; Jesus Christ keep thee; the Holy Ghost enlighten thee all the days of thy life. The power of Christ confirm thee; the Lord pardon thee all thine offences. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

God the Father bless thee, who created thee. Amen. [And so is it answered to each of the following blessings.] The Son of God bless thee, who suffered for thee. The Holy Ghost bless thee, who was poured out in thee. The Virgin, Mother of the eternal King, bless thee. Angels and Archangels, Principalities and Powers bless thee. The nine Orders of Angels of the heavenly kingdom bless thee. The four and twenty Elders, who are before the throne of God, bless thee. Virtues and Dominions bless thee. Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim bless thee. The Patriarchs and Prophets and Apostles of the Lord bless thee. Martyrs and Confessors bless thee. Monks and Virgins of God bless thee. Heaven and earth, the sea and all that is therein bless thee. Sun and moon bless thee, and every blessing that is written in the holy Scriptures come upon thee. Amen.

Which may he vouchsafe to grant, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

¶ It is to be known that it is not lawful for any to minister the sacrament of extreme unction save a priest only; so that if one not a priest should attempt to do it, he would consecrate nothing. The places to be anointed are those aforesaid, and no others, save in the maimed, in whom the nearest places ought to be anointed.

¶ Let priests often warn their parishioners that all of fourteen years and more present themselves to receive the sacrament of extreme unction when fear of death is at hand; and teach them that this sacrament may lawfully be repeated without any wrong, so that as often as a man recovers and a new sickness comes upon him from which there is fear of death, he may be anointed in each such sickness. And if anyone recover after this sacrament, he may nevertheless lawfully return to the marriage duty and to every honest work.

¶ This sacrament is not to be given to those going to battle or a duel, nor to pilgrims or seafarers, or to those about to be put to death, because such death does not threaten from the failing of nature. Likewise children, the frenzied, madmen and others suffering such alienation of mind are not admitted to it, since they lack due discretion of devotion and of true penitence; unless while of sound mind they asked for it, or were otherwise anxious for their salvation before their affliction began. Note that in time of interdict the sacrament of extreme unction ought not to be given, nor the other sacraments, except Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, and the Viaticum given only to one at the point of death.