How Did Anointing in the Christian Church Become the “Last Rites?
Early in the Church’s life, anointing was for healing of any physical or mental illness (possession by evil spirits). Gradually over the next few hundred years, this anointing became one associated with the forgiveness of sin. This was a public forgiveness where the penitent was paraded out into the town square for all to see that this individual was a sinner. The price tag for this anointing for the forgiveness of sin was not only a large donation to the church, but this person was forbidden by law to ever marry, and if they were already married, they could not have sexual relations with their spouse. And, if male, they could never hold public office. Most decided to forgo this anointing until later in life-maybe at the end! The prevailing belief was that one could not enter into heaven without this “final anointing.” Anointing eventually was performed just for the seriously ill and was combined with penitence and absolution for sin. The prayers used in this anointing ritual were iron
