To Free, Save, and Raise Up - by Paul Turner (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Paul Turner offers practical guidance for navigating the new English translation of the Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of their Pastoral Care.

The revised translation of the Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of their Pastoral Care is an opportunity for the church to recommit to pastoral care of the sick. It is also an opportunity to catechize the faithful anew on the heightened importance of Viaticum and the church's sacramental life when a person is in danger of death. In To Free, Save, and Raise Up, Paul Turner offers a commentary on this ritual book, with pastoral insights for priests and deacons who use it in their ministry, as well as important background on the Second Vatican Council's changes to the sacraments for the sick, the deliberations that produced the revised rite, and the translation process. This practical guide serves as a helpful resource for priests, deacons, and all who participate in this important ministry.

Review Quotes

"In To Free, Save, and Raise Up, Fr. Turner expertly illuminates the Church's rich tradition of accompanying for the sick and dying with keen pastoral insights that are essential for this ministry today. As the Church in the United States transitions to the revised ritual book for anointing and caring for the sick, Fr. Turner's clear explanation of the differences between the previous and new editions, as well as the rationale behind the changes, serves as an accessible guide for navigating the texts and celebrating the rites. Moreover, by joining practical knowledge with theological wisdom, he points out a path for nurturing an ars celebrandi marked by compassion and encounter. His deep understanding of the conciliar and postconciliar liturgical vision and his candid assessment of contemporary spiritual and pastoral needs provide ministers and scholars alike with a clarifying light for continued reflection on the Church's mission to accompany those who suffer in communion with the crucified and risen Lord."
James M. Starke, PhD, STL, associate professor of liturgical and systematic theology and director of liturgy, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland

"In To Free, Save, and Raise Up, Paul Turner offers the Church an extraordinary and timely gift: a masterfully researched and pastorally attuned study of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and the liturgical rites that accompany ministry to the sick and dying--arriving just as the newly translated rite is implemented in the United States. Turner's rare ability to unite scholarly rigor with profound pastoral sensitivity shines throughout this work. He presents Jesus as the true physician of our souls and bodies, demonstrating how Christ's healing power is proclaimed and enacted in the celebration of the Anointing of the Sick. Turner examines the rites from every angle--historical, theological, textual, and pastoral--giving particular attention to the reforms that followed Vatican II. His clear explanations of the structure, prayers, and gestures of the rites will serve not only clergy, but also lay ministers to the sick and homebound, as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Church's liturgical care for the sick and dying. To Free, Save, and Raise Up is poised to become an essential resource for those engaged in pastoral care of the sick, sacramental theology, or liturgical ministry. It stands among the most comprehensive and compelling treatments of the Anointing of the Sick and its related rites available today."
Fr. Juan J. Ochoa, Director of the Office for Divine Worship, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

"With his usual acumen for liturgical history, theological wisdom, and pastoral insight, Fr. Paul Turner's To Free, Save, and Raise Up provides a comprehensive and practical commentary on the Church's rituals for ministering to the elderly, the homebound, the sick, and the dying. Bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians especially will find Fr. Turner's book a welcome guide for navigating the ritual text and leading God's People in prayer. Since the intended audience of the new translation of The Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of Their Pastoral Care is primarily the clergy, other pastoral ministers, particularly Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, will discover that Fr. Turner's commentary provides a firm foundation for understanding and applying the Church's broad vision for caring for the sick and the dying. All those engaged in this important pastoral work will find in Fr. Turner's book an invitation and an inspiration for renewal in their ministry to our brothers and sisters who are suffering."
The Most Reverend Michael G. Woost, Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Cleveland, Chair, USCCB Committee on Divine Worship

About the Author

Paul Turner is pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri, and director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Kansas City--St. Joseph. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from Sant' Anselmo in Rome. The 2025 Catholic Media Association's Author of the Year, Turner is also a past president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, and a member of Societas Liturgica and the Catholic Academy of Liturgy. He is the author of numerous books published by Liturgical Press and a contributor to Give Us This Day. Visit his website at paulturner.org.