Anointing Of The Sick
Is any among you sick? Let them call for the presbyters of the Church, and let the presbyters pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.
James 5:14
The Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament given to seriously or chronically ill Catholics. The special graces received in this sacrament help to unite the sick person to the passion of Christ, making it a source of great spiritual and emotional strength for those who are physically struggling.
If you or a loved one is sick, or about to have surgery, you may ask for the Sacrament of Anointing. If you are going into a public hospital, there are often Catholic chaplains who will arrange the anointing, as well as bring you Holy Communion. Let the hospital know that you are Catholic at the time of admission for you or your loved one. At any time, you can ask the nursing staff to call for the Catholic chaplain.
The sacrament consists of the anointing of the patient’s forehead and hands with blessed oil, as the priest says, “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”
The ecclesial effect of this sacrament is incorporated into the healing Body of Christ, with a spiritual healing of the soul and, at times, healing of the body.
While this sacrament can, and has historically, brought about miraculous healing of the body, it is generally intended to help the sick person come to terms their illness, recognise God’s presence in their suffering, and renew their trust in God’s mercy.
This sacrament has been practised since the earliest days of the Church. Until recently, the emphasis was on preparation for death, and so the sacrament was referred to as “Extreme Unction” (the Last Anointing) or “Last Rites.” The Second Vatican Council, however, restored an emphasis on prayer for the physical and spiritual healing for all sick persons. Therefore, this sacrament can be received multiple times, and one does not need to be gravely ill to receive it.
For further information, please contact our Parish Secretary at [email protected].
