St. MARY CHURCH

Anointing of the Sick

Jesus came to heal the whole person, body and soul.
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"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499)

The priest prays over the sick person and anoints them with holy oil. Through the anointing, the sick are reminded that Jesus and the Church (known as the Body of Christ) are also in communion with their suffering. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the anointed shares in the blessings of health, trust in God, and strength against temptation.

Source: CatholicNH.org

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage.

Source: USCCB.org

USCCB Prayers & Resources

If it isn’t only for people who are dying, when should someone receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?

One of the unfortunate realities in the Church today is that so few people understand the meaning and value of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, largely because so many people still mistakenly think of this sacrament as “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction.”

In his life and ministry, Jesus healed the sick. In this sacrament, the Church continues the healing mission of Jesus and, in hope, prays that God will grant healing to the person who is suffering. But even if there is no physical healing, the sacrament offers spiritual healing through the Holy Spirit’s gifts of peace and courage. And so, anyone who is living with serious illness (including emotional or psychological illness) and the elderly are encouraged to celebrate this sacrament when it is needed.

The ritual for Anointing of the Sick does also include special prayers and blessings for those who are facing death, including viaticum (communion given to the dying, trusting that the Lord Jesus will be their companion along the way, as they make their final journey).

Source: LPi Liturgical Publishing