The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

Feb 11

February 13, 2022

Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~

There is a good degree of ignorance regarding the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, and I hope to remedy some of that here so that we’ll all be better informed and better able to effectively use the sacrament.

First, what is a sacrament? “A sacrament is an efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments are seven in number: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance (Confession or Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction), Holy Orders, and Matrimony” (Glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)).

What is the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick? “Also known as the sacrament of the dying, administered by a priest to a baptized person [Catholic] who begins to be in danger of death because of illness, injury, or old age, through prayer and the anointing of the body with the oil of the sick. The proper effects of the sacrament include a special grace of healing and comfort to the Christian who is suffering the infirmities of serious illness or old age, and the forgiving of the person’s sins [through Confession]” (Glossary CCC).

Who, What, Where? Only bishops or priests can validly administer the sacrament; only Catholics, practicing or not may receive it; it may take place anywhere the need arises, for one individual or even a group of sick people.

The Last Rites refers to someone who is close to death, being visited by a priest and prepared spiritually and sacramentally for it. The Last Rites always involves the Anointing of the Sick, absolution of sins, and the Apostolic Pardon[1]; and may involve the sacraments of Confession and Eucharist if the dying still possesses their faculties. The Anointing of the Sick does not require any physical or mental faculties.

Often though, the Anointing of the Sick does not entail imminent death. “The Anointing of the Sick is not only a sacrament for those who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived” (CCC 1514).

“If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced” (CCC 1515).

Some assume that this sacrament is for the healing of the sick, injured, or dying, yet properly understood, its true purpose has more to do with uniting the suffering with Christ. Put another way, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick imparts the grace to carry the cross of the suffering – not remove it. Of course God can do anything good, and if He wishes to heal, then all praise be to God. People who hope for healing from this sacrament, let alone expect it, will more than likely be let down.

The following are the effects of the celebration of this sacrament taken directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

1520   A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death. This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God’s will. Furthermore, if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven [through Confession].”
1521   Union with passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ’s Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior’s redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.
1522   An ecclesial grace. The sick, who receive this sacrament, by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ, contribute to the good of the People of God. By celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and he, for his part, through the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.
1523   A preparation for the final journey. If the sacrament of anointing of the sick is given to all who suffer from serious illness and infirmity, even more rightly is it given to those at the point of departing this life; so it is also called sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing). The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointing’s that mark the whole Christian life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and that of Confirmation which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father’s house.

Contact the Parish

Often a person is critically ill or seriously injured and should receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick but they don’t because no one thinks to call the parish. Usually the person in need of this sacrament isn’t able to make the call themselves. Talk to your spouse, adult children, or siblings about your desire to receive this sacrament when the need arises, as well as funeral arrangements. Don’t assume they will know what you would want for yourself. Often, those who will take care of us when we are dying are not Catholic or are no longer practicing the faith and don’t know about this sacrament. Also, if you know of a Catholic who lives in our parish boundaries and they are dying, ask them or someone taking care of them, if they would like to receive the sacrament. They can be fallen away Catholics, if they are agreeable to a visit, it might be the thing that brings them back to God on their deathbed.

Please contact the parish if you’d like the parish to pray for you or someone you know that is critically ill or injured. This can be done through the General Intercessions at Mass, by having their name listed in the prayer section of the bulletin, or you can go to our website and enter the prayer request yourself. These three options are not mutually exclusive; each has its own advantages. At Mass we always pray for everyone on the prayer list in the bulletin and on our website during the General Intercessions.

Yours in the Divine Physician,