Anointing of the Sick

The Anointing of the Sick

"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, p. 1499)

Please notify the rectory when a parishioner is about to be hospitalized, is hospitalized, or is confined at home due to sickness, infirmity, or age.

Communion Calls
A parish priest or deacon will visit and bring Holy Communion to shut-ins on a regular basis each month. Eucharistic Ministers are available on Sundays to bring Communion to the homes of those who are sick or infirmed. Please contact the rectory.

Hospital Stays
If you are planning to enter the hospital for a serious operation and wish to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, please call the rectory. A priest will anoint you with this healing sacrament.
Please let the hospital staff know that you are a Catholic and wish the Chaplain/ Eucharistic Minister to bring you Communion. Also, let us know of your illness so we can visit and pray with you.

Communal Celebration for the Anointing of the Sick
Persons afflicted with physical, mental, or emotional sickness such as cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, chronic heart/lung disease, arthritis, depression, anxiety, and/or persons who find themselves in a weakened condition due to age or illness are invited to attend this Liturgy and to be anointed. To be anointed in this way is to be consecrated---that is, to be set aside---for God's blessing and protection during this time of sickness. The sacrament also is a powerful prayer for physical and spiritual healing. Date and time will be announced in the Sunday bulletin.

February is traditionally recognized as the month of healing (due to Our Lady of Lourdes feast on February 11th). One of the Church's Sacraments of Healing is the Anointing of the Sick. 

Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament of the New Law, instituted by Christ to give the sick spiritual aid and strength and to perfect spiritual health, including, if need be, the remission of sins. Conditionally it also restores bodily health to Christians who are seriously ill. It consists essentially in the anointing by a priest of the forehead and the hands, while pronouncing the words  “Through this holy anointing and His most loving mercy, may the Lord assist you by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that, freed from your sins, He may save you and in His goodness raise you up.”

You  do not have to be in danger of death to receive this Sacrament. There are three conditions to receive Anointing of the Sick:
1. A baptized Catholic,
2. Reached the age of reason (seven years old)
3. Begun to be in danger from illness or the infirmities of age, or have become sick again or underwent a further crisis

The ritual for the Anointing of the Sick gives the following examples of people who can recieve this Sacrament:
· "those who are dangerously ill through sickness or old age" 
· "a sick person...before surgery whenever the surgery is necessitated by a dangerous illness" 
· "elderly people...if they are weak, though not dangerously ill" 
· "sick children...sufficiently mature to be comforted by the sacrament" 
· "sick people who have lost consciousness or who have lost the use of reason...if ...they would have requested it if they had been in possession of their faculties"

This  sacrament can also be repeated whenever the sick person again falls into a serious sickness after convalescence or whenever a more serious crisis develops during the same sickness.

If you or someone you know needs Anointing of the Sick please contact the parish office at 610-692-2990.