St. Francis of Assisi Parish

The Anointing of the Sick is one of the “Sacraments of Healing” of the Church especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness. The Roman Rite says that “the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil.”

This sacrament, however, is not only for those who are at the point of death, but also for anyone of the faithful who is sick or is of old age.  “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.” 

In addition, the Viaticum (Eucharist received at the moment of death: “passing over to the Father”) can be offered as a sacrament of passing over from “death to life, from this world to the Father.”

The Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as Viaticum are the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage.

The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:

• the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
• the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
• the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
• the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
• the preparation for passing over to eternal life.

To read more: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1499-1532)