Anointing of The Sick

01-08

The Anointing of the Sick was instituted by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. The Catechism explains, "This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord" (CCC 1511; Mark 6:13; Jas. 5:14-15).

The Anointing of the Sick is a great sacrament in which through the physical signs of the laying on of hands and anointing with sacred oil that reveal to us the invisible reality of God’s love and strength being poured out upon us in addition to the support of the faith community.

It is important to realize that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is NOT something that should be done at the last moment or as close to death as possible. The sacrament is meant to aid us in our fight against temptation and show us God’s love and support. If one is seriously ill then one should ask for the sacrament. In addition if one is about to have serious surgery (for example any involving anesthesia) then one may also ask to receive the sacrament.

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The Sacrament of the Anointing in its simplest form consists of the priest laying hands on the person while praying in silence followed by anointing the person’s forehead and hands. While praying the following prayers:

Priest: Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit
R. Amen
Priest: May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.
R. Amen
Priest would then conclude with a prayer for the person who just received the sacrament

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The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may also take place within the context of Mass. The following prayers and gestures are added to the Mass.

Litany of Anointing
Celebrant: Let us pray to God for our brothers and sisters and for all those who devote themselves to caring for them. Please respond Lord Have Mercy to each of the following invocations.
Celebrant: Bless all our sick brothers and sisters and fill them with new hope and strength: Lord Have Mercy.
All: Lord Have Mercy
Celebrant: Relieve their pain: Lord Have Mercy
All: Lord Have Mercy
Celebrant: Free them from sin and do not let them give way to temptation: Lord Have Mercy
All: Lord Have Mercy
Celebrant: Sustain all the sick with your power: Lord Have Mercy
All: Lord Have Mercy
Celebrant: Assist all who care for the sick: Lord Have Mercy:
All: Lord Have Mercy
Celebrant: Give life and health to our brothers and sisters on whom we lay our hands in your name: Lord Have Mercy:
All: Lord Have Mercy

Laying on of Hands

Prayer over the Oil
Celebrant: Please respond “Blessed be God who heals us in Christ”
Celebrant: Praise to you, God, almighty Father. You sent your Son to live among us and bring us salvation.
All: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ
Celebrant: Praise to you, God, the only-begotten Son. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity and you heal our infirmities:
All: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ
Celebrant: Praise to you, God the Holy Spirit, the Consoler. You unfailing power gives us strength in our bodily weakness.
All: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ
Celebrant: God of mercy, Ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servants whom the Church anoints with this holy oil. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen

Anointing
Prayer After The Anointing
Celebrant: Father in heaven, through this holy anointing Grant our brothers and sisters comfort in their suffering. When they are afraid, give them courage, when afflicted, give them patience, When dejected afford them hope, And when alone assure them of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
All: Amen

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. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person's condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention (cf. Rite of Anointing, Introduction, nos. 8-10).

Moreover, "old people may be anointed if they are in weak condition even though no dangerous illness is present. Sick children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be comforted by this sacrament. . . . [The faithful] should be encouraged to ask for the anointing, and, as soon as the time for the anointing comes, to receive it with faith and devotion, not misusing the sacrament by putting it off" (Rite of Anointing, nos. 11, 12, 13).