📖Overview

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing instituted by Christ and attested by the Apostle James: "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). This sacrament confers a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in a condition of grave illness or old age. The proper time for receiving this sacrament has come when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age. It is not exclusively a sacrament for those at the point of death (formerly known as "Last Rites" or "Extreme Unction"). The sacrament can be repeated if the sick person recovers and falls ill again, or if the condition worsens. The essential rite consists in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person with oil of the sick blessed by the bishop, accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the priest. The effects of this sacrament include 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 suffering in a Christian manner, the forgiveness of sins (if the sick person was not able to obtain it through Penance), and the restoration of health if it is conducive to the salvation of the soul. It also prepares the person for passing over to eternal life.

💡Key Points