1. Anointing of the Sick
Is any 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;
and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up;
and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ~ James 5:14-15
T
HROUGHOUT JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY, he healed we receive Jesus himself, the Healer. In addition to
the sick both physically and spiritually (see Mt these sacraments, Jesus also gave the Church the
4:24; Mk 1:32; Lk 4:40; Jn 6:2). For example, Anointing of the Sick (see Jas 5:14-15).
when Jesus healed the paralyzed man, he said,
“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven,... Rise, take up Who can receive the Anointing of the Sick?
your bed, and go home” (Mt 9:2, 6). Jesus commanded This sacrament may be received by anyone who
the Twelve to “[h]eal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lep- has a chronic, serious illness, by anyone preparing
ers, [and] cast out demons” (Mt 10:8; see also Lk 10:9), for a major surgery, or by anyone in danger of death.
and he gave them the authority “to heal every disease The sacrament may be repeated every time a person
and every infirmity” (Mt 10:1). The Twelve did as Je- becomes seriously ill or when their condition wors-
sus commanded and then passed on this authority to ens. Those experiencing the debilitations of old age
their successors, who are the bishops (see Mk 6:12- also may receive it. Finally, Anointing of the Sick
13; Acts 5:15-16). In this way, the Church received is intended for those who are “at the hour of their
the mission and authority to heal every disease and death,” because, along with Reconciliation and Viat-
every infirmity from Jesus himself, which she carries icum, Anointing of the Sick is one of the sacraments
out primarily through the sacraments. that prepare us for our Heavenly home.
Now sickness, especially when it is prolonged or
life-threatening, can give someone the reason to take Rite of Anointing of the Sick
time to pray and think about the meaning of life. Sick- Although some people have received the charism —
ness, one of the consequences of the sin of a special gift from the Holy Spirit given for the sake of
our first parents, remains a part of our the good of the Church — of healing, only bishops and
earthly existence even after Bap- priests may confer the sacrament of the Anointing of the
tism. God sometimes Sick (see 1 Cor 12:9, 28, 30; Jas 5:14-15). They alone
even uses it as an instru- can act in persona Christi (“in the person of Christ”),
ment of love and mercy. conferring sacramental grace that even a person with
Nevertheless, God’s will a charism to heal cannot impart. Those desiring to be
is that finally all sickness will be anointed should love God, hate sin, trust in the mer-
healed. Most of the time, the its of Jesus, and believe in the assistance of the saints.
body is able to heal (regain
its strength and life) through
various remedies, doctors, and A sick-call crucifix is a part of many
preventive medicine. Like the Catholic homes, intended to provide
appropriate items needed during a visit
body, the soul also is in need from a priest to a sick family member
of healing. This healing
is primarily accom-
plished through the
sacraments.
In Baptism, we are
PHY
restored to life by the washing away of
OTOGRA
sin and union with Christ. In Reconcilia-
ARLES PH
tion, sins are forgiven and the effects of sin are
healed. The Eucharist especially heals us because
DAVID CH
The Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) grants the original purchaser (parish, local parochial institution, or individual) permission to reproduce this handout.

2. This is called a good dis-
position. Even though
“Those who are anointed can be joined with oil many that were sick and healed them”
the sacrament may be more closely to the suffering (Mk 6:13). The priest
celebrated at bedsides anoints both the fore-
in private homes, hos- and death of Christ.” head and the hands of
pitals, or other institu- the sick person, but he
tions, efforts should be may also anoint other
made to gather at least a parts according to the
small community, espe- local custom and/or
cially family members the area of pain or in-
and close friends. jury. First, the priest
In cases where death anoints the forehead,
is not imminent, the saying, “Through this
sacrament may be re- holy anointing, may
ceived in a ceremony the Lord in his love and
in church on the occa- mercy help you with
sion of a parish Mass. the grace of the Holy
At times the sacrament Spirit” (Pastoral Care
of Reconciliation may of the Sick 124). Then
precede reception of he anoints the hands,
this anointing. How- saying, “May the Lord
ever the sacrament is who frees you from
celebrated, the follow- sin save you and raise
ing three elements must you up”(Pastoral Care
be included: the prayer of the Sick 124). Other
of faith, a laying on of parts of the body may
hands, and an anointing be anointed, and this is
with oil. ordinarily done in si-
DAVID CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY
In the “prayer of lence.
faith,” the priest asks
those present to pray What are the effects
for the sick person. In of the Anointing of
the form of a litany, they the Sick?
ask God to give the sick The first effect of the
person strength; free- Anointing of the Sick is
dom from all harm, sin, and temptation; relief from the grace, God’s own life, which gives strength, com-
sufferings; and recovery of life and health. fort, peace, and courage to the sick person in order to
Next, the priest lays hands on the head of the sick overcome the difficulties and temptations of their ill-
person and silently prays. The “laying on of hands” ness or old age. Through the sacrament, the sick per-
is the gesture that Jesus used to heal the sick: they son is helped to trust Jesus more deeply, to know that
brought “the sick with various diseases … to him; and he “the sufferings of this present time are not worth compar-
laid his hands on every one of them and healed them” (Lk ing with the glory that is to be revealed” (Rom 8:18), and
4:40; see also Mk 6:5; Lk 13:13). This same gesture to be able to “take up his cross” and follow Jesus ever
is also used for calling upon the Holy Spirit (see Acts more closely (Lk 9:23). Furthermore, “if he has com-
8:14-17). Likewise, when the priest lays his hands mitted sins, he will be forgiven” (Jas 5:15). Forgiveness
on the sick person, he is healing, blessing, and call- is a spiritual healing, a healing of the soul. If God so
ing on the Holy Spirit. wills, the sick person may also experience a healing
Last, the priest anoints the sick person with the “oil of the body. When this is the case, the healing of the
of the sick,” blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass body serves as a sign to all that God has visited his
during Holy Week. Oil represents healing, strength- people and that a time will come when there will be
ening, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and again no sickness.
is an imitation of what Jesus did when he “anointed Those who are anointed can be joined more close-
Anointing of the Sick — Page 2

3. JUPITERIMAGES
“Sickness, especially when it is prolonged or life-
threatening, can give someone the reason to take
time to pray and think about the meaning of life.”
ly to the suffering and death of Christ. Sometimes when celebrated at the hour of death with Reconcilia-
the special mission or ministry given to the serious- tion and Viaticum, gives the sick person the grace they
ly ill or elderly is to suffer, just as Jesus suffered. need to journey from earth to their Heavenly home.
Through the Anointing of the Sick, the anointed per-
son is more easily able to “rejoice in [his] sufferings” Prayer after Anointing
(Col 1:24; see 1 Pt 4:13) and to willingly complete Lord Jesus Christ, you chose to share our human nature,
in their bodies “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” to redeem all people, and to heal the sick.
(Col 1:24) both for their own sake and for the sake Look with compassion upon your servant N.
of his Body, the Church. Because of their union with whom we have anointed in your name with this holy oil
Christ and his Body, when those who are anointed for the healing of his/her body and spirit.
bear their suffering for the sake of Christ, they are Support him/her with your power,
able to help the Body of Christ greatly: “If one mem- comfort him/her with your protection,
ber suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all and give him/her the strength to fight against evil.
rejoice together” (1 Cor 12:26). This ability to partici- Since you have given him/her a share in your own passion,
pate in the saving work of Jesus to help the Body of help him/her to find hope in suffering,
Christ grow in every good and holy way is called “re- for you are Lord for ever and ever. Amen
demptive suffering.” (Pastoral Care of the Sick 125).
Finally, the sacrament of Anointing, especially (CCC 1420-1421, 1499-1525)
Anointing of the Sick — Page 3