Anointing

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

This sacrament administered with Holy Oil and the prayer of the priest to give special grace and strength to the sick. This sacrament is also called Extreme Unction.

The Anointing of the Sick can be received by any baptized person who is in danger of death because of sickness or old age.

When the recipient of the sacrament is conscious, he or she must be in the state of grace. If not, the person should make confession. Very often the sacrament of reconciliation is bound closely to Anointing. However, if the person cannot make a confession due to his or her declining health, he or she receives pardon for all sins through the Sacrament of Anointing, presuming that the recipient has a sufficient sorrow for his or her sins.

The Anointing of the Sick is offered every first Friday of the month during the 7am morning mass or anytime by contacting the parish priest and requesting the sacrament for yourself or a loved one who is ill, in the hospital, or in the danger of death.

Effects of the Anointing of the Sick:

For a sick person:
- healing of the soul and sometimes body, encouragement, God's grace, and if it is the will of God and the person is to die, he or she is prepared for the last journey and meeting with the Lord.

For an elderly person:
- death here on Earth is a part of our existence and we believe that through death we meet with the Lord and inherit everlasting life. Thus, it is important to prepare well for our death. This sacrament prepares us for the happy passage to the hereafter. The sacrament is administered by anointing with special blessed oil accompanied by prayer. Only a priest can validly administer this sacrament. However, the presence of the larger community, family and friends is encouraged.

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