Catholic Sacraments: Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament where a priest anoints a seriously sick person with oil blessed specifically for that purpose. At one point it was just reserved to those staring death right in the face. At this point it was known as extreme unction. It was only performed during the Last Rites. Since the Second Vatican Council, it is performed for not only those close to death, but those seriously ill. This can be physically, mentally, or spiritually. There is one definitive Biblical text from the Epistle of James for anointing the sick. "Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." (James 5:14-15)

The Catholic Church feels that the sacrament of Anointing the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. The person receiving the sacrament is given the gift of the Holy Spirit. It gives them strength through God and renews their confidence in Him. It weakens the grip of temptation a person might have. It is seen as both spiritually and at times physically healing.

The oil used is called Oil of the Sick. It is blessed by the bishop of the diocese on the Chrism Mass celebrated on Holy Thursday or a day close to that. A bishop can bless additional oil if it is needed. It can be done either individually or in a group setting. A Catholic church should offer this sacrament in a group setting at least once a year. It usually is done within a Mass.

The sacrament is performed by a priest. The actual anointing has a concrete way in which it is done. The priest anoints the person's forehead with the oil, usually in the shape of a cross. The priest then say "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit." The priest then proceeds to anoint the hands. He says "May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up." He may then go on and anoint other parts of the body. There is also a laying of hands done. This is meant to bring a sense of solidarity to those who are sick and those who are just laying the hands down. It makes them feel like they are not alone and that someone cares about them.

The sacrament is best done as a community. When done in a group, the sacrament can be beneficial for all of those involved, including those who are not ill. The person being anointed gets a real sense that they are not going through this journey of life alone. They have people who love them and want them to get better. The sacrament has an amazing power, even to those like myself who are not religious. I think it is extremely beneficial by just what it does to the anointed persons state of mind. A person with a mind set that God, along with a community of people that love him/her, is behind them helps them heal. A person with a positive attitude tend to have a better chance of recovery then those who have no sense that anything can save them. There has been studies that have actually shown this.