Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
-James 5:14
Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament by which the Holy Spirit consoles and strengthens a seriously ill Christian. The priest anoints the sick person with the “Oil of the Sick” (oleum infirmorum), a holy oil consecrated by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. Anointing brings a deep intimacy with the suffering Christ. It also strengthens the soul with the power of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of one’s own resurrection. It’s common to make a Confession, if possible, before being anointed.
Anointing of the Sick is not necessarily the Last Rites. A priest may anoint any seriously ill or gravely injured Christian upon request. A person may be anointed more than once, especially if they take a “turn for the worse.” The elderly can be anointed when the frailties of age or dementia begin to take their toll. Anointing isn’t proper for normally resolvable issues like sore throats, colds, flus, and common injuries.
If you or a Catholic loved one in the area would like to be anointed, please contact the parish office by phone or by clicking the link below