The Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a means to bring both spiritual and physical strength to all Catholics. It is for those who suffer from illnesses, who are scheduled for surgery, treatments for disease, or who experience a sudden medical crisis. Like the sacrament of Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick is a “sacrament of healing.” And like all the sacraments, it is intended for the living. There are misconceptions that this sacrament is the same as Last Rites or should be saved until the last moments of someone’s life, but that is not what this sacrament is intended for. And waiting too long for this sacrament does a disservice to the one being anointed as well as the sacrament itself. It should not be kept until the last minute because, when possible, the one being anointed should be conscious and be able to actively participate in the sacrament.

“The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age...Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, they may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and after they have received it, if the illness worsens.”
                            (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1528, 1529)

The sacrament is appropriate for the elderly weakened by advanced age or suffering from chronic or long-term illnesses. The sacrament may be repeated if the sick person's condition becomes more serious or relapse occurs after recovery. For those who are in the end-of-life stage or Hospice care, family members should contact their parish priest immediately to have their loved one anointed as a priest may not be available on short notice prior to death.
 
It has been a custom that we offer a blessing on the feast day of St. Blaise. St. Blaise was a physician before becoming a bishop and was reputed to have miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of a fishbone in his throat. From the eighth century he has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat.
 
This blessing is given after Mass and is a sign of our faith in God’s protection and love for us and for the sick.