The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing administered to those who are gravely ill, about to undergo serious surgery, or of advanced age. It involves laying hands on the ill person, praying over them, and anointing them with blessed oil. This sacrament provides spiritual strength, peace, forgiveness of sins if the person is sorry, and preparation for passing into eternal life. It can be received multiple times as illnesses worsen and is open to those who are of age of reason. Visiting the sick offers support, with our presence as comfort whether words are exchanged or not.

1. Anointing of the Sick http://www.cherubim.org/parish/sacraments/sac-anointing.gif

2. What type of Sacrament? Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing because it helps to heal the ill person physically or give that person grace to accept God’s will and die a good death. http://www.stblase.org/images/sacraments_images/anointing.jpg

3. What does it mean? Anointing of the Sick gives health to our soul and sometimes our body by prayer and anointment of oil. It’s purpose is to give Christians special grace who are suffering from illness or old age. http://www.olhcbrooklyn.org/images/jesushealing2.jpg

4. How do we celebrate the Sacrament? We celebrate with a liturgy, not just as a private ceremony but with the Church as a whole. A priest or bishop comes to the ill person and practices the principal elements: laying-on of the hands, prayer said over the ill person, and the anointing of the forehead and hands with olive oil (called the oil of the sick) which has been blessed by a bishop.

6. Strength, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the suffering of illness or old age;

8. Restoration of health if it is good for the salvation of the person’s soul;

9. Preparation for passage to eternal life;

10. Reduction or removal of all temporal punishment due to sin when the ill person is properly disposed. http://www.thomaspringle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/AnointingSick.jpg

11. Recipients of the Sacrament Just because a person is not deathly sick does not mean they cannot receive this sacrament. Ask yourself these questions to know when you or someone you know can be anointed: Is this a life threatening or grave disease? Is the person about to undergo surgery for a serious illness? Is the person of advanced age? Has a fatal illness become more serious? The sacrament may be received with each new serious illness or when particular illness worsens. The recipient must be at least the age of reason. This may also be given to people who are unconscious or in a coma, as long as they are baptized and aware of the penalty for dying without sorrow. Dead people may also be anointed conditionally for a limited time after they have been pronounced clinically dead.

12. Why do we accept suffering? We should accept the fact that all of us, as individuals, have a fallen nature due to original sin and we must suffer as a result. We can unite our pain with Jesus’ suffering however. He suffered for us. By accepting suffering, we imitate the love of Jesus’, who accepted suffering for us. http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/jesus-christ-on-cross-0104.jpg

13. Why do we visit the sick? We visit the sick as support. Our presence to the ill person is a sign of support. Sometimes, it is very important to let that person lead the way. If that person wishes to talk, then you can lead the way. However, if it is harder for them to discuss their illness, let them lead the way. However, we have to accept that even if that person wishes not to speak , our presence is all the support that is wanted.