About Anointing

Christians believe that Jesus did everything the prophets foretold in the messianic age. He lavished healing on every kind of sickness and disability, even bringing the dead to life. Often he would join to this healing a forgiveness of sin.
The Letter of James describes clearly the practice of physical and spiritual healing in early Christianity: "If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the Church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven" (see James 5:14-15).

Since the Vatican Council II changed the concept of "Last Rites" to the "Anointing of the Sick" in 1972, the emphasis changed from receiving the anointing at the point of death, to receiving the anointing whenever one is sick and needs prayer. Although still given as Last Rites, the more appropriate rite for the dying would be Viaticum (communion for the journey) saving the Anointing of the Sick for just that--the sick

What to do?

Individuals are encouraged to seek the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick when they face serious illness or surgery because of such illness. This may be accomplished by contacting the parish office and requesting this sacrament. The parish office will put you in contact with a priest to make specific arrangements. This may take several forms:

• The priest will go to the home of the person to be anointed. The participation of family and friends should be strongly encouraged to witness to the ecclesial character of the sacrament.
• The parish will invite the sick person to participate in a scheduled weekday or Sunday Eucharist along with family and friends. This will be advertise din the weekly bulletin.

What Happens at the Rite?

When the priest visits a person who is ill and he prays over them using the Letter of James. Then lays his hands on them praying silently for healing (physical or spiritual). Then taking consecrated oil by the bishop anoints the forehead with the words: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit." Then he anoints the top of the sick person's hands saying: "May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up."

Whenever possible the sacraments of penance and viaticum should precede the anointing of the sick in emergencies. In extreme emergencies, when danger of death from illness or injury is sudden, the priest may only be able to offer the minimum of sacramental rites. In less extreme cases, it may be possible to use the 'Continuous Rite of Penance, Anointing, and Viaticum' for people who are dying. Even in these emergency situations, family and hospital staff should take part in the celebration whenever this is possible.

How often can this rite be celebrated?

In certain instances, the anointing may be repeated if the sick person recovers and again falls ill or if, during the course of an illness, the person's condition becomes even more serious. Anointing is properly celebrated at critical moments at the onset of serious illness and at critical moments in its progress. Hence, those who are chronically and seriously ill may repeat the anointing when in the pastoral judgment of the priest the sick person's conditions warrants this repetition.

What is Viaticum?

Viaticum is the proper sacrament of the dying. It is the completion and reaffirmation of Christian life on earth. When death is close, arrangements should be made to receive Viaticum. The ideal is to receive viaticum within the celebration of the Eucharist. When, because of institutional limitations, this is not possible, viaticum outside Mass is appropriate.

A distinctive feature of the celebration of viaticum is the renewal of the baptismal profession of faith by the dying person. At the conclusion of the penitential rite the 'Apostolic Pardon' may be given. A special form for administering communion as viaticum is provided. The dying person and all Catholics present may receive Holy Communion under both kinds. The sick and dying who are unable to receive under the form of bread may receive under the form of wine alone. If the process of dying lasts several days, the Eucharist may be given as viaticum on successive days.