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Spiritual Life and Social Action
Sacraments: Anointing
Anointing of the Sick aint just for old people!
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick should be used whenever a person is even remotely in danger of death due to illness, accident or medical procedure. For example:
Your Dentist tells you them wisdom teeth need to come out. The decision is made to put you under general anesthesia for the extraction. Now, general anesthesia is very safe; however, there is a non-zero probability you could die from the anesthesia. This is a perfect case for a quick stop at Newman for that anointing of the sick. Since the remission of sin is an effect of the sacrament, conferral of the sacrament begins with the Sacrament of Confession or, if the you are unable to speak, then the priest will ask you to make some positive sign that you are sorry for your past sins.
The sacrament continues with the laying of hands. Then, the priest anoints your head and hands with the Oil of the Infirm, which is consecrated by the Bishop each year during Holy Week at the Chrism Mass. The priest then blesses you and you're ready to face what ever the future holds.
The main effects of Anointing of the Sick are: - Comfort, Peace, and Courage
- Forgiveness of Sins
- Preparation for Death
- Sanctification of the Church
- Union with the Passion of Christ
The sacrament is administered only to those who are in real danger of dying or are infirm due to age or sickness. The Sacrament should only be repeated if the individual's condition should change dramatically for the worse.
If you are a non-Catholic who finds the Anointing of the Sick a comforting and appealing idea, then please consider learning more about the Catholic faith by joining our RCIA program (Rites of Catholic Initiation of Adults).
A Plea from the Chaplain:
Please, if you know of a catholic who has suddenly taken ill or has had a severe accident, please, please, please email Fr Doug or call us at the Newman Center, (413)549-0300, immediately.
Do not assume that simply because this person isn't active in the Church or hasn't practiced their faith, or gone to Mass, or has said how much they disagree with the Church, that they are ineligible or would not want to receive the Sacrament of the Sick.
Peoples attitudes do change when faced with their own mortality. So please, let us know so that your friend or loved one may have the opportunity to receive this most powerful of sacraments.
Extreme Unction:
Anointing of the Sick is probably best known as 'Last Rites,' as in, 'this is the last Sacrament (rite) of the Church that you'll receive.'
Now, some zealous folks like to make a big deal out of correcting people whenever they refer to the Anointing of the Sick as Last Rites. The idea being, this sacrament should be used whenever and as often as someone is in danger of death, not just once when they are actively dying. Therefore, they make a big deal about referring to the Sacrament as the Anointing of the Sick and not Last Rites.
True enough this sacrament is not just for the actively dying but should be used for the healing of soul AND body; however, we wish to point out there will come a day when this will be the last sacrament we receive. News flash: All of us will die one day. At that moment, if we are lucky enough and there are still priests available, the Anointing of the Sick we receive will be our Last Rites.
But the point is well taken, this is a powerful sacrament that always brings healing of the soul and often of the body too. So don't wait until you or your loved one is close to death before calling for the priest. | 
Anointing of the Sick
detail from
The Seven Sacraments
by Rogier | "Is any among you sick? Let them call for the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven"
(Jas 5:14-15) |
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Last update: Sun, 11 May 2008
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