Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders 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…
James 5: 14-15 RSV2CE
The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament through which God comforts and heals, physically and/or spiritually, his people. Though it has sometimes been called, ‘Last Rites’, there’s no need to wait till someone is near death to seek this Sacrament; this is for anyone facing serious illness or are in danger of death.
In this Sacrament a priest lays his hands on the head of the sick person, calling down the Spirit of healing. Then, he then anoints the sick person on the forehead and palms of the hands with the oil of the sick, an olive oil blessed around Easter by the bishop for this special purpose. Where possible, the priest may also offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation and may offer Communion. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick:
- provides courage, strength and peace
- helps the person to trust in God
- gives the sick person the grace to unite his/her suffering to the sufferings of Our Saviour
- provides physical and/or spiritual healing according to God’s will
- pours out consolation and hope
- provides for the forgiveness of sins even when the sick person is too ill to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- offers necessary graces so that the sick person may prepare for death
The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1514
Who can receive this Sacrament?
This Sacrament is for anyone suffering any kind of mental, physical, spiritual or emotional illness that threatens life. This could include addictions that compel dangerous practices or pervasive thoughts of self-harm. Someone undergoing surgery requiring general anesthetic or having received a cancer diagnosis ought to seek this Sacrament. Those proclaimed palliative should be Anointed. Anyone spending more than a few nights in a hospital should ask to receive the Anointing of the Sick.
Like Communion and Reconciliation, this Sacrament can be received many times. If someone has received the Sacrament of the Sick, they may receive it again as their condition changes, but it is not necessary that they receive it again.
How can someone receive The Anointing of the Sick?
In an emergency, where death is imminent, please call one of our priests directly at 905-623-3233. If the sick individual is in the hospital or a long-term care or retirement home, ask the staff for a Catholic Priest.
In a non-emergency, someone may ask the priest after a Mass for the Anointing of the Sick. Arrangements can also be made online.
