With faith in the promise of God’s Word, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish joins the Universal Church in praying for those who are ill. The staff of Sts. Peter and Paul will arrange for the Eucharist to be taken to those unable to attend Mass due to sickness or old age. The parish priest is also ready to comfort, through the Sacrament of the Sick, those seriously ill due to sickness or old age.
What is the Anointing of the Sick?
The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Does a person have to be dying to receive this sacrament?
No. The Catechism says, "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" (CCC 1514).
The Sacraments Effects
"The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life" (CCC 1532).
Anyone who is ill, about to have or has had surgery, the chronically ill, those suffering terminal or other illnesses.
When should the sacrament of the sick be administered?
It is not necessary to wait until a person is dying before calling a priest. The Anointing of the Sick "is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death" (CCC 1514).
I have been anointed in the past, and I am ill again. May I be anointed again?
If some time has passed and you are experiencing another illness, you may receive the sacrament again.