Baptized Christians who are members of a marriage, but the Christian community wounds. For sacramental use in the Church, Protestant community may be anointed with is likewise present during times of illness. olive oil is used. In areas of the world where the permission of the bishop if they do not have Because of his or her place in this olive oil is unavailable or prohibitively access to their own ministers and there is a community of believers, the sick person, though expensive, any high quality vegetable oil may be serious reason for the anointing. Those to be weakened by pain or isolated by fear, never used. anointed in this case must have a Catholic stands alone. The community is, for the sick At the Chrism Mass during Holy Week, all understanding of the sacrament, be spiritually person, a symbol of God’s loving kindness. The of the oil for use in a diocese within the coming disposed to receive it, and ask to be anointed on sick person is, for the community, a symbol of year is blessed by the bishop. Oil is blessed for their own accord. Jesus Christ, who transformed human suffering use in the catechumenate (Oil of into glory. Together we struggle to grasp more Catechumens), for use in Confirmation, What Kind of Healing Takes deeply the mystery of suffering, and hope in the post-baptismal anointings and ordination Place? promise of the resurrection. The communal (Sacred Chrism), and for use in the sacrament nature of the sacrament of the anointing of the While we pray for physical healing, we of the anointing of the sick (Oil of the Sick). sick is most clearly visible, therefore, when the understand that God’s healing may occur in This oil is distributed through the deaneries to community gathers to pray with the sick many different ways. Although a cure implies a parishes, religious communities and hospitals. person. For this reason a communal celebration complete remission of bodily symptoms, Through the sacrament, we are connected to of the sacrament is preferred. There may healing can be physical, spiritual or emotional. one another not only by the prayers of the occasionally be times when the whole Church, but by the very oil we use. What are the Options for community is unable to gather to celebrate the Celebrating the Anointing of rite. Nonetheless, the whole Church is present Is there a difference between in the person who is anointed and in the priest. the Sick? this Sacrament and a Healing It is present in the prayers, the gestures and the Mass? The sacrament may be celebrated publicly blessed oil. within the mass, or at any other time when the In some communities, “healing masses” have community is gathered for prayer. Who Presides at the Sacrament? become popular. People come forward for Can a Deacon or Layperson prayers and imposition of hands by lay It may be celebrated in the home or hospital Anoint the Sick? with friends and family. ministers. Some participants receive the imposition of hands to show solidarity and While all Christians are called to pray for, There may be other times when the only support for a sick friend or relative. people present are the priest and the sick visit and reach out to the sick with the healing While these services may bring the person. touch of Christ, the anointing of the sick is a sacrament of the Church for which a priest is participants a sense of comfort and support However it is celebrated, the sacrament of the ordinary minister. Therefore, a deacon or from the community, the anointing of the sick is always a communal layperson may not confer the sacrament. it must be clearly understood experience. Baptism is our sacramental that these are not sacramental initiation into the Christian community. What kind of Oil is used and celebrations of the anointing Within that community, our bonds of faith are what is its Significance? of the sick. formed by scripture and tradition, strengthened by prayer, celebrated in liturgy and nourished Throughout history, oil has had a long Developed by the Worship Office, Archdiocese by the Eucharist. The presence of the tradition of ceremonial, sacred and practical of Cincinnati. ©2005 Federation of Diocesan community may be more evident at joyful uses. It was used to strengthen athletes, to Liturgical Commissions (FDLC), 415 Michigan celebrations such as baptism or anoint kings and priests, and to heal Avenue, N.E., Suite 70, Washington, DC 20017. www.fdlc.org; publications @fdlc.org; fax 202–529–2452; voice 202-635–6990 Suffering and illness have always healing ministry. In James 5:14-15 we read, “Is How often can Someone What is Viaticum? been among the greatest problems anyone among you sick? He should summon Receive the Sacrament? that trouble the human spirit. Jesus the presbyters of the church, and they should When the Eucharist is received at the time of passage from this life, it is called viaticum, understood and shared in that pray over him and anoint him with oil in the The sacrament may be repeated if the recipient suffers from a different illness or something “with us on the way.” It is a special suffering, but his passion transformed pain and name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will death into the glory of the resurrection. Our life save the sick person, and the Lord will raise injury, or if the same illness or condition sign of our participation in him helps us grasp the mystery of suffering him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be becomes more serious. Elderly people may be in the mystery of the more deeply and bear our pain with greater forgiven.” anointed if they have become weakened even passion, death and courage. though no serious illness is present. resurrection of our Lord. By the Middle Ages, perhaps due to the While the anointing of Although Christians have always anointed high mortality rate and the emphasis on the the sick is for those and prayed for the sick, our celebration and even terrors of hell, the sacrament of the sick lost its How Sick does Someone suffering from illness or our understanding of the sacrament has changed association with healing, lost its communal have to be to Receive the infirmity, the sacrament throughout history. Today, many Catholics are dimension, and became a means of purifying Sacrament? for the dying is the not sure what the sacrament is, when it should the soul. The prayers emphasized forgiveness Eucharist. be celebrated, and who should participate. As and personal salvation, firmly establishing the Anyone who is dangerously ill due to a result, some people who would benefit from sacrament among the “last rites” (“extreme sickness, injury or old age may be anointed. The the sacrament do not request it, avoid it, or unction”). sacrament is for serious mental or emotional participate in non-sacramental healing services, The Second Vatican Council reclaimed the illness as well. The rite states clearly that a believing them to be a sacramental rite of the original character of this sacrament. Today, it person should be anointed at the beginning of Can Someone be Anointed Church. emphasizes the concern of the Church and the illness, or before surgery whenever a serious After Death? The purpose of this pamphlet is to introduce healing power of Christ. condition is the reason for the surgery. The All sacraments of the Church, including the the history, celebration and theology of the anointing may be repeated if the same illness or anointing of the sick, are encounters between a sacrament of the anointing of the sick and give condition becomes more serious. living person and God, celebrated within the practical examples of when, where, by whom While we need not be excessively concerned context of the Christian community. There are and for whom it may be celebrated. about the degree of seriousness of the specific prayers designed for the commendation condition, the casual use of the sacrament for of the dead to the mercy of God and for the How did the Sacrament ordinary spiritual, emotional and physical consolation of the bereaved. Develop? challenges can seriously lessen its spiritual What is Its History? impact on both the individual and the community. Can Anyone Besides a Catholic be Anointed? This sacrament originated in the healing ministry of Jesus. In first century Palestine, Can Someone be Anointed Under ordinary circumstances the Anointing sickness was often associated with sin. People if He or She is in a Coma? of the Sick is administered to Catholics who who were ill suffered not only from the illness What is the Sacrament of have lived according to the Gospel (are in a but also from the pain and guilt of isolation. As the Anointing of the Sick? The anointing of the sick may be conferred state of grace), or those who at this time of trial Jesus healed, he touched people with God’s upon people who have lost consciousness or seek conversion back to a life of grace. healing love, freed them from the pain and The anointing of the sick is a sacrament of the use of reason, if it is presumed that they Christians who are members of separated guilt of isolation, and restored them to their the Church in which the priest prays, lays would have asked for the sacrament if they were rightful places within the community. Eastern Churches may be anointed whenever hands and anoints the sick person with blessed able. they ask for the sacrament on their own and are The early Christians, knowing that the oil. It may be preceded by the sacrament of properly disposed to receive the sacrament. spirit of Christ was among them, continued his reconciliation and followed by Eucharist.