Anointing of the Sick

What exactly is the Anointing of the Sick?
 

A large part of the ministry that Jesus did here on earth involved healing people. He went from town to town curing those who were ill or disabled, showing the incredible healing that God can provide. This ministry of healing was passed down to his apostles and has continued on in the Church ever since. Today, a beautiful form of this ministry of healing is found in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Often referred to in the past as Extreme Unction or Last Rites, this Sacrament is still thought of by many strictly as a moment of final anointing before the passing of a loved one, but the healing and comfort that can be provided by the Anointing of the Sick is actually meant for a much broader scope of people. This anointing can be given to those struggling with a variety of mental, physical, or emotional illnesses or to someone who is about to have major surgery. It is a soothing and restoring Sacrament in which we reach out to God in the hope that he will grace us with the healing, comfort, or peace of mind needed to endure the challenges of our lives and this world.
 

But what actually happens?

In the Anointing of the Sick, a series of prayers and petitions are presented to God, crying out for his comfort and love in a time of need. It is also suggested that a people who are being anointed have the opportunity to confess their sins or at least have the chance to reflect upon their sinfulness and show their pentitence before God. The essential moment of the Sacrament, however, comes in the anointing itself. Offering a prayer that calls upon God's love, mercy, and saving power, the priest anoints the person on the forehead and the hands. This anointing, which recalls an ancient confidence in the healing and sacred qualities of oil, is a moment of yielding oneself to God, truly turning to Him for care in a time of such of great need.
 

If you're in need of the Anointing of the Sick for yourself or a loved one, please call the Parish Office (203-248-0141) and let us know. If it's an emergency, we will do everything we can to have one of our priests come to you as soon as possible. If not, you can simply give us a call, and we'll set up a time that works both for you and one of our priests.

And finally, for some more insight into what the Anointing of the Sick is all about, please check out the video below: