Anointing of the Sick · The Sacraments

Serious illness can make us feel alone, frightened and useless. Into that place the Church sends a priest with a little oil and a prayer. The Anointing of the Sick is Christ's own care for the sick, continued in his Church: it strengthens, comforts and heals, and it unites the sick person's suffering with his (CCC 1499). Many people still think of it only as the "last rites", something to put off until the very end. It is meant for much more than that.

Rooted in Jesus' care for the sick

Jesus spent much of his ministry with the sick, touching and healing them, and he sent his disciples to do the same. They went out and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (Mark 6:13; CCC 1503–1506). The early Church kept up this practice, as the Letter of James shows:

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; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

— James 5:14–15

The Church sees in these words the sacrament that Christ instituted, hinted at by Mark and recommended to the faithful by James (CCC 1510–1511).

Not only the "last rites"

Over the centuries in the West the anointing came to be given more and more to those at the point of death, and so it was called Extreme Unction, the final anointing (CCC 1512). The Second Vatican Council restored its wider purpose, and Pope St Paul VI issued the renewed rite in 1972 (CCC 1513).

The Catechism is clear that it is not only for those about to die. The right time has come as soon as someone begins to be in danger of death from illness or old age (CCC 1514). It may be received:

by someone facing a serious illness or a grave diagnosis;
before a serious operation;
by elderly people whose frailty is growing, even without a particular illness;
more than once: again if a person recovers and later falls seriously ill, or if the same illness becomes worse (CCC 1515).

What happens

The anointing can be celebrated at home, in hospital or in church, for one person or for several sick people together, and fittingly within Mass. Where possible it is preceded by the sacrament of Reconciliation and followed by Communion (CCC 1517).

The rite is short and simple. After a reading from Scripture, the priest lays his hands on the sick person's head in silence. He prays over them in the faith of the Church, asking for the Holy Spirit. Then he anoints their forehead and hands with oil blessed, if possible, by the bishop (CCC 1513, 1518–1519). As he anoints he prays that the Lord, in his love and mercy, will help the sick person by the grace of the Holy Spirit, free them from sin, save them and raise them up (CCC 1513).

What to expect if you ask for it

Call the parish, or ask for the chaplain if you are in hospital. Say plainly that you, or the person you love, would like the Anointing of the Sick. If the person is alert, the priest will usually offer confession first. Family and friends are welcome to stay and pray. It helps to ask early, while the sick person can still take part and draw comfort from it.

What the sacrament gives

The Catechism names its effects (CCC 1520–1523):

Strength, peace and courage. A particular gift of the Holy Spirit to face the trials of illness or old age without being overcome by discouragement or fear (CCC 1520).
Healing. Healing of the soul, and of the body too if that is God's will (CCC 1520).
Forgiveness. If the sick person has not been able to go to confession, their sins are forgiven (CCC 1520).
Union with Christ's Passion. Suffering is joined to Christ's own and takes on a new meaning (CCC 1521).
A gift to the Church. The sick, by uniting themselves with Christ, contribute to the good of the whole People of God, who in turn pray for them (CCC 1522).
Preparation for the final journey. For those near death, it strengthens them for the passage to eternal life (CCC 1523).

Viaticum: food for the journey

For someone who is dying, the most important sacrament is Holy Communion received as Viaticum, from a Latin word meaning provision for a journey. Received at this moment, the Eucharist is the sacrament of passing over from death to life (CCC 1524). Jesus promised that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood has eternal life and will be raised on the last day (John 6:54). Reconciliation, the Anointing and Viaticum together are sometimes called the sacraments that prepare us for our heavenly homeland, completing our pilgrimage on earth (CCC 1525).

Who gives it

Only bishops and priests can administer the Anointing of the Sick (CCC 1516). A deacon or lay minister can bring Communion to the sick, but cannot anoint. Pastors are asked to teach the faithful about this sacrament, and the faithful should encourage the sick to call for a priest (CCC 1516).

If someone has already died, call the priest anyway. He will pray for the person who has died and with those who mourn. The sacraments are for the living, but the Church never stops praying for the dead.

Going deeper

Reconciliation and the Eucharist are the other sacraments for the end of life.
Read The life of the world to come on the hope that carries us through death.
In the Catechism: CCC 1499–1532.