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 WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT
OF THE ANOINTING OF THE
SICK?
„It is the sacrament which,
through the anointing with
blessed oil by the priest, and
through his prayer, gives health
and strength to the soul, and
sometimes to the body, when we
are in danger of death from
sickness, accident, or old age.
 CHURCH TEACHINGS

„1. Catechism of the Catholic

Church (CCC), No. 1520
„The first grace of this sacrament
( Sacrament of Anointing of the
Sick) is one of strengthening,
peace and courage to overcome
the difficulties that go with the
condition of serious illness or the
frailty of old age.
 2. VATICAN II, SACRED LITURGY,
( SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM), NOS. 73-75
„ ´Extreme Unction,µ which may also and more
fittingly be called ´Anointing of the Sickµ, is a
sacrament not only for those 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.
„ In addition to the separate rites for Anointing of
the Sick and for Viaticum, a continuous rite shall
be prepared in which a sick man is anointed after
he has made his confession and before he receives
Viaticum.
„The number of the
anointings is to be adapted to
the occasion, and the prayers
which belong to the rite of
Anointing are to be revised so
as to correspond to the
varying conditions of the sick
who receive the sacrament.
 CODE OF CANON LAW, NO. 998
„ Through this sacrament, the
Father,through His Son, Jesus, consoles
us when we are sick, and reminds us of
His faithful love even to death. Through
this sacrament, the Church commends to
the suffering and glorified Lord, the
faithful, who are dangerously ill so that
He may support and save them. The
sacrament is conferred by anointing the
sick with oil and pronouncing the words
prescribed in the liturgical books.
 CATECHISM FOR FILIPINO CATHOLICS,
NOS. 1839; 1822
„ The revised ritual·s µ Pastoral Care of the
Dyingµ describes how the Church cares
for, comforts, and strengthens the dying
Catholic in the passage from this life.
„ The Eucharist as Viaticum completes and
crowns our Christian life on earth.
„ This Sacrament of Anointing is ´healingµ
in a special sense:It brings Christ·s
compassionate loving healing to bear on
those suffering serious sickness
(CCC,1499;CFC,1436)
„ The Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, set
the theology on which is based the practice of the
rite today. A summary of this theology followsµ
„ 1. The sacrament is not limited to those who are
at the point of death.
„ 2. The sacrament has the following purpose and
effects:
*strengthens and comforts the sick person during
the trials of illness
*brings both spiritual and physical healing
*wipes away sin
„3. The Anointing of the Sick
is truly a sacrament and is to
be administered only by a
priest.
 WHO MAY RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT
„ According to St. James, the Sacrament of
The Anointing of the Sick is reserved for
those in poor health, a term often
interpreted to mean in danger of death.
„ The sacrament is ordinarily received only
once in the same illness, but it may be
administered again if the sick person
recovers,then becomes seriouly ill again.
„ The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament
of the living.
 THE RITE OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK
„ The following is a brief summary of the
rite for anointing a sick person:
„ Greeting. The priest greets the sick
person and offers God·s peace. He may
sprinkle the room with holy water as he
reminds those present of the words of the
Apostle James concerning prayer for the
sick and prayer for faith, healing, and
forgiveness (Jas 5;14-16). The sick person
is entrusted to the Lord.
„ Penitential rite. The priest conducts a
penitential rite similar to the one used at
Mass. He, then, reads a brief scripture
passage and may or may not give an
explanation of its meaning. This is
followed by a number of petitions for the
sick.
„ Laying-on of hands. The laying-on of
hands is done in silence.
„ Anointing of the sick person. Anointing is
done on the forehead and the hands as the
following prayer is said:
„ Priest: Through this holy anointing, may
the Lord in His love and mercy help you
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
„ All: Amen

„ Priest; May the Lord who frees you from

sin save you and raise you up.
„ All: Amen.

„ The above prayer is the form of this

sacrament. The matter is oil that has been
properly blessed.
„ Conclusion: All who are present
recite the Our Father and, if the sick
person is able to do so, he or she
receives Holy Communion. The
Eucharist given to a dying person
during the sacrament of the
anointing of the sick is called
Viaticum.
„ The rite concludes with a special
blessing for health, strength, and
endurance.