The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is often both neglected and misunderstood. Some people resist or delay receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, since they assume that it is only for people on the brink of death. Others expect that Anointing of the Sick is all about miraculous cures, and that if a recipient remains ill, the Sacrament "didn't work.” In truth, Jesus Christ longs to offer His holy help to the sick and suffering, and the grace He offers goes beyond physical cures.
Who is the Sacrament for?
Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone whose health is seriously impacted by an illness. The Church says that “a prudent and reasonably sure judgement, without scruple,” is sufficient to determine the seriousness of an illness, according to Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum. In other words, one does not need to be on the brink of death to receive Anointing. Rather, one just needs to judge that their condition is serious. There is room here to consider not just physical illness but even mental illness as a qualification for the Sacrament. Further, the elderly can receive Anointing if they have become “notably weakened,” even if they are not seriously ill. The Catechism also notes that it is fitting to receive the Sacrament before a serious medical operation.
The Sacrament of Anointing can be repeated if the illness worsens, if the illness returns, or if there is a new condition.
What sort of “healing” does Anointing offer?
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus loves and cares for the sick and suffering—but His concern extends beyond their physical health. Jesus knows that the epitome of being a flourishing human is to be in loving relationship with God and neighbor. When He heals the paralytic in Luke 5, He forgives the man’s sins before He tells him to pick up his mat and walk. When Jesus heals the leper in Matthew 8, Mark 1, and Luke 5, He tells the healed man to return to his priest and community of worship. Previously, the leper would have been forbidden to partake since he was “unclean.” These and many other Biblical accounts show Jesus’ holistic concern for His people, and underline how the healing He most wishes to give is that which allows people to be in right relationship with God and their fellow men.
Jesus offers this same healing to the sick through the Sacrament of Anointing. Whether the Sacrament is administered in a hospital, during Mass, or in someone’s home, all gathered are united in prayer for the sake of the sick. This unity offers the strength and consolation of relationship to the sick who can so often feel isolated by their suffering. The Sacrament, most importantly, becomes a visible sign of Christ’s personal and compassionate help for the sick. All assembled witness the mercy of God as they see the priest, acting in the person of Christ, lay his hands upon the recipients, anoint them, and pray for them individually.
So, what does the Sacrament do?
Anointing bestows the Holy Spirit Himself, and He strengthens the recipient to face suffering without fear and anxiety. To receive this Sacrament is to receive the Holy Spirit, Our God, and all He wishes to give us to sustain us in our time of need. It brings those who suffer in union with Christ in a profound way. Further, if the recipient is not able to receive Confession, Anointing also facilitates the forgiveness of sins. If God, in His wisdom, determines that physical healing will benefit the recipient’s salvation, then that aspect of healing can occur as well.
In short, this Sacrament offers the gift of Hope. Anointing unites the sufferings of the sick to the suffering of Christ. Christ’s crucifixion and death is our hope, our means of salvation. When the sick participate in Christ’s passion, by God’s generous grace, they draw closer to God and are strengthened and sustained through hardship.
Opportunities to Receive the Anointing
For the Jubilee Year of Hope, Bishop Schlert will be celebrating Masses throughout the Diocese and offering the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to anyone in need. Please see the schedule of these Masses below.
St. Jane de Chantal, Easton: March 16, 2025 at 12 p.m. Mass
St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven: May 4, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Mass
St. Thomas More, Allentown: August 24, 2025 at 12 p.m. Mass
St. Catharine of Siena, Reading: September 7, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. Mass
St. Joseph, Summit Hill: November 23, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Mass
By Genevieve O’Connor, Communications Specialist and Campus Minister of Muhlenberg College, Allentown. She holds an MTS in Moral Theology from the University of Notre Dame and an MFA in Creative Writing from DeSales University, Center Valley.
Image: Christ Healing the Blind Man, Sebastiano Ricci (1659 - 1734), National Galleries of Scotland Collection.
For Catholics, hope is a gift from God, a longing for Eternal Life and the Kingdom of Heaven. Throughout this Jubilee Year of Hope, we will examine how hope is embodied in the Sacraments and through the important ministries of the Diocese. Watch for articles throughout the year.
Copy Permalink
