Anointing of the Sick
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters (priests) of the church and they should pray over him and anoint {him} with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).
It is clear in the words of Saint James that those who are sick should send for priests. How do we define those who are “sick?” The Catechism of the Catholic Church in numbers 1528, 1529 states, “The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age. Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.”
In the Catechism (number 1532), we read of the effects of the Anointing of the Sick,
- The Anointing of the Sick unites the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
- gives the person the strength, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
- imparts the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
- provides for the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
- helps the sick person in the preparation for passing over to eternal life.
If someone is in need of the Anointing of the Sick, please contact one of the priests at Resurrection Catholic Church.
Hospital Visitation: If any parishioner would like a visit from one of the priests, we ask that a family member please contact the Parish Office