Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

In “olden days” people waited until the person was near death before they called the priest. Today it is preferred that the priest be called at the beginning of a serious illness and not at the end.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person's condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention (cf. Rite of Anointing, Introduction, nos. 8-10).

Moreover, "old people may be anointed if they are in weak condition even though no dangerous illness is present. Sick children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be comforted by this sacrament. . . . [The faithful] should be encouraged to ask for the anointing, and, as soon as the time for the anointing comes, to receive it with faith and devotion, not misusing the sacrament by putting it off" (Rite of Anointing, nos. 11, 12, 13).

Only bishops and priests may be ministers of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. A penitential rite followed by the Liturgy of the Word opens the celebration. Scripture awakens the faith of the sick and family members and friends to pray to Christ for the strength of his Holy Spirit. The priest lays his hands on the head of the sick person. He then proceeds to anoint, with the blessed Oil of the Sick, the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite). He accompanies these acts with the words, "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up" (CCC, no. 1513).

For those who are about to depart from this life, the Church offers the person Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as Viaticum (food for the journey) given at the end of life. These are "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" (cf. CCC, no. 1525). These rites are highly valued by Catholics as powerful aids to a good death. Since Holy Communion is the effective sign of Christ's Paschal Mystery, it becomes for the recipient the opportunity to unite one's own suffering and dying to that of Christ with the hope of life eternal with him. The special words proper to Viaticum are added: "May the Lord Jesus protect you and lead you to everlasting life. Amen."
©2016 United

For those who are about to depart from this life, the Church offers the person Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as Viaticum (food for the journey) given at the end of life. These are "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" (cf. CCC, no. 1525). These rites are highly valued by Catholics as powerful aids to a good death. Since Holy Communion is the effective sign of Christ's Paschal Mystery, it becomes for the recipient the opportunity to unite one's own suffering and dying to that of Christ with the hope of life eternal with him. The special words proper to Viaticum are added: "May the Lord Jesus protect you and lead you to everlasting life. Amen."

©2016 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing. The idea behind this sacrament is that we are all members of the body of Christ. When one of us suffers, all of us suffer, and all of God's creation suffers with us.

Contact the parish office and speak with a parish staff memeber to request a priest to visit.  After hours the automated phone system will direct you in how to contact Father Anthony, Father John or to the on-call priest.

Please notify the parish office if you are ill, shut-in or entering the hospital.

What is the Communal Celebration of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is both "a liturgical and a communal celebration." In the family home, hospital, or church, members of the Body of Christ gather for the sacramental rite led by a priest. The Penitential Rite followed by the Liturgy of the Word and sacramental anointing of the sick can inspire and comfort both those who are ill and their family and friends who are gathered (CCC, nos. 1517-18). Many parishes have communal celebrations at which many persons receive the sacrament. These sacramental celebrations are a "source of strength amid pain and weakness, hope amid despair" and a "joyful encounter" for the entire community (Christifideles Laici, no. 54).

Communal Anointing of the Sick is celebrated on the Second Wednesday of the months of January, March, May, September and November at the 4:15 p.m. Mass at St. Meinrad Parish.

After a brief homily, individuals wishing to receive this sacrament move to the end of the pew on the center aisle. The infirm and individuals needing assistance seated in the front pews will receive this sacrament first.

Communal Anointing of the Sick is also celebrated 20 minutes before the Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Boniface and 20 minutes before the Sunday Mass at St. Meinrad, on the second to last weekend in May and the second to last weekend in August.

The sacrament of anointing may be repeated:

• When the sick person recovers after being anointed and, at a later time becomes sick again.

• When, during the same illness, the condition of the sick person becomes more serious.

• In the case of a person who is chronically ill, or elderly and in a weakened condition, the sacrament of anointing may be repeated when in the pastoral judgment of the priest the condition of the sick person warrants the repetition of the sacrament (Pastoral Care of the Sick,  no. 102)