What part of a sick persons body anointed?

anointing of the sick

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Also known as: extreme unction, unctio extrema
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extreme unction
Related Topics: Christianity sacrament chrism death rite . (Show more)

anointing of the sick, formerly extreme unction, in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, the ritual anointing of the seriously ill and the frail elderly. The sacrament is administered to give strength and comfort to the ill and to mystically unite their suffering with that of Christ during his Passion and death. It can be given to those who are afflicted with serious illness or injury, those who are awaiting surgery, the weakened elderly, or to ill children who are old enough to understand its significance.

A person can receive the sacrament as many times as needed throughout his or her life, and a person with a chronic illness might be anointed again if the disease worsens. Imminent death from external causes—such as the execution of a death sentence—does not render one apt for the sacrament. The rite can be performed in a home or a hospital by a priest, who prays over the person and anoints his or her head and hands with chrism (holy oil). The priest may also administer the sacrament of the Eucharist and can hear a confession if so desired. If a person is at the point of death, the priest also administers a special apostolic blessing in what is known as the last rites.

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Roman Catholicism: Anointing of the sick

It has long been recognized that serious illness saps the spiritual resources and physical strength of the sufferers so that they are not able to meet the crisis of mortal danger with all their powers. Anointing of the sick was widely practiced from apostolic times as a sacramental rite in association with the ceremony of the imposition of hands to convey a blessing or recovery from illness or with the last Communion to fortify the believer safely on his or her new career in the fuller life of the eternal world. Not until the 8th and 9th centuries, however, did extreme unction, another term for the final anointing of the sick, become one of the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. The sacrament was long regarded as a last rite, usually postponed until death was imminent; that is, when the dying Christian was in extremis. In modern times a more lenient interpretation permitted anointing of the less seriously ill. Still, the sacrament is often administered to unconscious or heavily sedated patients even though the church urges that the sacrament be given, if possible, while the person is conscious.

In Eastern Christendom it has never been confined to those in extremis (near death), nor has the blessing of the oil by a bishop been required; the administration of the sacrament by seven, five, or three priests was for the recovery of health rather than being administered exclusively as a mortuary rite. In the Greek Orthodox Church the sacrament is sometimes administered to well persons to prevent illness.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.

Anointing the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick gives strength and support and can be administered to anyone struggling with an illness.

Who may Receive?

In the Catholic Church, Extreme Unction or the Last Rites is the anointing at the time of death. Since the Second Vatican Council, this sacrament is now called the Anointing of the Sick and has been broadened to offer healing and comfort in times of illness that may not lead to immediate death. Speaking about a wider implementation of this sacrament, Pope Paul VI advocated for “a wider availability of the sacrament and to extend it—within reasonable limits—even beyond cases of mortal illness.»

Unlike the traditional understanding of the Last Rites, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is, ideally, to be administered in a communal celebration.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that when the sick are anointed they should be «assisted by their pastor and the whole ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way through their prayers and fraternal attention» (1516). «Like all the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration…It is very fitting to celebrate it within the Eucharist» (1517).

Spiritual Healing

The healing that occurs in this sacrament of anointing is not necessarily physical healing. While we believe that physical healing can occur through the great power of God, the grace that is infused through this special sacrament is the reminder of the eternal presence of God in our human suffering.

When the priest blessing the oil of anointing, he asks God to «send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil. Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction» (Pastoral Care of the Sick, #123).

«The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament» (CCC 1531).

A person who takes Holy Communion to the sick is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and so must receive the appropriate preparation. It would be ideal to have many parishioners who make visits to the sick and a number who take Communion to those who request it. Please consider participating in this important ministry and praying for God’s direction. There will be a training on November 23rd following the 8:15AM Mass and Sunday, November 28th at 1:00PM at Holy Rosary Church. In Spanish there will be training on Sunday, November 28th at 2:30PM at Christ the King Church. This training will be for those new to this ministry and for those who already visit the sick and who would like to continue to do so.

Contact the parish office to schedule an appointment

Anointing the Sick

A person who is ill may be anointed at any time. Formerly the sacrament was administered to those who were dying; however, the Church now anoints people who are ill and in need of God’s healing touch. If you know that you will be undergoing surgery or will be hospitalized, you may be anointed at the Church beforehand by contacting a priest through our parish office at 574-654-3781
If you or a family member is in need of the sacraments in an emergency, call the office during office hours at 574-654-3781. After hours, leave a message and a priest will respond as soon as possible.

About the sacrament

«Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [presbyters] 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 any sins, he will be forgiven.» -James 5:14-15
Church Teaching The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness. The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only 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 has already arrived to receive this sacrament (CCC 1514).
The Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital or church, for a single sick person or a whole group of sick persons. It is fitting to celebrate it within the Eucharist, the memorial of the Lord’s Passover (CCC 1517).
This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle (CCC 1511).

Preparation and Anointing

• the priests of the Church, in silence, lay hands on the sick
• they pray over them in the faith of the Church, this is the epiclesis (calling of the Holy Spirit) proper to this sacrament
• they then anoint them with oil blessed, if possible, by the bishop

Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1511-1519)

Spiritual Healing

The healing that occurs in this sacrament of anointing is not necessarily physical healing. While we believe that physical healing can occur through the great power of God, the grace that is infused through this special sacrament is the reminder of the eterna l presence of God in our human suffering.
When the priest blessing the oil of anointing, he asks God to «send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil. Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction» (Pastoral Care of the Sick, #123).
«The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament» (CCC 1531).