The Sacrament for the Sick and Suffering

The Catechism of the Catholic Church's section on the Anointing of the Sick defines the purpose of the sacrament as "the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age" (Catechism, 1527). Jesus sent the twelve Apostles and "they drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them" (Mark 6:13). The account in James, adds, “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14).

The oil used in the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is called the Oil of the Sick. It is one of the three Holy Oils blessed by Most Rev. David Konderla, Bishop, at Holy Family Cathedral at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week. The Oil of the Sick is pure olive oil—nothing is added except the blessing of the Bishop. Its appropriateness as part of the outward sign of Anointing of the Sick is evident from the healing and strengthening effects which are characteristic of olive oil.

The priest anoints the sick person on the forehead and hands and says: "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."

In common with all the sacraments, Anointing of the Sick confers sanctifying grace. It is an increase in sanctifying grace that Anointing of the Sick gives, since it presupposes that the recipient already is free from mortal sin. In addition to sanctifying grace, Anointing of the Sick gives its own special sacramental grace. The primary purpose of the special grace of Anointing of the Sick is to comfort and to strengthen the soul of the sick person.

The secondary effects of Anointing of the Sick are an increase in spiritual tranquility and strength as the soul has been cleansed from all that might hold it back from God, from venial sins and from the temporal punishment due to sin.

The soul of the sick person is tempered and prepared against the possibility of any last-moment conflict with the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Since Penance (Confession) is the sacrament by which God intends our mortal sins to be forgiven, a sick person who has mortal sins to confess must receive the sacrament of Penance before he receives the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. However, it is a comfort to know Anointing of the Sick forgives mortal sin if the critically ill person is unable to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Penance). This could happen, for example, if Anointing of the Sick were administered to an unconscious person who had made an act of imperfect contrition for his mortal sins before losing consciousness.

The principal purpose of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is a spiritual one: to prepare the soul for death, if death is to follow. However, a secondary and conditional effect of Anointing of the Sick: the recovery of bodily health by the sick or injured person. In this instance, recovery will be the result of the powers of nature, stimulated by the graces of the sacrament.