IV.

CONCEPT NOTES

THE SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK

CCC 1500 – Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in
human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations and his finitude. Every illness
can make us glimpse death.
When Our Lord first sent out the Apostles, they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil
many sick people, and healed them” (Mt. 6:13)
CCCC 1511 – 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:
The anointing of the Sick is the sacrament which, through the anointing with blessed oil by the
priest, and through his prayer, gives health and strength to the soul and sometimes to the body when
we are in danger of death from sickness, accident or old age.
Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament that strengthens and comforts the body and the soul of
those in danger of death from serious sickness or old age. The anointing of the sick strengthens and
comforts the body of the sick by lessening their sufferings, and even by restoring their health if God
sees that it is for their salvation.
When people are sick, they question many things: they look for answers, they are vulnerable.
(Why now? Why me? Why this? What is the purpose of this?) Explanation regarding sickness make
suffering bearable (As did by early people and religions) psychologically, they help people to come to
terms with the fact of sickness or death and to release their feeling of anguish and bereavement.
Sickness could be treated with herbal medicines and wounds could be washed with wine or oil,
but the most reliable treatment was prayer and repentance since all healing was in the hands of God
(Ps. 32, 38, 88, 91)

Whom should receive the Sacrament

CCC 1528 – 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.
The Anointing of the Sick is given to all Catholics who have reached the age of reason and are
seriously ill, or in danger of death from accident or old age. We should call a priest to give the Anointing
of the Sick as soon as a person begins to be in danger of death from sickness, accident or old age.
The matter proper for the Anointing of the Sick is olive oil, or other plant oil, if olive oil cannot
be secured. This oil must be blessed for this purpose by the bishop on Holy Thursday or by a priest
who has the faculty to do this by special permission from the Holy See. In case of emergency, any
priest can bless the plant oil.
Catholic tradition sees an allusion to the Anointing of the Sick in the words of the Gospel
referring to the Apostles sent out on a mission by Christ: “…and they cast out many devils, and anointed
with oil many sick people, and healed them” (Mark 6: 13). But the clearest reference made to this
sacrament is the passage from St. James. It indicates the matter – anointing with oil, the form – the
prayer of faith accompanying the anointing, the minister – a priest, the recipient – sick person, and the
effects – comforting of the sick man and the remission of sins.

Who is the minister of the Sacrament?

CCC 1516 – Only priests (bishops and presbyters) are ministers of the Anointing of the Sick.
CCC 1530 – Only priests (presbyters and bishops) can give the sacrament of the Anointing of
the Sick, using oil blessed by the Bishop, or if necessary by the celebrating presbyter himself.
CCC 1517 - It is very fitting to celebrate the sacrament within the Holy Eucharist, the memorial
of the Lord’s Passover. If circumstances suggest it, the celebration of the sacrament can be preceded
by the sacrament of Penance and followed by the sacrament of the Eucharist. As the sacrament of
Christ’s Passover the Eucharist should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the
“viaticum” for “passing over” to eternal life.
CCC 1531 – 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.

Matter and Form

The outward sign is the anointing with blessed oil (Matter) at the same time the words are
pronounced: “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.”

The oil used is called “Oil of the Sick”. It is the first of the three oils blessed by the bishop in
the cathedral church on Holy Thursday morning. The oil of the Sick is pure olive oil. As water in
baptism symbolizes washing, in Anointing of the Sick the oil symbolizes healing.

Effects of Anointing of the Sick

1. CCC 1520A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. – The first grace of this sacrament is one of
strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of
serious illness or the frailty of old age. …This assistance from the Lord by the power of his
Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also the body if such is God’s
will. Furthermore, if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
2. CCC 1521Union with the Passion of Christ. – By the grace of this sacrament the sick person
receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ’s Passion: in a
certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior’s redemptive Passion.
Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in
the saving work of Jesus.
3. CCC 1522An Ecclesial Grace. – The sick who receive this sacrament, by freely uniting
themselves to the passion and death of Christ, contribute to the good of the people of God. By
celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of
the sick person, and he, for his part, through the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the
sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers
herself through Christ to God the Father.
4. CCC 1523A preparation for the final journey. –

The Special Grace

CCC 1532 – The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
- The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the
whole Church;
- The strengthening, peace and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of
illness or old age; comfort and strength in sickness
- The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament
of Penance;
- The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; health for the body if
this is good for the soul.
- The preparation for passing over to eternal life; preparation for entrance into heaven by
the remission of our (venial) sins and the cleansing of our souls from the remains of sin

The effects of Anointing of the Sick may be summed up as follows:

1. It gives an increase of sanctifying grace
2. It cancels venial sins, and even mortal sins (if confession is not possible, and if the dying man
is truly sorry for his sins; it purifies the soul from the remains of sin)
3. It imparts comfort and strength to accept death from God’s hands, to bear suffering patiently, to
fight against temptation and to die a holy death
4. It may restore the sick man to life if God sees this will be good for his soul

The anointing of the sick may be given to sick people who lost consciousness or to people who lost the
use of reason, presuming that as believers, they would have asked for the sacrament were they in their
proper senses. A sick person who has to undergo a surgery may be conferred this sacrament.
Likewise, sick children may also be anointed, if there is sufficient reason that the sacrament will give
them some help and comfort.
Normally, the Anointing of the Sick is preceded by the sacrament of Confession although confession is
not part of the celebration.

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS / MATERIALS

Want to find out more? For further readings, seethe Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC), The Seven Sacraments of the Church, No. 1526– 1532.

REFERENCES
Catechism of the Catholic Church. Manila: ECCE/Word and Life Publications, 1994.

INTERNET SOURCES
Watch commentary through YouTube channel: Bishop Robert Baron, The Sacrament of Anointing of
the Sick