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Anointing of the Sick

- If you or someone you love needs the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick,
  please call 608.609.9931. A priest will return your call A.S.A.P.
Illness in Human Life
- Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. Illness can lead to anguish, and even revolt against God. It can also become a way to conversion, an experience which helps a person discern what is not essential in his life so that he can turn toward that which is.
  
  Christ's compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that "God has visited his people." Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick need. In the sacraments, Christ continues to "touch" us to heal us.
- The Sacrament of the Sick or Anointing of the Sick
  
  It is Christ who touches the sick person through the ministry of the priest in the Sacrament of the Sacrament of the Sick.
  
  The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the sacraments as “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which Divine life is dispensed to us” – having Divine life dispensed to us is reason enough for wanting to receive them whenever possible and appropriate.
  
  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;
  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;
  the preparation for passing over to eternal life. 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 their 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, 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 their soul, the preparation for passing over to eternal life."
  (CCC 1532)
- Who can receive it and how often?
  
  The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament only for those who are at the point of death. (Please see below for the difference between the Anointing of the Sick & the Last Rites, otherwise known as Extreme Unction).
  If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can receive this sacrament again in the case of another grave illness. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.
- Priests on staff at Hospitals
  
  While the hospitals in town either have a Catholic priest on staff or on call who can administer the Sacrament of the Sick, it is advisable for parishioners who have surgery scheduled can make an appointment with Fr. Mark or Fr. Cristobal beforehand to receive the sacrament. Hospital chaplains, if available, are very busy and may not be able to come before a scheduled procedure. Both Fr. Mark and Fr. Cristobal will administer the Sacrament of the Sick at the hospital if a hospital chaplain is not available. This sacrament can be celebrated anywhere, at church, at home, or in a hospital. If you need help scheduling an appointment with our priests, please reach out to the Pastoral Assistant, Maria Habib.
  
  If Blessed Sacrament parishioners are admitted to the hospital, Maria will visit them as she is able, bringing them Holy Communion, if desired. Please let the admitting staff at the hospital know of your affiliation with Blessed Sacrament at the time of admission. We will not know that we need to tend to you or pray for and with you if we are unaware of your illness!
Sacrament of the Sick vs. Last Rites
- Sacrament of the Sick:
  
  “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” [James 5:14-15]
  
  The celebration of the sacrament includes the following principal elements: 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 down of the Holy Spirit) proper to this sacrament; they then anoint them with oil blessed by the bishop for this purpose. 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.
- Last Rites or Extrema Unction:
  
  If the person is in the danger of death, the Sacrament of the Sick, followed by Holy Communion, and the Apostolic Blessing (also called the Apostolic Pardon) constitute the Last Rites.
  
  The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it. This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father's house.
  
  As the sacrament of Christ's Passover, the Eucharist should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the "viaticum" (Latin for provisions for a journey) for "passing over" to eternal life.
  
  The Apostolic Pardon is a blessing with an indulgence that happens at the conclusion of the anointing of the sick if the recipient is in danger of death. The usual process is confession then anointing of the sick, and it is concluded with the Apostolic Pardon. While confession forgives the eternal punishment for sin, the indulgence attached to the Apostolic Pardon forgives temporal punishment due to sin.
  
  The words of the blessing said by the priest for the Apostolic Pardon are:
  
  “Through the holy mysteries of our redemption may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.”
  
  - or -
  
  “By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”