CAN I RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF THE SICK?

The Sacrament of the Sick is one of the three “last rites” used when a Catholic is dying. The other two are Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation. Normally, a dying person receives ALL THREE Sacraments before they die. They are thus the last rites a Catholic receives. This implies, by the way, the dying person is an active participant in these Sacraments. It would be a grave error to intentionally wait until they were so close to death before requesting these Sacraments, that they were unable to receive them willfully. So, first and foremost, the Sacrament of the Sick is for a dying Catholic. And the Sacrament should be requested AS SOON AS POSSIBLE when it is learned an illness is unto death. However, it should be obvious that the Sacrament of the Sick, like those of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation, are NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO ARE DYING. No, they may and should be used whenever needed - the Eucharist as often as possible, and minimally on every Sunday and Holy Day. Reconciliation regularly, and minimally whenever a serious sin has been committed. And the Sacrament of Anointing (or of the Sick) in the case of advanced age and serious illness. So, who may be anointed? Those who are in danger of death due to illness or advanced age. In the case of serious illness, you should be anointed once. If you recover and then fall gravely ill again, you may be anointed again. If, in the course of a serious illness, your condition takes a turn for the worse, you may be anointed again. It is appropriate to be anointed before a serious operation. As to an elderly person who has been anointed, the anointing may be repeated if their frailty becomes more pronounced. Only Roman Catholics who are in union with the teachings of the Church may receive the Holy Anointing (same as Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist). Of course, in danger of death, any Roman Catholic may be anointed, even those who have not previously been in communion with the teachings of the Church. The effects of this Sacrament are beautifully expressed in articles 1520-1523 of the Catechism. They are well worth a read. On Wednesday, this Sacrament will be celebrated primarily for those of an advanced age. Please pray for all the sick and frail members of our Parish family. Their suffering is a powerful prayer when united to the suffering Christ. As the Catechism teaches us: “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 Saviour’s redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.” 1521 Amen to that, and thank you to everyone who has thus offered their suffering for the good of the Church and all of her people. As a reference and for more information, you may refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, articles 1499-1523.