In our beautiful community here in Sun City, we are blessed with deep faith and long lives. Yet, with the gift of years also comes the reality of physical frailty and illness. For our reflection, I want to focus on a beautiful source of strength that Christ leaves us in His Church: The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It’s a fairly long read. Come with me!
Too often, this sacrament is misunderstood or avoided out of fear. Let us walk through what this sacrament truly is, dispel some common myths, and rediscover the healing grace God desires to pour into our lives.
What is the Sacrament of the Sick?
The Anointing of the Sick is one of the Church’s two sacraments of healing (the other being Reconciliation). It is a sacred ritual intended to bring spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical strength to a Catholic who is facing the trials of serious illness, injury, or advanced age. Through the anointing with holy oil and the prayers of the priest, the sick person is united more deeply to the passion of Christ for their own good and the good of the whole Church.
Who Should Be Anointed?
A common misconception is that this sacrament is reserved exclusively for those at the brink of death. This is so untrue! The sacrament is meant for any baptized Catholic who has reached the age of reason and begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.
You should request anointing if:
• You are facing a major surgery or medical procedure.
• You are struggling with a chronic, serious illness.
• You are experiencing a pronounced weakening of physical strength due to advanced age, even if no dangerous illness is present.
• Your existing health condition worsens significantly.
Dispelling the Myths
• Myth 1: "If the priest comes to anoint me, it means I am going to die." THIS IS NOT TRUE! The primary purpose of the sacrament is to give grace for life, endurance, and healing. It is a prayer for strength to live through illness, not a declaration of immediate death.
• Myth 2: "You can only receive it once." If a parishioner recovers and falls ill again, or if their current condition becomes more grave over time, they can—and should—receive the sacrament again.
• Myth 3: "It is a private, secret ritual." While it can be given privately, it is a communal celebration of the Church. It is beautiful when family members and friends are present to pray along with the priest.
The Graces and Effects of the Sacrament
When you receive this sacrament, God bestows specific spiritual gifts:
• Peace and Courage: You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to overcome the anxieties, fears, and temptations associated with serious illness.
• Union with Christ’s Passion: Your sufferings are sanctified, taking on a redemptive quality when united to the Cross of Jesus.
• Forgiveness of Sins: If the sick person is unable to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) because of unconsciousness or extreme weakness, this anointing forgives their sins.
• Restoration of Health: If it is conducive to the salvation of the soul, physical healing can and does happen.
Anointing vs. "Last Rites"
People often confuse Anointing of the Sick with "Last Rites," using the terms interchangeably. However, they are not the same.
• Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of oil and prayer described above, which can be received at any stage of serious illness.
• Last Rites is a collection of prayers and sacraments given to a dying Catholic who is actively preparing to pass into eternity. Last Rites properly includes the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick, and Viaticum (Holy Communion given as "food for the journey" to the next life).
The Apostolic Pardon: A Final Gift of Mercy
Part of the Last Rites is a powerful, beautiful prayer called the Apostolic Pardon. This is an indulgence given by the authority of the Pope to a dying person. It grants the full remission of all temporal punishment due to sin.
Who should receive it? It is reserved for those who are in imminent danger of death. When a priest pronounces the Apostolic Pardon over a dying soul, it cleanses them entirely, opening the gates of heaven wide. It is one of the most comforting prayers the Church possesses. (Priests ordinarily offer this to a dying patient. Should he not, families may request it for their loved ones).
We Are Here For You 24/7
Please do not wait until the final moments of life to call for a priest. We want your loved ones to receive these graces while they can consciously participate and experience the peace of Christ’s presence.
Please always notify the parish office when a loved one is sick, entering the hospital, or confined to home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to attend to our sick parishioners. To put it bluntly: we want you to keep us busier than we already are! Caring for your spiritual health is our greatest privilege.
A Joke
Living here in Sun City, we all enjoy a good laugh about getting older.
An elderly Sun City resident called the parish office and said, "Fr. Williams, I think it’s time. I need you to come over and give me the Anointing of the Sick. My joints are aching, my eyesight is blurry, and my memory is totally shot!"
I rushed right over, anointed him, and prayed for his health. As I was packing up my oils and holy water, he looked up at me with a big, bright smile and said, "Wow, Father, I feel twenty years younger already. My mind is clear, and I remember everything!"
I smiled back and said, "That’s wonderful news. A true miracle!"
He paused, looked around the room, looking confused, and asked, "Wait a minute... who are you, and what are you doing in my house?"
Blessings and good health!
God is good, all the time!
Fr. Williams Abba
“The only thing that counts is faith working through love” – Galatians 5:6
