The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Number 1511, states: “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.” This sacrament is instituted by Christ as the others also are. It has its roots in the Sacred Scripture, especially Mark and James in the New Testament.

Traditionally, this sacrament has been called ‘Extreme Unction’ and became more and more reserved for those near death as time moved on. Thus, the misnomer “Last Rites” began to be used even though the Church never taught or used it. Even then, the old rites did invoke the healing power of the Lord and conveyed the hope for recovery to the recipient.

The Second Vatican Council succeeded in bringing about a genuine reform of this sacrament, renaming it “Anointing of the Sick.” The purpose of this reform was to recapture the original meaning of the scriptures and purpose of the sacrament, extending it to those adults who were seriously ill, bearing ongoing infirmities, facing surgery, or advanced in age or near death.

The Church highly encourages people to promptly seek this sacrament from their priest in any of the circumstances mentioned above. The Church highly discourages persons from avoiding this sacrament out of unfounded fear or faulty understanding.

The prayer of anointing itself reflects the healing hope of the Church in the Lord’s power to restore, heal and ultimately save the sick person. The prayers and intercessions included in the Rite of the Anointing of the Sick are positive and directed towards life and health, recovery and restoration, and salvation.

The priest will say the following words as the forehead and palms of the hands are anointed with the Oil of the Sick in the sign of the cross: 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.