The Rite of Anointing

This coming Saturday, 29th October, at 2pm we will have in the Church a celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick, known as the Rite of Anointing.

Jesus had a special love and care for the sick and spent many hours with them healing them and giving them comfort. When we celebrate this Sacrament, we are encountering Christ the Healer.

As the priest says in the Introduction to this celebration of the sacrament:

“As the Gospels relate, the sick came to him for healing; moreover, he loves us so much that he died for our sake. Through the apostle James, he has commanded us: “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them.”

No longer should we wait till we are at death’s door to receive this Sacrament. This Sacrament is for those whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age. It is important that the Latin word “perilous” is translated as “seriously” rather than “gravely”, “dangerously“ or “perilously.” Sick people who are not yet in imminent danger of dying also need the grace of this sacrament. They need to come fully alive in the Spirit.

When we are anointed Christ comes in a special way to strengthen and comfort us in our time of sickness and anxiety. His presence always brings peace to mind and heart. The sick person’s fundamental vocation in life is to love. We now need the Lord’s special grace to love everyone, and especially anyone who needs forgiveness.

During this service the priest will silently lay hands on each person and then using a special oil, blessed by the Archbishop at the Mass of Chrism in the Cathedral, he anoints the person on the forehead and says:

“Through this holy anointing
may the Lord in his love and mercy
help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”
The priest then anoints the person on the palms of the hands saying,
“May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”

In this anointing Christ himself, through the prayer of the priest, is asking God the Father to give the sick person the special help of the Holy Spirit. As they open their hearts to receive the Spirit of God, great healing – spiritual, psychological or physical – will take place. St Paul says, “The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rm 5:5). As the sick person’s fundamental vocation in life is to love, the Holy Spirit comes to enable them to joyfully live their vocation. This is the source of the peace that comes with the anointing.” (Jim McManus)

Do come and be anointed if you are sick or elderly.