When is anointing of the sick performed

It can be received by any baptised person who has reached the age of reason and is on account of sickness or age in danger of death. Its effect is the strengthening of the soul, often of the body as well, and in the necessary conditions remission of sins. This rite is one way in which the Church continues the healing ministry of Jesus. The healing offered by this anointing is forgiveness of sins, hope and inner peace, sometimes physical healing, and an assurance of God's steadfast care, even in death.

In the past, this sacrament was often kept strictly for those close to death. In more recent years the Church has encouraged greater use of this sacrament for illness which is not necessarily life-threatening. The sacrament of Christ once dead and now risen, the Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from death to life, from this world to the Father Cf. Jn Thus, just as the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity called 'the sacraments of Chrisitan initiation,' so too it can be said that Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute at the end of Christian life 'the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland' or the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage.

Last Rites may also be accompanied by an apostolic blessing that gives a plenary indulgence to the dying person. Mark J. Gantley explains the Apostolic Blessing:. The Apostolic Pardon or blessing is an indulgence given in situations of danger of death, usually after the absolution of the sacrament of penance.

The focus is on the remission of temporal punishment due to sin. The words of the prayer explain the meaning of the act: "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. But if a priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary indulgence.

In such a situation the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition 'provided they regularly prayed in some way. Blaise Saint Blaise St. Blaise St. What is the Difference? The General Introduction of Pastoral Care of the Sick states: The Letter of James states that the sick are to be anointed in order to raise them up and save them. When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness.

But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. Anointing Of The Sick.