Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament in which a priest anoints someone who is seriously ill, elderly, or facing surgery with blessed oil, asking for healing, comfort, and strength in body and soul.
Who Can Receive It
Any baptized Catholic who has reached the use of reason and is in danger due to illness, old age, or an upcoming serious surgery may be anointed — it isn't reserved only for the dying.
What the Rite Includes
The priest lays hands on the person and anoints their forehead and hands with the Oil of the Sick, often alongside prayer, confession, and, if possible, the Eucharist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as "Last Rites"?
"Last Rites" popularly refers to a fuller set of prayers for the dying — Confession, Anointing, and a final Communion called Viaticum — of which Anointing is one part, not something reserved only for the moment of death.
Can Anointing be received more than once?
Yes — unlike Baptism or Confirmation, it can be received again if the illness worsens or a new serious illness arises.