THE SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK
1. MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THE Mark 6:12-13    "So they (the Twelve Apostles) went
SACRAMENT
OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
The Anointing of the Sick is the Sacrament given to
seriously ill Christians, and the special graces received
unite the sick person to the passion of Christ. The
Sacrament consists of the anointing of the forehead
and hands of the person with blessed oil, with the
minister saying, "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 up."
St. Thomas Aquinas stated that Extreme Unction, as
the Anointing of the Sick was once called, "a spiritual
remedy”, since it avails for the remission of
sins, and therefore is a sacrament" (James 5:15). The
ecclesial effect of this sacrament is incorporation into
the healing Body of Christ, with a spiritual healing
of the soul, and at times healing of the body. The
sacramental grace helps us to accept sickness as a
purifying cross sent by God, and the grace even to
accept death if that is God's will.
The Church has continued this ministry of healing of
Jesus through the sacrament of the Anointing of the
sick.  It is given and conferred by the priest’s laying
on of hands and the anointing with oil, accompanied
by the prayer of faith petitioning God for health of
soul and body, for trust in His love, and for strength to
resist temptations and anxiety.
The older attitudes toward this sacrament as a sure
sign of imminent death, and one that concerned the
individual alone, related exclusively to the next life,
are gradually being replaced by the far more positive
approach that anyone seriously sick needs spiritual as
well as bodily help.  That is to strengthen him in his
weaknesses and overcome the temptations that
commonly plague the ill.
Many parishes in the Philippines today, due to at least
in part to the charismatic and other prayer groups,
experience a real emergence of the healing ministry –
often reflecting a greater spirit of service and more
intense prayer life on the part of the faithful.  The
sacrament of the anointing of the Sick holds a
central place in this healing ministry.
The anointing of the sick, by which the Church
commends to the suffering and glorified Lord the
faithful who are dangerously ill so that he may support
and save them, is conferred by anointing them with oil
and pronouncing the words prescribed in the liturgical
books.
2. SACRED SCRIPTURES AND CHURCH
TEACHINGS
Jesus healed the blind and the sick, as well as
commissioned his Apostles to do so, such as the
following sources.
off and preached repentance. They drove out many
demons, and they anointed with oil many who were
sick and cured them."
James 5:14-15 “Is any among you sick? Let him call
for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man,
and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has
committed sins, he will be forgiven."
“Through His Holy anointing, may the Lord in His
love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy
Spirit.”  (Rite of anointing of the sick)
Jesus showed special concern for the sick throughout
his public life, large crowds were attracted by his
healing.  Though he often cured bodily ills, he was
primarily concerned with the spiritual sickness of his
people.
John 5:1-9 The place where the story took place is
described as being crowded with many sick people (v.
3).  The phrase “waiting for the movement of the
water” indicates that there was an occasional bubbling
up of a spring in that pool (NAB).  People attribute
curative value to this movement of the water.
The suffering of the paralytic is twofold (v. 7)
1. He was not only inflicted with paralysis that
made him unable to walk and to move about.  He
was also kept from pursuing the cure which he
was sure could make him walk.
2. He did not have the help he needed to take him
to the source of the cure. “I do not have anyone to
plunge me into the pool once the water has been
stirred up.”  The sick person has to depend on
people to do things for him/her.
Jesus comes as one who heals and restores a person to
normal life.  “Do you want to be healed? Stand up!
Pick up your mat and walk (vv. 6,8)
Two important points: 
 sickness and pain have always been a heavy burden
for man.
 Jesus responds to this human situation with
compassion by being a source of hope and healing to the
sick.
Based on Church Teachings, the following points
are emphasized:
1. This ministry is directed to the sick members
of the Christian community and not only to those
who are at the point of death (cf. SC 73, CCC 1514,
CFC 1446).  This is why the old name of this
sacrament (Extreme Unction) has been changed to
“Anointing of the Sick”.  The new rite distinguishes
between “Pastoral Care of the Sick, climaxed in
the “anointing of the Sick,” and “of the Dying”
which focuses on “Viaticum” or the Eucharist “with
 you’re on the way” or to the next life. (Cf, CFC
1446) The sacrament primarily puts the sick person
at peace by an assurance of God’s love and mercy
and the prayer and concern of the entire Christian
community.
2. This sacrament is administered by the priest
whose authority assures the community’s solidarity
and unity.  But the sacrament also enjoins all
members of the community, “the whole church”, to
commend those who are ill to the suffering and
glorified Lord” (LG, 11, CCC 1516, CFC 1446).
The sacrament expresses that the proper Christian
attitude to sickness includes the following:
1. A recognition of the need to struggle
against all sickness and carefully seek the blessings
of good health so that we can fulfill our role in
human society and in the Church” (Intro. Rite of
Anointing)
2. A realization that sickness is not a
sign (in the sense of punishment) of a particular
personal sin as it is commonly thought of in both the
Old Testament and in the Gospel.  It rather points to
the presence of evil in our human situation.
3. All those who are seriously ill or who
are near-death need the special help of God’s grace
and the support in prayer and the presence of the
other members of the community.
4. Our sufferings and pain could have a
deeper and saving value when united with the
sufferings and pain Jesus had borne for our
salvation.  The Pastoral Care for the Sick
encouraged the sick to “unite” their pains and
sufferings with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross so that
the powers of evil and sickness can be
overcome.                                   liturgical books. In a case of necessity, however, a
VAT. II CHURCH TODAY ARTICLE 10:
In the face of the modern development of the world, an
ever-increasing number of people are raising the most
basic questions or raising them with a new sharpness: 
What is man?  What is this sense of sorrow, of evil, of
death, which continues to exist despite so much
progress?  What is the purpose of these victorious
purchased at so high a cost?  What can man offer to
society; what can he expect from it?  What follows this
earthly life?  5.
The Church believes that Christ, who died and was
raised up for all, can through His Spirit offer man the
light and the strength to measure up his supreme
destiny.
CHURCH TODAY ART. 18
Man rebels against death because he bears in himself
an eternal seed, desire for a higher life, which is
lodged in his heart.  God has called man and still calls
him so that with his entire being he might be joined to
him in an endless sharing of a divine life beyond all
corruption.  Christ won this victory when He rose to
life, since by His death He freed man from death. 
In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church
offers those who are about to leave this life the
Eucharist as viaticum.  Communion in the body and
blood of Christ, received at this moment of "“passing
over” to the Father, has a particular significance and
importance. It is the seed of eternal life and the power
of resurrection, according to the words of the Lord.
“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 
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. (CCC
#1524).
 
3. RITE OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
FORM: While anointing the forehead of the sick, the
minister says: “Through this holy anointing/may the
Lord in his love and mercy help you/ with the grace of
the Holy Spirit.” Amen.
MATTER: OIL, the oil to be used in the anointing of
the sick can be blessed not only by a bishop but also
by:
1. Those who are in law equivalent to the
diocesan Bishop
2. In a case of necessity, any priest but only in
the actual celebration of the sacrament
MANNER OF ANOINTING
The anointing is to be carried out accurately, with the
words and in the order and manner prescribed in the
single anointing on the forehead, or even on another
part of the body, is sufficient while the full formula is
recited. The minister is to anoint with his own hand,
unless a grave reason indicates the use of an
instrument.
RITE OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
1. Introductory
2. Brief liturgy of the word
3. Laying of hands
4. The anointing
Concluding prayers
MINISTER OF THE SACRAMENT
Every priest, but only a priest, can validly administer
the anointing of the sick.
The proper and ordinary minister of the anointing
of the sick is:
1. The Bishop – who is the steward of grace of
the supreme priesthood (Lumen Gentium) and
moderator of the penitential discipline; for his
proper diocese
2. The Pastor – in his proper parish
 3. The Parochial Vicar – in his proper parish
4. The Chaplain – in the respective institution of
their work
5. Superiors of Religious, Clerical
Communities – for the proper religious and for the
habitual guests in their own houses, for their proper
religious and novices outside of the respective
houses.
IMPORTANCE OF THE MINISTRY
1. The sacrament responds to the basic needs of
the sick – and should be made readily available to
them, not failing into the serious mistake of waiting
till a patient is critical and near death before calling
for the priest.
2. The sacrament has an essential communal
dimension manifested externally when the whole
family (and sometimes the whole community) is
taught to participate in its celebrations.
3. The sacrament, though, primarily concerned
with spiritual healing is also given for the sick’s
bodily healing. If this be God’s will – another reason
for not delaying it until the last moment.
4. The new Rite of Anointing and Pastoral care
of the sick offers sound guidelines to check any
danger of abuses creeping into the recently popular
ministry of healing.
Care for the sick represent a truly Christian service
and value – there is nothing quite so admirably
contrary to secular value pragmatism as care for the
terminally ill.
All members of the Christian community are called to
show a sense of responsibility for the care of the sick
as expressed in:
1. Visits
2. Prayers
3. Various Services
Greater possibilities for developing a concrete parish
program for the sick are opened up today by the help
of special lay ministers of the Eucharist.
4. EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF
THE
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
1. Destruction of the remnants of sin in the
soul.
2. Remove the weakness of mind that prevents
man from living fully the life of grace and glory.
3. Remove the debt of punishment due to his sins
4. Prepares a man for immediate admission to
heaven
5. Heals the soul of the sick man and sometimes
restores his bodily health
The dying man if he is in the state of Grace, the
extreme unction will also remit the guilt of his sins, if
he has the proper dispositions.  The sacrament infuses
sanctifying grace into the soul of the sick man.  But
sanctifying grace expels mortal sin.  Hence the
sacrament expels sin from the soul.  Normally,
however, this sacrament should be received by a man
when he is in the state of grace and there is no need to
remove mortal sin from the soul.
Extreme Unction is not given to:
1. Infants - even when they are in danger. In
their case, baptism removes both the original and the
penalty of sin.
2. Idiots
3. Imbeciles
4. Madmen
5. Those who have never had the use of reason
Extreme Unction will achieve its effect in proportion
to the good disposition of those who receive it.
34 miracles, 24 were about healing
Viaticum
Was called “Extreme Unction” before!
Penance Anointing Eucharist – prepare us for heavenly
life!
And then, when the end truly is near, a day or so
before they’re expected to die but while they’re still
conscious, celebrate what is popularly known as Last
Rites.
Officially, the term “Last Rites” does not appear in the
Catechism or the Code of Canon Law, and no such
liturgical prayer exists by that name. What it refers to
are the sacraments of penance, anointing, and
Eucharist as viaticum, sacraments that “complete the
earthly pilgrimage” and "prepare for our heavenly
homeland.” Chief among these rites is that of
Eucharist by viaticum. From the Latin word for way
or road, Viaticum is the final reception of the
Eucharist of a dying person, nourishment given for
their “passing over” to eternal life.
Last Rites - penance, anointing, and Eucharist as
viaticum
Combined rites – penance, anointing, eucharist