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ANOINTING OF THE SICK

“...let the priests pray over them,

anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord."

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Anointing

WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT?

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for the following: those who are sick, those facing surgery, those with disease or illness, and the aged.  

Contact any of the priests of the parish: (203) 934-5249. 

In a case of emergency, please dial 8 to ensure any priest in the parish can respond.

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ABOUT THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person's condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention (cf. Rite of Anointing, Introduction, nos. 8-10).

Moreover, "old people may be anointed if they are in weak condition even though no dangerous illness is present. Sick children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be comforted by this sacrament. . . . [The faithful] should be encouraged to ask for the anointing, and, as soon as the time for the anointing comes, to receive it with faith and devotion, not misusing the sacrament by putting it off" (Rite of Anointing, nos. 11, 12, 13).

Only bishops and priests may be ministers of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. A penitential rite followed by the Liturgy of the Word opens the celebration. Scripture awakens the faith of the sick and family members and friends to pray to Christ for the strength of his Holy Spirit. The priest lays his hands on the head of the sick person. He then proceeds to anoint, with the blessed Oil of the Sick, the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite). He accompanies these acts with the words, "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" (CCC, no. 1513).

For those who are about to depart from this life, the Church offers the person Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as Viaticum (food for the journey) given at the end of life. These are "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" (cf. CCC, no. 1525). These rites are highly valued by Catholics as powerful aids to a good death. Since Holy Communion is the effective sign of Christ's Paschal Mystery, it becomes for the recipient the opportunity to unite one's own suffering and dying to that of Christ with the hope of life eternal with him. The special words proper to Viaticum are added: "May the Lord Jesus protect you and lead you to everlasting life. Amen."

--From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 

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Lord God, you have said to us through your apostle James:

'Are there people 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.  The prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up.  If they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them.'

- James 5: 14-15
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