The Church continues Jesus' ministry of healing through this sacrament. Jesus, through the person of the priest, touches the sick person giving forgiveness, strength, and peace. The person receives courage to deal with the discouragement and difficulties of serious illness or the limitations of advanced age. Prayers are included for physical healing if it is the will of God. The appropriate time to request this sacrament for oneself or another is at the time of serious illness, various times during chronic illness, or prior to surgery.
Sometimes the Anointing of the Sick is received at home or in the hospital with or without loved ones present. Other times it may be received in Church with a group who wish to receive the sacrament.
The oil used for the Anointing of the Sick is blessed by the Bishop in the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral each year during Holy Week. Representatives of the parish receive the oil from the Bishop and bring it back to the parish for use during the year. A bishop blesses the oils used in the sacraments as a sign of unity between a bishop and the people in the parishes.
A family received the oils from the bishop and brought them to our parish at the beginning of our Holy Thursday Mass.
It is not necessary to wait until a person is at the point of death to request the sacrament. However, there may be circumstances when this is the appropriate time.