“He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two… They anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”
MARK 6:7, 13
“By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.” (CCC 1499)
The Sacrament may be received for any serious health concern. This could be a chronic condition, surgery, or any other serious health condition.
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.
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.
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español
Contact Fr. Pat Stewart to schedule an annointing. pstewart@cdlex.org or 859-273-1999. If this is a Sacramental Emergency, call 606-224-8566.