Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing the Sick has as its end the conferral of a special grace on people experiencing a grave illness or old age. The Church exhorts the Christian who is ill to unite with the Passion and Death of Christ. – Catechism of the Catholic Church 1511, 1499, 1513

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of His healing tells us of His plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising. 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.

There is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing the Sick. Any Catholic who is facing a serious illness, is of advanced years or individuals who are planning to enter the hospital (before their admission) are particularly encouraged to receive the sacrament by calling the parish office at (410) 531-6040 to arrange for an appointment with a priest.

Pastoral staff members and volunteers will visit those who are in the hospital, nursing home, or confined to their own home. Please call the parish office at (410) 531-6040 whenever someone enters the hospital or desires a pastoral visit.