Anointing of the Sick/the Last Rites
How to Request Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites
Because time is often of the essence when it comes to requesting the Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites, please call the parish office at 920-336-1813 and talk with the parish’s administrative assistant. She will make sure that Father Jason gets the information.
Outside of office hours, call the same parish phone number and press extension 4 to get our emergency contact.
In the case of serious sickness, please call earlier rather than later in the sickness in order not to be too late.
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”
- James 5:14-15
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is for those who are seriously ill or in danger of death or who have suffering due to the difficulties of old age. The sacrament can be received each time the person falls seriously ill or an illness worsens.
Only priests and bishops can administer the Anointing of the Sick. The reason being that one effect of this sacrament can be the forgiveness of sin. Oil of the Sick, blessed by the bishop, is used for this sacrament.
The rite of Anointing of the Sick includes the anointing of the forehead and the hands of the sick accompanied by the liturgical prayer that asks for the grace of God.
The effects of this sacrament are uniting the sick person with the Passion of Christ, the well-being of the person anointed, strength to endure the suffering of illness and old age patiently, the forgiveness of sins if the person is not able to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, and preparation for death
What is the difference between Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites?
They are same thing. Anointing of the Sick is the proper name used for what used to be called the Last Rites or Extreme unction.
In the case of some one who is dying, in addition to the actual sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, the priest will ask the person if they would like to go to Reconciliation/Confession and administer Holy Communion, also called Viaticum (“Food for the Journey”). If a person is unable to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, one of the effects of Anointing of the Sick is the forgiveness of sins.
The priest will also give the Apostolic Pardon. This is a blessing with an indulgence. The indulgence attached to the Apostolic Pardon forgives temporal punishment due to sin, Purgatory.