Christ's compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that "God has visited his people" and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: "I was sick and you visited me." His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them. CCC 1503

Notes for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
Taking instruction from the guidance on the pastoral care of the sick, “the Lord himself showed great concern for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick and commanded his followers to do likewise.” The care of the sick and dying is integral to the mission of the Church and at St. Frances Cabrini we strive to accomplish this work and through it be sanctified ourselves and help to sanctify those whom we serve.
“This sacrament gives the grace of the Holy Spirit to those who are sick… A return to physical health may follow the reception of this sacrament if it will be beneficial to the sick person’s salvation. If necessary, the sacrament also provides the sick person with the forgiveness of sins and the completion of Christian penance.”

Who should receive the Anointing of the Sick?
• For those of the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age (PCS 8)
• For a sick person before surgery, whenever a serious illness is the reason for the surgery (PCS 10)
• For elderly people if they have become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present (PCS 11)
• For sick children if they have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by this sacrament (PCS 12)
• For sick people who, although they have lost consciousness or the use of reason, have, as Christian believers, at least implicitly asked for it when they were in control of their faculties (PCS 14)

Who should not receive the Anointing of the Sick?
• Those who have already died should not receive the sacrament of anointing, but rather prayers, asking God to forgive their sins and graciously receive them into the kingdom (PCS 15)
• Those who remain obdurately in open and serious sin (PCS 15)

FAQs:

What is the difference between Last Rites and the Anointing of the Sick?
The Last Rites phrase refers to the three sacraments—confession, anointing of the sick, and final Holy Communion (viaticum)—ordinarily given to a Catholic who is seriously ill or beginning to be in danger of death. Thus, anointing of the sick is one of the 3 last rites offered to the seriously ill or dying person.

What if my loved one (friend or family) has already died, can they receive the last rites?
“When a priest has been called to attend those who are already dead, he should not administer the sacrament of the anointing. Instead, he should pray for them, asking that God forgive their sins and graciously receive them into the kingdom.”

Who can celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick?
“The priest is the only proper minister of the anointing of the sick. This office is ordinarily exercised by bishops, pastors and their assistants, chaplains of health-care facilities, and superiors of clerical religious institutes.”


In case of an emergency, please call the following number to have a priest offer the seriously ill or dying person the appropriate sacrament(s):

(346) 202-2674