The Anointing of the Sick

"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)

The Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is a sacrament of healing intended to bring spiritual and physical strength during illness or injury, and can be received multiple times. Death does not have to be imminent. Last Rites, however, refers to the final prayers and trio of sacraments (Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist) given to a Catholic who is close to death.


Helpful guidelines/procedures for requesting the Sacrament:

  • If a parishioner is going into a serious surgery/medical procedure please click HERE.
  • If a parishioner is in the hospital and is in imminent danger of dying, ask the hospital nursing staff to "contact the on-call Catholic priest for "Last Rites ."
  • If a parishioner is on comfort care/palliative care, please DO NOT wait until they are actively dying to notify the Parish Office.  Contact the office as soon as possible at 315-458-0283.

Spiritual Healing

In this Sacrament, the priest anoints the individual's head and hands with oil, and when the priest blesses the oil of anointing, he asks God to "send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil. Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction" (Pastoral Care of the Sick, #123).