The Sacrament of Anointing

If you are a parishioner at St. Michael and desire to receive the Sacrament of Anointing, you or a family member, may contact the parish office at 713-621-4370 and this will be arranged.

WHAT IS THE ANNOINTING OF THE SICK

Anointing of the Sick is "one of the seven sacraments, administered by a priest to a baptized person who is in need of healing for physical, mental or spiritual illness, is elderly, or is in danger of death because of illness or old age, through prayer and the anointing of the body with the oil of the sick. The proper effects of the sacrament include a special grace of healing and comfort to the Christian who is suffering the infirmities of serious illness or old age, and the forgiving of the person's sins" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499, 1520, 1523, 1526-1532).

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.

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

Pray

• Prayers for the Health and Dignity of the Sick
• Order for the Blessing of the Sick

Learn

• Explore the USCCA to learn about the liturgy for the Anointing of the Sickand its effects within the community and the life of the sick. | en español
• Respecting the Dignity of the Human Person at the End of Life   

Act

• Anointing of the Sick: Joined to Christ, Witnesses of Hope and Healing| en español
• The Corporal Works of Mercy include visiting the sick and burying the dead. 
• The Spiritual Works of Mercy include praying for the living and the dead.