Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the priests 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
Anointing of the sick (also known traditionally as extreme unction) is administered by a priest to a person who is in danger of death from sickness or old age.
Anointing of the Sick at St. Rosalie’s
There is always a priest at St. Rosalie’s who is available for sick calls. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, undergoing invasive surgery, or ‘slowing down’ due to old age, please contact the parish office for anointing.
If a person is actively dying, please contact the parish office and ask for the last rites. If it is outside of business hours at the parish office, follow the phone commands for the emergency line.
Last Rites
When death appears imminent, it is advisable that the dying person receive the last rites of the Church. When the priest is called for this, there are 3-6 rites which he celebrates, in accordance with the state of the dying person. They are:
- Confession (if the dying person is conscious)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Apostolic Pardon (a plenary indulgence granted to the dying person)
- Viaticum (the reception of Holy Communion, if the person is conscious)
- Commendation of the Dying (entrusting the dying person to the mercy of God and the intercession of the Communion of Saints)
- Prayers for the Dead (prayers offered for the person after death)
Usually, when a priest is called for the last rites, the dying person is alive but unconscious; the priest will give them the Anointing of the Sick, the Apostolic Pardon, and the Commendation of the Dying.
