Anointing is for those whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or age, but if you are facing serious medical procedures like tests or surgery, you are invited to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Please call the Administrative Center at 724-445-3713 ext. 4 for more information. Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites … What’s the difference? Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites? The answer is nothing. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults explain Anointing of the Sick as, “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. With our priests covering a wide territory, which includes many nursing homes, it is not always possible to reach the priests in time to anoint someone who is actively dying. If your loved one is entering hospice or is in a nursing home, please consider having them anointed. If you are worried that your loved one will feel that death is eminent because you are having them anointed, please explain what is written above in paragraph 2. This is the best gift you can give your loved one.
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. —James 5:13