Doctrine: Baptism | Confirmation | Eucharist | Matrimony | Holy Orders | Reconciliation | Justification

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
By Frederick Pogorzelski

The sacrament of anointing of the sick can be a sacrament of healing at both the physical and spiritual level. It is administered to a baptized person by a priest through prayer and the anointing of the body with oil. The baptized person being seriously sick, or in danger of death, because of illness or old age. It may be Christs final offer of forgiveness, in which the sinner can be reconciled to God ( Lk 4:40 ) ( Jas 5:13-16 ) ( Mt 10:8 ) ( Acts 9:33-34; 14:3 ). The effects on the sick person of the celebration of this sacrament are a strengthening and a conferring of grace; a closer uniting with the passion and suffering of Christ; helping with the sanctification of the people of God; and preparation for the final journey before entering the Fathers house ( Jn 6:54 ). Jesus showed great love, as he was dying on the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" ( Lk 23:34 ).

By anointing a dying person who has a lifetime of sins, he may yet be healed, or forgiven of his sins before death. His life on a spiritual level might be described like a tree falling into the darkness of the abyss; and then right at the brink of the abyss, the lifelong sinner is snapped back, pulled into the loving arms of Christ, forgiven, and saved ( Jn 11:25 ).

A person, though, should not plan a sinful lifestyle and a presumption of Gods mercy. That is, he should not live the lifestyle he chooses in willful disobedience of Gods laws with a plan to get around to reconciliation, healing, and forgiveness at the hour of his death. Such deliberate planning, in order that a person might live the lifestyle he or she chooses, would be like playing with fire, for God cannot be mocked ( Gal 6:7 ) ( Jn 4:23-24; 16:13-15 ) ( Lk 9:23 ) ( 1 Jn 5:16-17 ) ( Mt 5:26; 7:13-14; 12:36-37 ) ( 1 Cor 3:15 ) ( Rev 21:27 ) ( Heb 12:14-15 ) ( Phil 2:12 ).

Anointing of the sick is one of the seven sacraments and the normative route God provided for us His creatures for we are not orphans left desolate. He will come to us ( Jn 14:15-18 ) ( Heb 13:1-6 ).