Anointing of the Sick

Saint John Mark behind an old olive tree

The special graces accompanying the sacrament of the anointing of the sick are:

  1. Union of the patient’s suffering with the sufferings of Christ, for their good and the good of the whole Church.

  2. Consolation, peace, and patience in bearing illness or old age, with a Christian attitude.

  3. Forgiveness of sins that the patient was unable to obtain through the sacrament of penance.

  4. Restoration of health if it is conducive to spiritual salvation.

  5. Preparation for the passage to eternal life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church - 1532)

The last anointing is given to critically ill patients from the parish community, after informing the priest directly or through the secretariat.