Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church.  Its purpose is to provide comfort to the sick and dying, with the hope of healing (if it be God’s will) and to ease the dying into a happy death.  The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was revised in the 1970’s with the intent of a broader application to more in need of it.  Generally, it is given once, unless there is no improvement or severe decline in the person’s health has occurred.  Then, the Sacrament can be applied as a beautiful remedy in assisting the sick or dying. 

This Sacrament takes the place of the Last Rites of the Church.  Under the previous practice, one would wait until death was imminent to call the priest so that the one dying could receive the “Last Rites” as they died.  The Last Rites and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick are basically the same blessing, only one does not need to wait until you are on your death bed to receive it.

There is a lot of confusion, particularly among the older faithful, about the differences between the Last Rites and the Anointing of the Sick.  They are the same thing.  There is the anointing with holy oils, the hearing of Confession, and the giving of Holy Communion (the Last Rites).  However, now one can receive the anointing of the sick anytime one is going into surgery, recovering from a sickness, etc.  If you receive the Anointing of the Sick, you are receiving the “Last Rites”: holy oils, Confession and Holy Communion.  You do not need to wait until you are death’s door to receive this wonderful Sacrament.  Parenthetically, with so few priests, I wouldn’t wait until the last minute to receive their graces.

Therefore, if you are going into any kind of surgery, or treatment for mental health, or physical treatment, you should seek out your priest to give you this Sacrament.  You can receive this anointing after Mass (just come up to me and ask).  You can receive it at the hospital when the priest comes through to visit, or at home if you are homebound and can’t get to church anymore.

So, the “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction” (the old term) and the Anointing of the Sick are the same celebration.  If someone is in need of this great remedy, this Balm of Gilead, they only have to ask.