Anointing of the Sick – St. Leo's Catholic Church – 100 Years of Service to God's People

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the priests of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:14-16

The Anointing of the Sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last Sacraments one will receive. A Sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a Rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC 1520). These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for “this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’” (Matt. 8:17).

Please call the parish office to have a priest celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This “is not for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this Sacrament has certainly arrived” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 73). The Sacrament is most beneficial when it is received while the sick person is still conscience and can speak for themselves.

Parish Rectory:
201-796-3521