Anointing of the Sick or Holy Anointing is one of the two Holy Mysteries of Healing. Just as Christ healed and forgave the sins of those whom He encountered in His earthly ministry, so too does the Church by continuing this mission in the Holy Mystery of Anointing, imploring God for the healing of soul and body through the prayer of the Church and in the anointing of the sick person with Holy Oil.
Lessons from the Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church
“Sending the twelve apostles to preach the Gospel, Jesus “gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness: (Mt 10:1). He promised that healings would accompany their preaching: “They will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mk 16:18). Following Christ’s example, the apostles also enjoined prayers for the afflicted: “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven” (Jas 5:14-15). The Church continues the Apostolic Tradition: it celebrates the Mystery of Holy Anointing for the healing of soul and body, and for the forgiveness of sins.” (464)
“The Mystery of Holy Anointing is performed collegially, by the prayer of the whole Church, for the healing of soul and body. Its purpose is to strengthen trust in God and bestow forgiveness of sins as well as physical recovery. This is why the Mystery is administered to the sick and not only to the dying. By the power of the grace of the Mystery of Holy Anointing, the sick person becomes capable of seeing their illness in the light of Divine Providence and receives the strength to bear their illness and overcome it. By changing his or her attitude toward the illness, the afflicted person joins their own suffering to the salvific sufferings of Christ.” (466)
Anointing of the Sick at Our Parish
Anointing of the Sick is readily available for anyone who is healing or recovering, who is preparing for surgery, who is physically and/or spiritually suffering or is gravely ill. Speak to one of the priests about receiving this Holy Mystery.
Anointing of the Sick is ideally served in Church, with the family of the one receiving anointing present for the service. However, the Mystery can be served at home, in the hospital, at the nursing home, or wherever the sick person lays.
Every year, during Holy Week, we have the Anointing of the Sick service in Church for all to receive this Holy Mystery.