While all the sacraments are places to encounter Jesus and gain new strength for spiritual growth, this is uniquely true with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick because of the realities of sickness and impending death. Oftentimes, it is only in the dire circumstances of life that we recognize our own powerlessness and call out to God to save us. The Anointing of the Sick solemnizes this experience by assuring us that God is with us in our struggles. God asks us to unite our sufferings with Jesus’ passion and death so that we can also share in his resurrection to new life.

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During an anointing, the priest will use olive oil to anoint your forehead and say, “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord, in his love and mercy, help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.” He will then proceed to anoint your hands and say, “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”