“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 foregiven.”
“By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.” (CCC 1499)
Understanding illness and suffering to be a grave problem confronting the human condition, Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in order that the Church might have every defense against them. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick commends the sick person to God for healing, confers the forgiveness of sins, and reassures the suffering of the salvific and consoling presence of God.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is intended for those who are elderly, gravely ill, and/or in the danger of death. The Sacrament can be received multiple times if the sickness or injury worsens. In addition, for those to whom death is imminent, the Church offers the Anointing of the Sick in conjunction with the reception of the Eucharist as a “food for the journey” (viaticum or “last rites”) homeward toward God.
To schedule an anointing, please contact the parish office at 217-877-4404. Homebound visits, communion calls, and pastoral visits to the sick are also available by contacting Jami Snow at the parish office. For further questions regarding the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please consult our FAQs.