Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is not only for those who are at the point of death, but for anyone who is seriously ill, including mental or spiritual illness. It is a community-based sacrament, although it can be privately administered as well.
Who is a candidate to receive this sacrament? Today we are all aware that tensions, fear, and anxiety about the future affect not only our mind but our body. Emotional issues and psychological disorders can be serious. They can move us to ask for the healing touch of Christ in the Sacrament of Anointing. Someone with the disease of alcoholism or a person suffering from other addictions can be anointed. The anxiety before exploratory surgery to determine if cancer is present is also a situation in which Christ’s power can be invoked in the sacrament.