When do Catholics use the 'Anointing of the Sick'?

Answer 1

Any one physically or mentally ill, aged and infirm, or about to receive surgery can receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15). This sacrament is now called the Anointing of the Sick and a person does not have to be dying to receive it. It is no longer called the "Last Rites" and "Extreme Unction," The liturgical actions in the Anointing of the Sick include the following principal elements:

• Scripture is read.

• The priests of the Church in silence lay hands on the sick.

• They pray over them in the faith of the Church

• They anoint them with oil blessed by the bishop. The effects of the Anointing of the sick are:

• Uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church

• The strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness
The Sacrament of "Anointing the Sick" is also known as "Extreme Unction" or "The Last Rites."

This sacrament is traditionally administered to a Catholic who is in immediate danger of death or who is actually dying. In the case of terminally ill people, it is encouraged to ask for the sacrament while the person is still lucid so that they might take comfort and strength from the sacrament and have a chance to confess their sins; too often people wait until a person is comatose or even dead before calling a priest, thus depriving the person of choice graces. The sacrament can be administered multiple times, even for the same illness as circumstances change, so you do not need to wait until the last minute to call a priest. If a person has died, still call a priest; the exact moment the soul leaves the body is not a precise science and so a priest may conditionally administer the sacrament to one already declared legally dead (within a reasonable time elapse from the time of death).

A priest may only administer this sacrament to a Catholic, if a person in danger of death who is not a Catholic suddenly wishes to receive this sacrament, they must first be baptized and then they may receive the Anointing.
The sacrament of anointing is for a critically ill or weak person, with prayers for recovery and an act of penance or confession. It replaced the sacramental rite of extreme unction in 1972.
Serious or terminal illness.

Answer 2

Catholic AnswerThe ill, especially in danger of death from the illnesses, should receive the Sacrament.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

1527 The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age. 1528 The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.

Answer 3

vCatholicsvCatholics believe in Annointing the sick because they believe that it conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy spirit, discouragement, and temptation, and gives them peace and fortune (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). "The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manne believe in Annointing the sick because they believe that it conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy spirit, discouragement, and temptation, and gives them peace and fortune (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). "The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life"

Answer 4

The rite is celebrated upon request, or when a Catholic is in danger of death due to illness or injury.

Answer 5

The anointing of the sick should be performed if the person is sick or dying. See Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Answer 6

people who are very sick