Flocknote Facebook Instagram Phone

Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites

- If this is an emergency that requires the immediate assistance of a priest,
  please call the parish office at 508-765-3701 and dial 3.
  
  "Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person."
  James 5:14-15
- What is Anointing of the Sick?
  
  You may have heard this Sacrament called "Last Rites" or "Extreme Unction." While Last Rites is one of the forms of this sacrament, Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone who is in need of physical, mental, or spiritual healing. Examples are long-term health issues, surgery, and old age. When someone is not close to death, the sacrament is intended to strengthen you for the challenges that are to come.
  
  Anointing of the Sick includes prayers and anointing with the Oil of the Sick.
- What is Last Rites?
  
  Last Rites is a rite (or version) of Anointing of the Sick that is offered to someone who is in danger of dying. This rite includes confession, prayers, anointing with Oil of the Sick, and Viaticum. Viaticum is Holy Eucharist given to someone who is close to dying to give spiritual food for the journey.
  
  If you or a loved one is in need of Last Rites, please do not hesitate to contact our priests. Their job is to help us get to Heaven and they are more than happy to help day or night! Once a person has passed away, Last Rites cannot be administered, although our priests are happy to offer prayers over your loved one.
- Can my child receive Anointing of the Sick?
  
  Any baptized Catholic who has serious illness and/or is at risk of death can receive Anointing of the Sick. There is no minimum age.
Frequently Asked Questions
- My loved one is not baptized. Can s/he receive Anointing of the Sick?
  Anointing of the Sick is reserved for baptized Catholics. If you or your loved one is not in danger of death, the priest can still offer prayers.
  
  If a person is not baptized and is in danger of death, an Emergency Baptism should be performed. Please call the parish office emergency line at 508-765-3701 and dial 3. If the priest cannot get to your loved one in time, anyone can perform the Emergency Baptism.
  
  To perform an Emergency Baptism, you will need water. You will pour water of the person's head three times while saying:
  
  "(Name), I baptize you in the name of the Father (pour water), and the Son (pour water), and the Holy Spirit (pour water)." It's also preferable if you have one or two witnesses.
  
  If you performed an Emergency Baptism and the person recovers, the priest will perform some other rites to make sure the baptism is official and registered in the Church.
- Will Anointing of the Sick cure my illness?
  Anointing of the Sick is not a guaranteed cure for your illness. While we pray for healing, we are at the mercy of God's plan for our lives and His will is not always ours. What we do always receive from Anointing of the Sick, is an infusion of Grace and the strength of the prayers of the Church.
- Why do we give Viaticum during Last Rites?
  We give Viaticum to give strength to the person in his/her final moments. There is nothing more powerful than Our Lord's Body and Blood, so we want to ensure each person receives Christ's strength as s/he journeys towards eternity.
- What is the Apostolic Pardon?
  An Apostolic Pardon is a final prayer and indulgence given to a person who is in danger of death. The Apostolic Pardon forgives temporal punishment of sin.
- Why is Confession part of Anointing of the Sick?
  Many people find that, as they are nearing the end of their lives, they wish to make amends for hurts they have caused others. It's even more important to make sure our relationship with God is reconciled before death. Confession forgives our eternal punishment for sin.