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“Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them” (James 4:14-15).
When to Ask for the Sacrament?
The Anointing of the Sick may be administered to a Baptized Catholic of the age of reason (age 7+), who is in danger from illness or the infirmities of age. The person does not need to be in imminent danger of death to receive the Sacrament.
The Ritual of the Anointing of the Sick states that those who may receive the Sacrament include: “those who are dangerously ill through sickness or old age”; “a sick person... before surgery whenever the surgery is necessitated by a dangerous illness”; “elderly people... if they are weak, though not dangerously ill.” A person who has lost consciousness may be anointed if it is reasonably assumed that they would have requested it while conscious and in control of their faculties. Families with elderly or seriously ill family members should contact a priest to discuss if anointing is possible.
Emergency
If there is an emergency and you need immediate assistance for the Anointing of the Sick, call the office (218-568-4760) and listen to the options for contacting a priest.
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