Anointing of the Sick
“Through the apostle James, he has commanded us: 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” (From the Rite for the Sacrament of Anointing)
In the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, a priest will lay hands on the sick faithful member and anoint them with oil blessed by a bishop. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the effects of this Sacrament are “A particular gift of the Holy Spirit, union with the passion of Christ, an ecclesial grace, and preparation for the final journey.”
If you or someone you know is gravely ill, about to undergo a serious operation, or is in danger of death, this sacrament is a powerful and graced way for Jesus to come to your assistance.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated in the Church after the Noon Mass every first Sunday of the month for all parishioners suffering from an illness, facing surgery, or declining health due to old age.
If there is a medical emergency, please call the Parish Office at 703-978-8074 to schedule a home or hospital visit.
If you are unable to attend Mass on Sundays, please feel free contact us to schedule a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to visit you.
Resources
Visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website to learn more about the administration of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
Flip through Anointing of the Sick section of the Catechism of Catholic Church to discover what exactly the Church says about this holy sacrament.
