Phibsborough
“Is anyone sick among you? Let them bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
James 5:14-15
The Mass with the Anointing fo the Sick takes place within Mass every third Saturday of the Month.
At other times, anyone who is sick may receive the comfort of this sacrament in hospital or at home. Many like to receive the sacrament of the sick and are strengthened and affirmed. If you would like to receive the sacrament of the sick or know someone who would, please contact Fr. Aidan or the parish office
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a prayerful celebration for someone or for a group of people who are ill and are blessed by the priest with Holy Oil. It is not a sign that someone is dying, “the last rites” as this sacrament was called in the past. It is not a magical ritual; the person doesn’t automatically get better immediately after an anointing. God’s healing and loving presence are called upon that the sick person might be raised up and restored to health.
The words of blessing over the oil say it all. It is “oil intended to ease the sufferings of your people”. Oil soothes and heals. Oil blessed for the sick is a sign of the Anointed One (Messiah) of God. The person so anointed receives the healing, saving power of the One who saves (Messiah).
The Anointing is done with olive oil that has been specifically blessed for this purpose. It is one of the three “Holy Oils” blessed by the the Bishop at the ‘Chrism Mass’ on Holy Thursday in the Cathedral along with two other Holy Oils used primarily in Baptism. The three Holy Oils are then taken to each parish And the Oil of the Sick is used throughout the year to anoint those who are unwell
A person is anointed on the forehead while the priest says: ‘Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit’, and on the palms of the hands as he says, ‘May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up.”
Anyone in ‘serious illness’, those who are infirm, in advanced years, or anyone prior to surgery. (It is not only for when a person is in ‘danger of death’.)
