By Joel Padgett
Connecting Liturgy and Life
Editor’s note: For 2026, the weekly “Connecting Faith and Life” column has been renamed “Connecting Liturgy and Life.” The column consists of reflections on Part Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), which focuses on the Liturgy and the Sacraments.
cf. CCC 1526-1532
Of the seven sacraments, the Anointing of the Sick may very well be the “best kept secret.” Not that most Catholics with some familiarity of the seven sacraments haven’t heard of it, but in the sense that it probably gets the least amount of visibility and because it frequently is misunderstood too narrowly for only those who are at death’s door. Whereas we tend to gather together to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist) and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Holy Orders and matrimony), I’ve yet to hear of anyone throwing a celebration after receiving the Anointing of the Sick. And although nowadays we don’t celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation in a public manner — in order to respect the anonymity of the person receiving it — even it gets far more treatment than the Anointing of the Sick.
My point isn’t that we need to host a “First Anointing of the Sick” party. However, I think that in general we do need to avail ourselves more of the sacrament when we need it. Just as importantly, I think we need to be more aware of the sacrament so that we can be of assistance in helping those who are sick to request it. When someone is seriously ill, that person might not be in a condition to reach out themselves. However, if we truly care about them, we could take the initiative to ask them if they would like to receive it. And, if they do wish to receive it, we could help them by contacting their parish office and asking for a priest on their behalf. Similarly, it might be a good idea to let someone who is close to you know that you would like to receive the Anointing of the Sick if you’re in need. Regardless of whether it’s for yourself or for another, I urge you to please not put off receiving the sacrament when the need arises.
If you or a loved one were seriously ill, would you willingly deny yourself or them the best medicine for physical recovery? I would hope not. Well, the Anointing of the Sick is an incredible “spiritual medicine” for someone during a serious illness. Even modern medicine is becoming increasingly aware of how the three aspects of body, mind and spirit affect our overall health. Consequently, the best approach to healing is a “both–and” (as are so many other aspects of a truly Catholic understanding of life). We are a union of body and soul. Physical, mental and spiritual health are distinct, but they are not totally disconnected from each other. On the contrary, one often affects the other. This perspective helps us avoid the dangers of both over-rationalizing to the detriment of our spiritual condition and over-spiritualizing to the detriment of our physical condition. A healthy balance seeks to avail oneself of the best of both medical care and spiritual care.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” does a great job of discussing the Anointing of the Sick in just a few pages worth of numbers (CCC 1499-1532), and I think that they would answer most people’s questions about the sacrament. It’s well worth the little time that it would take you to read through that section. For example, if you’re wondering who can receive the sacrament, the “Catechism” states that it’s “not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death” (CCC 1514). “Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens” (CCC 1529). In addition, “It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced” (CCC 1515).
Recently, an elderly loved one of mine was in the hospital. On her behalf, my wife reached out to our pastor to request the Anointing of the Sick. Gratefully, he was able to visit and anoint her. After receiving the sacrament, she spontaneously exclaimed, “Wow! There must be a heaven!” Now, she is a life-long believer, so it’s not like she was expressing a new-found faith in heaven. However, what she was expressing is precisely what the “Catechism” describes as one of the effects of the sacrament: the grace of “strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age … a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death” (CCC 1520). Indeed, what a gift!