· Will receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick heal someone who is ill?

In short, will this sacrament necessarily cure the recipient of their illness? No. But will it heal them? Yes.

As Christians we believe that we are more than just our physical bodies, we believe that we are also spiritual beings who are made in the image of God as a unity of both body and soul. Illness and frailty of the human body may also manifest themselves in the human spirit. Those who are seriously ill may struggle with despair or depression; anxiety about their own welfare or that of their loved ones. Serious or chronic illness may even lead some to feel abandoned by God and to struggle in their faith. Many who receive this sacrament are in need of healing both in their bodies and their spirit. During the Rite of Anointing, the priest blesses the oil to be used, saying, “Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it, heal them in body, in soul, and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction.” (Rite of Anointing, #123) Catholic Christians believe that the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick offers God’s healing power to those who receive it. When it is God’s will, some will experience a bodily healing, but all who are open to the grace of the sacrament will experience the spiritually healing power of God’s love for us.