The Anointing of the Sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. Father Baer should be contacted to administer this Sacrament. He can be reached at 651-738-2646.
The Lord’s Healing Graces Are Here for You
On the first Saturday of each month, at our 8:00 a.m. Mass, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated. Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about receiving the Sacrament:
“The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived. If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. 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”(Catechism, sections 1514-1515)
The Church teaches that there are five effects of the special grace of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick:
- The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church.
- The strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age.
- The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance.
- The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul.
- The preparation for passing over to eternal life. (Catechism, section 1532)
I hope that many of you will join us as Jesus Christ, the “Divine Physician,” extends His healing and saving graces to His people.