The Oil of the Sick
By Paul Turner
The oil of the sick is used for the sacrament in the Catholic Church. Traditionally this oil is olive oil, but any vegetable oil will suffice. The bishop blesses fresh oil each year; in case of necessity, any priest may bless the oil for this sacrament. In the distant past lay people anointed the sick, but today only a priest or bishop may administer this sacrament.
The sick were anointed even at the time of Christ. In Mark 6:13, Jesus sent the disciples out to anoint the sick. James 5:14 urges the sick to send for the elders of the church for an anointing. The custom of anointing the sick continued, but for several hundred years only the dying were anointed. The priest prayed for their forgiveness and anointed them on seven different parts of the body.
The custom of blessing oil is ancient. One such prayer dates to fourth-century Egypt. In the Roman rite the oil came to be blessed at a Mass with the bishop. That Mass, established for the consecration of chrism before the initiation rites at the Easter Vigil, attracted the blessing of the oil of catechumens and the oil of the sick. Today, a bishop blesses all three oils at the chrism Mass, held shortly before Easter each year in every diocese.
The priest anoints the forehead and the palms of the sick, while praying that God will save and raise them up. The anointing accompanies a prayer for physical and spiritual healing.
The oil of the sick is sometimes kept in a container marked 01 for oleum infirmorum, the oil of the sick.
Oil of the SickVicarDoug
A Quick Overview of the Rite of Anointing Outside of Mass
This is only a general guide to the Rite of Anointing Outside of Mass.
There are other options that the family and presider may choose for the different parts of the rite.
Introductory Rite
Greeting
Minister:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
R. Amen.
Sprinkling with Holy Water
Minister:
The Lord is our shepherd and leads us to streams of living water.
Instruction
My dear friends, we are gathered here in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is present among us. As the gospels relate, the sick came to him for healing; moreover, he loves us so much that he died for our sake. Through the apostle James, he 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; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them."Let us therefore commend our sick brother/sister N. to the grace and power of Christ, that he may save him/her and raise him/her up.
Penitential Rite
My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves for this holy anointing, let us call to mind our sins.
After a brief period of silence, the penitential rite continues, using one of the following:
Lord Jesus, you healed the sick:
Lord have mercy.
R. Lord have mercy
Lord Jesus, you forgave sinners:
Christ have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy
Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us and bring us strength:
Lord have mercy.
R. Lord have mercy
Liturgy of the Word
Reading
Matthew 11:25-30
Mark 2:1-12
Luke 7:18b-23
Response
A brief period of silence may be observed after the reading of the word of God.The priest may then give a brief explanation of the reading, applying it to the needs of the sick person and those who are looking after him or her.
Liturgy of Anointing
Litany
My brothers and sisters, in our prayer of faith let us appeal to God for our brother/sister N.
Come and strengthen him/her through this holy anointing: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Free him/her from all harm: Lord, have mercy
R. Lord, have mercy
Free him/her from sin and all temptation: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Relieve the sufferings of all sick [here present]: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Assist all those dedicated to the care of the sick: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Give life and health to our brother/sister N., on whom we lay our hands in your name: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Laying on of Hands
In silence, the priest lays hands on the head of the sick person
Prayer over the Oils
Praise to you, God, the almighty Father.
You sent your Son to live among us
and to bring us salvation.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.
Praise to you, God, the only-begotten Son.
You humbled yourself to share in our humanity
and you heal our infirmities.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.
Praise to you, God, the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.
Your unfailing power give us strength
in our body weakness.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.
God of mercy,
ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servant N.,
whom the Church anoints with this holy oil.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
R. Amen
Anointing
First he anoints the forehead saying:
Through this holy anointing
may the Lord in his love and mercy help you
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen
Then he anoints the hands, saying:
May the Lord who frees you from sin
save you and raise you up.
R. Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Now let us pray to God as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us:
All: Our Father ...
Prayer after Anointing
Father in heaven.
through this holy anointing
grant N. comfort in his/her suffering
When he/she is afraid, give him/her courage,
when afflicted, give him/her patience,
when dejected, afford him/her hope,
and when alone, assure him/her of the support of your holy people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Celebrant:
Now let us pray to God as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us:
All: Our Father ...
Liturgy of Holy Communion (optional)
Communion
Celebrant:
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will refresh you.
R. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Celebrant:
The body of Christ.
R. Amen.
Celebrant:
May the Lord Jesus Christ protect you and lead you to eternal life.
R. Amen.
Silent Prayer
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
All-powerful God,
through the paschal mystery of Christ your Son
you have competed the work of our redemption
May we, who in these sacramental signs
proclaim his death and resurrection,
grow in the experience of your saving power.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Concluding Rite
Blessing
May the blessing of the almighty God,
the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
come upon you and remain with you for ever.
R. Amen.
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