Anointing of the Sick

January 29, 2011

Tonight we went to church and Father Anthony was going to perform Anointing of the Sick for me, since we are starting our treatments again. When we got to church, Father Anthony was not at church. Instead, Father Ed and Deacon Ken performed the anointing of the sick for us. Father Anthony and Father Ed are two of our biggest supporters. Last time I saw Father Anthony, he said Father Ed and him are just as anxious about the baby as we are. Deacon Ken is also praying for us and provided very comforting words to us last night. We are so thankful to have the support of our priests and deacon.

For those of you that are not Catholic, here is a definition of Anointing of the Sick:

The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness.  Mark refers to the sacrament when he recounts how Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to preach, and "they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:13).

In his epistle, James says, "Is any among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14–15).