Green bible, holy water, and 2 pyx on a wooden table

Annointing the Sick

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick confers a special grace of the Holy Spirit on Christians who are suffering from serious illness, and not exclusively on the faithful who are at the point of death (CCC: 1514).

The sacrament is connected to divine absolution through the Church: as administered by the priest, the anointing has effects of "the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance". ​ (CCC: 1520-1523; 1532)

The Church believes and teaches that the sacrament is not a sacrament only for those who are at the point of death but for those among the faithful, including children reaching the age of reason, who "begin to be in danger of death from sickness or old age". (CCC: 1514)

You can ask for a priest to confer the sacrament again in any situation of grave illness, whether the situation is persisting, recurring, worsening, or a newly developed one.

The Priest—in silence—will lay hands on the sick; he prays over them in the loving faith of the Church in the hope of Holy Spirit to come and act; he then anoints them with sacred oil. (CCC: 1519).

Current practices at Ontario hospitals make it easily the responsibility of the patient or their families to declare the patient's religious affiliation at admissions. For the Sacrament to be arranged, it is absolutely crucial that you or your immediate family let the hospital administration (e.g., a nurse or a physician) or the hospital chaplaincy know:

  • that you are Roman Catholic and
  • that you would like to ask for a priest especially if his immediate visit is desirable.

A Roman Catholic priest is necessary to confer the Sacrament. 

Make sure your parish know about your wish to receive the Sacrament. If you are not attending a parish currently, phone one of our many parish families to discuss your circumstance.

Due to the current pandemic and following the Government of Ontario and Archdiocese of Toronto regulations, not all priests are able to enter the hospital, hospice or home.

For more information please call the office at 905-880-0080