Sacrament of the Sick

This is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic church. “Through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising” (USCCB website).

“When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age” (USCCB website).

The Rite of Anointing is available to all believers who are ill, not only the dying. For those nearing death, there is no need to wait until the person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament.

Contact the parish office (727-541-4447). After office hours, the menu options will allow you to leave a message for the on-call priest.

(USCCB website: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/anointing-of-the-sick/index.cfm)