The Annointing of the Sick
“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters 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” (Jas 5:14-15).
At St. John’s
Anyone who is seriously ill or facing surgery, even if it may not be life threatening, is encouraged to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. People mistakenly think of this sacrament as the “last rites” but it is intended to help people get better. It may also be given to someone who is dying and we strongly recommend you call for a priest if there is real danger of death. In a hospital or nursing home, the staff should be able to make that contact for you with a priest who is responsible for that institution.
Can a priest from Saint John’s anoint my relative in another city?
Because our priests cover several hospitals and nursing homes in Peabody and at the North Shore Medical Center, they are unable to provide this sacrament to people in other locations. Again, in any hospital or nursing home, the staff should be able to make that contact for you with a local priest who is responsible for that institution. Thank you for understanding the limits we need to set.
