Anointing of the Sick

“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.” CCC 1422

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to the dying as well as to those who are gravely ill or about to undergo a serious operation. This sacrament of mercy and healing offers prayers for the recovery, but its primary intention is to give spiritual strength and calm the soul of the one suffering from illness. Traditionally, this sacrament was referred to as Extreme Unction or Last Rites.

Please call the parish office at 303-322-7449 if someone is ill or hospitalized and would like to be anointed. Anointing is not to be delayed to the last minute. A person who has been anointed once does not need to be anointed again within the same illness. It is also important for someone who is anointed to be prepared to go to confession when the priest arrives (if they are able).

If there is an emergency outside of our office hours for someone needing to be anointed who is in danger of dying, or for someone who has died, please call ____________.

When to Call a Priest

Diagnosis of serious disease: call parish to come in and meet with priest.
Terminal Diagnosis: call parish to come in and meet with priest.
Homebound: call parish to schedule a visit within a given week.

For the integrity of the sacrament the priest will hear the confession of the person to be anointed.

If you have lost a loved one and want to discuss funeral arrangements with St. James Catholic Church, please contact our parish office at 303-322-7449 so we can assist you.

Learn More

By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them.  And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.  As soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.  If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again.  If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated.  It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation.  The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. – CCC, 1499, 1514-1515