Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament that is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. The effects of the sacrament include a special grace of healing and comfort to the Christian suffering the infirmities and the forgiveness of the person’s sins. 

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.

When this sacrament is administered, the priest lays his hands on the head of the sick, silently prays for them, and then anoints the person with the oil of the sick, one of the three blessed oils used sacramentally, on their forehead and hands.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick can be celebrated at a home or a bedside, with a few close members of the family gathered to support their loved one, witnessing the prayers of the church and the anointing of their loved one by the priest.