The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that offers spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical healing to individuals who are seriously ill, facing surgery, or experiencing the challenges of old age. It involves the anointing of the person with holy oil by a priest, accompanied by prayers for healing, strength, and peace. The sacrament is meant to provide comfort, forgive sins, and restore the person’s relationship with God, preparing them for recovery or, if necessary, a peaceful passing. It is not limited to those near death; it can be received at any time of serious illness or when a person faces a major health crisis.
Anointing of the Sick Guidelines
This sacrament of Holy Anointing of the Sick is available in Ashbourne every Saturday afternoon from 5pm to 6pm. The sacrament is also available at any time by request to a priest or contact through the Parish Office. Our priests bless the sick and housebound with the Holy Oil of the Sick when bringing Holy Communion to those on their monthly First Friday Visitation list.
If anyone is sick at home in Ashbourne or going for serious surgery or treatment and would like us to call to them just let us know through the Parish Office, we are delighted to administer the sacrament. If a family member wishes a priest to call to a loved one who is gravely ill or near the hour of death it should be a next of kin requesting the sacrament and visit of the priest to the home. This family member should leave us their contact details and name and address of the person to receive the anointing.
A communal celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick is held in Ashbourne Church every second month as part of a 10am daily mass. The dates chosen to correspond to the liturgical calendar and the lives of Catholic Saints associated with care for the sick. The dates chosen are linked to the Feast of Mary, Mother of God:
- Mary Mother of God – 1st of January
- Our Lady of Lourdes – 11th of February
- St. Camillus de Lellis – 18th of July
- St. Pio of Pietrelcina – 23rd of September
- St. Columbanus (Columban) – 23rd of November
Every Mass is a Mass for healing but on these five dates in particular we publicly pray for the sick and the Lord’s healing.
