Don’t put it off

Joel Padgett suggests that Catholics should more frequently use the Anointing of the Sick and help others request it when they are seriously ill. Writing in the Connecting Liturgy and Life column, Padgett notes that the sacrament is often misunderstood as something reserved only for those near death.

Padgett observes that while the Sacraments of Initiation and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion receive more visibility, the Anointing of the Sick is frequently overlooked. He notes that people may not be in a physical condition to ask for the sacrament themselves when they are seriously ill, making it important for others to be aware of its availability.