Anointed fill 12 pews to receive sacrament

Fr. Berardi anoints parishioner, Deacon Lonteen lays on hands.

Fr. Thomas anoints parishioners, Terry Nesline lays on hands.

The Rev. Fr. James Berardi and Rev. Fr. Ralph Thomas anointed 12 pews of the faitfhful after the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 31, 2009.

Laying hands on parishiners duriong the Sacramendt of Anointing were Deacon Frankl Lonteen and parish adult mininstires leader Terry Neslihe.

Many Catholics still think of anointing of the sick by its previous name, extreme unction, a Sacrament given to those who were at the point of death. While we have become accustomed to the sacrament's new name, many Catholics still think of it as a private sacrament, administered by a priest to those gravely ill.

More and more parishes today are scheduling celebrations of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as a communal sacrament celebrated to its fullest.

The laying on of hands on the person to be anointed recalls Jesus own manner of healing:

"At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them" (Luke 4:40).

Then the priest makes the Sign of the Cross with the blessed oil on the sick person's forehead, saying:

"Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit."

Then the priest anoints the palms of the sick one's hands with the Sign of the Cross:

" May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up."