One may ask to receive the sacrament any time they are to undergo surgery under general anesthetic and when you have a serious injury or illness. Those who have health concerns regarding mental health, anxiety or even advanced age may receive the sacrament. One may receive this sacrament more than once. In fact, all Catholics of any age are encouraged to ask for this sacrament any time a new condition or surgery arises.

This sacrament of Last Rites was called Extreme Unction (last anointing), not because it was the last sacrament a person received before he/she died, but because it was the last anointing that person received. Baptism and Confirmation are the first two times we are anointed. Many older Catholics are under the mistaken impression that they can only receive the sacrament on their death bed; quite literally “Last Rites”. This may have seemed true in years past, but with modern medical advances today improving our recovery from illness, this sacrament is rightly received by anyone suffering a serious injury or illness and can be received as often as needed. Please contact a priest to request an anointing.