Opening Prayer Service

The Sacrament of
Anointing of the Sick
Opening Song
Call to Prayer
My dear friends, we are gathered here in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is
present among us. As the gospels relate, the sick came to him for healing; moreover, he
loves us so much that he died for our sake. Through the apostle James, he has
commanded us: “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priest of
the Church, and let the priest pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the
Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord with raise them up;
and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them.” (Pastoral Care of
the Sick #117)

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:18b-23

The healing hand of Christ is a sign of the presence of God—to console and strengthen us.

Litany of Christ the Healer

 Lord Jesus, Son of David and Son of God
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who bore our griefs and carried our sorrow
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who went about preaching the Good News and curing all kinds of
disease and sickness
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who raised to life the daughter of Jairus, and the only son of the widow
Nain
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who cured Simon Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever and woman suffering
from hemorrhages
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who delivered the tormented daughter of the Canaanite woman
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who cured the centurion’s paralyzed servant the epileptic boy who could
not speak
 Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who restored the sight of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar of Jericho and
who healed many lepers
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who cured the man with the withered hand, and who made cripples
whole again
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who commanded your disciples to lay hands on the sick and anoint them
with oil
Response: Heal us and save us
 Lord Jesus, who ordered your disciples to cast out demons in your name
Response: Heal us and save us

Remembrance
For all in our past who accompanied us through illness and fear, who reminded us that
darkness would pass and offered us a healing presence.

Light one candle. Be silent.

For our children and our children’s children, may they never forget the healing power of
God.

Light second candle. Be silent.

May God strengthen all here gathered against every physical, emotional, and mental
illness and fill us with strength and hope.

Light third candle. Be silent.

Prayer of Praise
Praise to you, God, the almighty Father.
You sent your Son to live among us
and bring us salvation.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

Praise to you, God the only-begotten Son.

You humbled yourself to share in our humanity
and you heal our infirmities. R.

Praise to you, God, the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.

Your unfailing power gives us strength
in our bodily weakness. R.
(Pastoral Care of the Sick #140)

Closing Song
Praying for the Sick and Suffering
For our family For our friends
____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

For our community For our world

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
 Prayer Texts in the
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
Reception of the Sick (#135) Bless this oil and sanctify it for our use.
Christ taught his disciples to be a community Make this oil a remedy for all who are
of love. In praying together, in sharing all anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul,
things, and in caring for the sick, they and in spirit, and deliver them from every
recalled his words: “Insofar as you did this to affliction.
one of these, you did it to me.” We gather
today to witness to this teaching and to pray Prayer After Anointing (#125)
in the name of Jesus the healer that the sick Father in heaven,
may be restored to health. Through this through this holy anointing
eucharist and anointing we invoke his grant N. comfort in his/her suffering.
healing power.
When he/she is afraid, give him/her
Opening Prayer (#136) courage,
God of compassion, you take every family when afflicted, give him/her patience,
under your care and know our physical and when dejected, afford him/her hope,
spiritual needs. and when alone, assure him/her of the
support of your holy people.
Transform our weakness by the strength of
your grace and confirm us in your covenant Eucharistic Prayer (#145)
so that we may grow in faith and love. Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we
do well always and everywhere to give you
Litany (#138) thanks, for you have revealed to us in Christ
Let us pray to God for our brothers and the healer your unfailing power and steadfast
sisters and for all those who devote compassion.
themselves to caring for them.
Bless N. and N. and fill them with new hope In the splendor of his rising your Son
and strength: Lord, have mercy. conquered suffering and death and
R. Lord, have mercy. bequeathed to us his promise of a new and
Relieve their pain: Lord, have mercy. R. glorious world, where no bodily pain will
Free them from sin and do not let them give afflict us and no anguish of the spirit.
way to temptation: Lord, have mercy. R. Through your gift of the Spirit, you bless us
Sustain all the sick with your power: Lord, even now, with comfort and healing,
have mercy. R. strength, and hope, forgiveness and peace.
Assist all who care for the sick: Lord, have
In this supreme sacrament of your love you
mercy. R.
give us the risen body of your Son: a pattern
Give life and health to our brothers and
of what we shall become when he returns at
sisters on whom we lay our hands in
the end of time.
your name: Lord, have mercy. R.

Blessing of Oil (#123) Final Blessing (#147)

May the God of all consolation
God of all consolation, you chose and sent
bless you in every way and grant you
your Son to heal the world. Graciously listen
hope all the days of your life. R. Amen
to our prayer of faith: send the power of your
May God restore you to health and grant you
Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious
salvation. R. Amen
oil, this soothing ointment, this rich gift, this
May God fill your heart with peace and lead
fruit of the earth.
you to eternal life. R. Amen.
 Celebrating the Sacrament of the Anointing
of the Sick: Rite and Symbols
1. Opening Prayer
 The Mass begins as usual followed by
a welcome and special prayers for
those to be anointed.

2. Penitential Rite
3. Liturgy of the Word
 Scriptural readings may be from the
Sunday or from special readings
provided for the celebration of the
sacrament.
 Homily

4. Liturgy of Anointing
Prayer of Faith—Litany
 Following the homily there is a litany
of prayers for those who will be
anointed and those who care for
them.

Laying On of Hands
 The priest lays his hands on the
heads of those to be anointed in
imitation of Jesus’ manner of healing.

Anointing with Oil

 Prayer over the Oil
 Blessing of the Oil
 Anointing
The priest uses the blessed oil to
make the Sign of the Cross on the
forehead of the sick person and says,
“Through this holy anointing may the
Lord in his love and mercy help you
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”
The priest anoints the hands of the
sick person’s hands with the Sign of
the Cross while saying” May the Lord
who frees you from sin save you and
raise you up.”

5. Holy Communion