The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick (formerly known as Extreme Unction) "is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death" but is "the proper sacrament for those Christians whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age." (Anointing Liturgy, # 73, #97).

The oil of the sick is olive oil, blessed by the Bishop during Holy Week each year at the Chrism Mass, along with the oil of the catechumens and Sacred Chrism. Sick persons are anointed in hospitals, but as with all of the revised sacramental rites of the church, the normative celebration of the Anointing of the Sick is in a communal celebration; here, the members of the church are present to pray for the sick person(s).

The anointing with oil is always accompanied by the prayer of the church. Sickness, involves more than bodily illness, and our prayer is for the health of the whole person. As the priest anoints the person's forehead with the oil with the sign of the cross, he says: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit." All present respond: "Amen." He anoints the palms of the sick one's hands with the sign of the cross, saying: " May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up." All present respond: "Amen."