HOLY UNCTION

Healing of the Sick: God’s Grace in Times of Suffering

The sacrament often called Extreme Unction, more accurately known today as the Healing (or Anointing) of the Sick, has deep roots in Scripture and the life of the early Church. From the beginning, Christians understood that illness and suffering are moments when God draws especially near, offering grace, forgiveness, and sometimes even physical healing.

In Anglican tradition, this sacrament is a powerful reminder that God’s care extends to the whole person—body, mind, and soul.

Biblical and Early Church Practice

From the first centuries of Christianity, priests were regularly sent to visit the sick and dying. They prayed over them, laid hands upon them, and anointed them with oil consecrated for that purpose. At times, the Church witnessed remarkable recoveries; at other times, the grace given was one of peace, repentance, and readiness for eternal life.

This practice is rooted directly in James 5, where the apostle instructs believers to call for the presbyters of the Church when illness strikes. These ministers are to pray and anoint the sick in the Lord’s Name, trusting that God will act—bringing healing, raising up the afflicted, and forgiving sins.

From the beginning, healing and forgiveness were understood as inseparable gifts of God’s mercy.

From Healing to “Last Rites”

Over time, however, the Church’s practice shifted. By the medieval period, the anointing of the sick gradually became associated almost exclusively with those near death. It came to be understood as a final preparation for dying rather than a sacrament offered during illness itself.

This narrowing of purpose meant that a sacrament originally intended for the sick was reserved only for those at the very end of life, often administered only once and only when recovery was no longer expected.

Anglican Recovery of the Broader Vision

The Anglican tradition sought to recover the earlier and more biblical understanding of this sacrament. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer includes a rich set of prayers in its rite for the Visitation of the Sick, addressing a wide range of situations: ordinary illness, grave sickness, those nearing death, and those suffering spiritual or emotional distress.

While the 1662 rite does not include anointing with oil, it clearly affirms pastoral prayer, absolution, and comfort for the sick in all conditions.

The 2019 Book of Common Prayer restores the ancient practice of anointing. In this rite, the priest anoints the sick person with holy oil, lays hands upon them, and prays for the inward anointing of the Holy Spirit—invoking God’s healing presence in a tangible and personal way.

The Grace Given in Anointing

All Christians are encouraged to pray for healing, both for themselves and for others. Yet Scripture and Church tradition together suggest that God grants a particular grace through this sacramental rite.

The New Testament word often translated “heal” also carries the meaning of save or make whole. This reminds us that God’s healing is not limited to physical recovery. Sometimes the fruit of this sacrament is bodily restoration; at other times it is spiritual strength, forgiveness, peace of conscience, or readiness to face suffering or death with faith.

In every case, God’s grace is truly offered.

God at Work Through Matter and Ministry

The Healing of the Sick reveals something profound about how God chooses to act. God delights in using the material world—oil, hands, spoken prayer—to convey His divine life. He works through ordained ministers, not because He needs them, but because He has chosen to involve His Church in His healing work.

This sacrament reflects a deeply incarnational faith: the God who took on flesh continues to touch human lives through physical signs and ordered ministry.

A Sacrament of Compassion and Hope

The Healing of the Sick is not a sign of defeat or despair. It is a sacrament of hope, reminding us that God is present in suffering and faithful in every circumstance. Whether healing comes through recovery, endurance, or peaceful passing into eternal life, God’s promise remains sure.

Through prayer, anointing, and the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ continues to care for His people—especially in their moments of greatest vulnerability.