The Sacrament of Unction
The laying on of hands and the anointing of the sick
Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. --James 5:14-15
Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body. Unction is a sacramental rite of healing appropriate not only for those in immediate danger of death but also for those suffering from severe physical, mental, or spiritual sickness.
At Epiphany, the sacrament of unction, also known as anointing of the sick or the laying on of hands, is usually available from the priest upon request. When the priest visits parishioners in hospital or ill at home, they will generally offer to administer the laying on of hands. Unction is ideally administered in cases of severe illness or before a major operation or surgical procedure. It is not usually given more than once for the same illness or injury.
One of Jesus' signature activities during his earthly life and ministry was healing the sick. He commissioned his disciples to continue this ministry. During the early centuries of Church history, healings and other miracles often accompanied the preaching of the Gospel. Even today, miraculous cures can and do still take place. Some Christians have a personal gift for healing prayer; certain Christian holy places, such as Lourdes in France, are known for their healing. We do well not to reject the miraculous out of hand.
The sacrament of unction consists of an anointing administered by a priest with holy oil blessed for this purpose. Unction reliably conveys the grace of healing that it signifies. That healing may or may not take the form of a physical cure. Most often, it does not. Nonetheless, the healing it confers is necessary and real. When very ill, we are reminded of our mortality. When unwell, we can become short-tempered, despondent, or rebellious against God. At such times, the healing we need above all is the healing of our relationships—with God and one another. In these circumstances, the grace of unction is a balm for our souls: comfort and help in time of affliction and at the hour of death.