Pope prayer video: Anointing of the Sick offers strength to the seriously ill and elderly

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not just for those who are nearing the end of their life, Pope Francis said.

‘Let us remember that the Anointing of the Sick is one of the “sacraments of healing”, of “restoration”, that heals the spirit,’ the Pope said in his prayer video message for July, released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

The network posts a short video of the Pope offering his specific prayer intention each month. This month, he dedicated his prayer intention to the pastoral care of the sick.

‘The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament only for those who are at the point of death,’ the Pope emphasised, saying ‘it is important that this is clear.’

Having a priest give the sacrament does not necessarily mean saying ‘goodbye to life’, he said. ‘Thinking this way means giving up every hope.’

‘When a person is very ill, it’s advisable to give them the Anointing of the Sick. And when someone is elderly, it’s good that they receive the Anointing of the Sick,’ Pope Francis said, underlining how there is no need to wait until a person experiencing a serious illness is at the point of death to receive the sacrament.

‘Let us pray that the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick grant the Lord’s strength to those who receive it and to their loved ones, and that it may become for everyone an ever more visible sign of compassion and hope,’ he said.