The Sacrament of the day: the anointing of the sick, on the feast day of Lourdes

The anointing of the sick is a sacrament of the Catholic Church, a rite that consists of the anointing of blessed oil accompanied by a prayer on the body of a sick person represents the passage to "eternal life". "Only one is our teacher and you are all brothers" recalls the evangelist Matthew (23,8). The church offers the grace of anointing in a situation of suffering, for example as old age which in itself could not be defined illness, but it is recognized by the sacrament as a situation where it is possible to ask the faithful for the rite of anointing the sick. In 1992 Pope John Paul II inaugurated on the day of 11 February on which the church remembers the memory of Our Lady Lourdes, the day "of the sick" where one can spontaneously receive the sacrament not only those suffering from illness or who are at the end of life, but everyone! consider so many young and sudden deaths that have occurred in recent years.

Prayer of the sick
O Lord Jesus, during your life on our earth
you showed your love, you were moved in the face of suffering
and many times you have restored health to the sick by bringing joy back to their families. Our dear (name) is (seriously) ill, we are close to him with all that is humanly possible. But we feel helpless: life is really not in our hands. We offer you his sufferings and unite them with those of your passion. Let this disease help us understand more the meaning of life, and grant our (name) the gift of health so that together we can thank you and praise you forever.
Amen.