anointing of the sick

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. a sacrament consisting of anointment with oil and the recitation of prayer, administered by a priest to a person who is very ill or dying.

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anointing of the sick British  

noun

1. Former name: extreme unction.  RC Church a sacrament in which a person who is seriously ill or dying is anointed by a priest with consecrated oil

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Etymology

Origin of anointing of the sick

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Nearly 10 years ago, Cancro performed the anointing of the sick — laying hands on a person who is ill, spreading oil on their forehead and praying — on Eguino.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2024

Later, he visited Ms. Clancy in her hospital room while she was still unconscious and delivered the sacrament of anointing of the sick, which is sometimes known as last rites.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2023

They were with him when he received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick on Wednesday, three days before he died.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 31, 2022

Outside the complex, priests visit Christian inmates and go into hospitals to respond to requests for Communion, confessions or anointing of the sick.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 15, 2022

I was in my room after lunch, reading James chapter five because I would talk about the biblical roots of the anointing of the sick during family time, when I heard the sounds.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie