Anointing the Sick, or Unction
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.
—-The Book of Common Prayer, p. 859
This sacrament exists for the purpose of healing — to restore a person to physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness. When we anoint and pray for people, we ask God to release them from anything that prevents a person from being whole. Christians recognize that there is a difference between being healed and being cured. In the sacrament of Unction, we pray for healing and wholeness, which may or may not include a cure.
Questions regarding Unction? Contact the Rev. Mary Staley