Anointing of the sick was done even in the times of James the Apostle. He wrote, “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:13-15) In Anointing of the Sick, the person who is sick receives grace for physical and/or spiritual healing. It has the power to forgive sins and makes them ready to meet Jesus if God calls. It is a great source of comfort and peace for the sick person and family. Many families have great experiences of peace in this holy sacrament.
Who can be anointed? Anybody who is Catholic and is in any way in danger of death can be anointed. By danger of death we mean anybody who is going under surgery that requires anesthesiology. The person should not fear that they will die simply because they are being anointed. If this person has left the Catholic Church, they may still be anointed if they desire to come back home to the faith. Confession is part of the rite. The person must be alive to receive, however a priest may bless the body if the person has already passed.
How to get anointed or have someone anointed? If there is surgery, a person may come in to the office or ask the priest after Mass for an anointing. Most of the time the sickness catches us off guard. If the person is in the Hospital and is Catholic, make sure the nurses are told that the sick person is Catholic so a Priest will know to come and visit them. It may be good to carry a Call a Priest card so you can be anointed in case of emergency and you cannot communicate. (Link) Call the Office to let them know you or someone you know wants to be anointed. Give the Name and contact information. The priest will be happy to come out and anoint.
How Many times can a person be anointed? There is no limit. There are situations where a person is in a condition for years when the health fluctuates and looks like the person may die. Each time this happens, you can call for the priest. Generally speaking, if the person has been anointed within the past week or two, there is not an urgency.