Who can receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and when?

​A: When I was about 39 years old, I had an extreme back muscle issues stemming from crushed vertebrae in my neck that caused me to not be able to stand up straight or walk without being bent over. It caused me great pain and affected my attitude toward others. I tried chiropractors, doctors, and physical therapy. Although that helped some, there seemed to be no real relief for me either in spirit or body. One weekend we went to mass out in west Michigan and the priest announced that anyone who had serious illness or physical problems could stand up and that he would give us the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. I started to think maybe I could stand up, but my husband said to me, “I don’t think this includes you, you’re not at the danger of death”. But right after he said that, the priest announced, “The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only at the point of death but fitting for the faithful beginning to be in danger of death from sickness or old age.  It is for those seriously ill”. He was quoting from the CCC 1513-14. The Church in her wisdom does not wait until it’s almost too late, but desires to reach her children at the beginning of serious illness both spiritually and physically.
I also had not realized that the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration whether at home, hospital or at church, for a single person or a group (CCC1517). Sacraments affect more than just the person receiving them, it is meant to affect the whole Church, they are sacraments of unity because their spiritual or physical healing affect all of us. Because this sacrament must include the Liturgy of the Word preceded by an act of repentance to awaken the faith of the sick person and the grace that flows from a priest, it was fitting that it was celebrated within the Eucharist, the mass (CCC1517-19). Further, the sacrament requires the laying on of hands, prayer, and anointing with holy oil. It also helps that others are there to pray for us reminding us of our unity with Jesus’ suffering and with each other. It is fitting that it take place with others, especially within the Eucharist like it was for me in the parish in west Michigan. And like mass, it is most fitting and more powerful if the Sacrament of Reconciliation be made beforehand.
If a person recovers after his or her anointing, he can in the case of another grave illness or even if the same illness returns, receive this sacrament again and should be received at the beginning of such a case and not wait. In fact, even just before a serious operation it is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick (CCC 1515).
After I received my anointing, I gradually started to feel better. I started to walk up straight and the extreme pain subsided, but not all of the physical trouble went away. Jesus is concerned about the whole person and has compassion on us. When He walked the earth, He did not heal all who were sick but His healings were signs for a more radical healing of the victory over sin and His coming Kingdom. God knows what we can handle and what is necessary. He knows when we need to pick up our crosses and when we need a new outlook on illness. More than my physical healing that day, I received strengthening, peace, and courage to overcome the difficulty of my serious condition (CCC1520). My countenance was lifted out of the temptation to be angry and worn out enough to get back in the game so to speak, to be buoyed up in my spirit so I could pick up my cross and use it for His glory. 
If you are in serious illness, come, come to the Sacrament of Anointing, and see too what God will do. 

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