• My experience of being anointed with Oil of the Sick

My family has a strong bond as catholics. I'm not anywhere near to being a "bible thumper", but my belief in God (The Father, Son, and Spirit) is strong. I am a 35 year old man that was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis in 1992. Until 2001, I had a few health battles because of this disease. In 2001, I had a stroke and a year later a heart attack. I'm not exactly sure when I was anointed but I'm pretty sure it was performed by my brother, a priest from the Sault Ste. Marie diocese. One reason that I can't remember exactly when I was anointed was because I was not fully aware of my surroundings at the time. In a recent conversation, my brother was commenting on the opinions of other people that have received oils. This got me thinking that I should share my opinion.
Let me see... OIL... it's greasy and I feel dirty when my face is oily. However, cooking oil, especially olive oil can add so much to a meal. As this cooking oil does for food, the sacred oils do for us, adding so much to our lives. I have to refer to the gospel of Passion Sunday because this is when I realized what the oils really mean to me...
(Mark 14:1-15:47) "...While Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, 'Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.' And they scolded her. But Jesus said, ' Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial'..."
When I was most ill, it was extremely humbling to hear that many people were praying for me. Now, I think of the oils and get the same feeling. Oil is made by us, not God. But being anointed with these oils is an approval by my living family, peers, and fellow christians of their acceptance of the will of God; whether His will is to heal the sick, end suffering with death, accept new people into our faith, or to teach it. Yes, the holy oils are an acceptance of God's will that is awarded! To be anointed is being told that I am important to my living family! It's a gift and I thank you all for it.
Today, 4 and a half years after my stroke, I can walk without aid, and talk with little impediment. I am the healthiest I've ever been since my diagnosis. I can do almost everything that I could before. I have to thank you all for the prayers and for approving God's will for my recovery.

Peter Man-Son-Hing