'Anoint them with oil...' This is part of a sentence from a letter of the Apostle James on how the infant Church used to deal with those who were sick. It forms the scriptural bedrock of our Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It was this Sacrament that we celebrated in a Mass organised by the St Vincent de Paul Society on Easter Wednesday.
Almost 100 people gathered in church and many of the received the Sacrament of Anointing. The SVP brought to church those who usually are not able to attend; there was a good contingent from the Little Sisters of the Poor and various nursing homes as well as parishioners from their own homes.
The oil was 'freshly minted', it had been blest on Maundy Thursday at the cathedral Chrism Mass by the Bishop.
The Easter gift of Christ was peace. The Sacrament of the Sick helps to bestow that peace which the Lord has for each one of us.