Can Anointing of the Sick be repeated?

Yes. The Catechism speaks to this directly: "If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated."

This surprises many people. They treat the sacrament as something to save for the right moment. But cancer is often a long illness with several turning points. The sacrament is not a single ration to be spent with care.

The same passage adds that it is fitting to receive it just before a serious operation. It says the same of older people as they grow more frail.

In practice, people with cancer often receive it before major surgery or a transplant. They may receive it again if the cancer comes back, and again if things get worse. Asking a second or third time is not unusual, and no priest will find it strange.

A priest or hospital chaplain can help you think about the timing in your own case. Your care team can tell you what is happening medically. That is often the piece that makes the choice clearer.

Sources

• Holy See — Catechism, 1514-1516
• USCCB — Ethical and Religious Directives, 7th ed.
• NCI — Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ)