What is a "sick box"?
The short answer
A "sick box" was a set of items for offering spiritual comfort to a sick person — candles, statues, holy water and oil. There is no reason it cannot still be used, though visiting priests usually bring their own oil for anointing.
What was in it
The candles and statues could be arranged to help the sick person pray and be prayed for. The holy water could be used for blessings appropriate to lay people, and the holy water and oil could be given to a visiting priest for priestly blessings.
Today
Such materials can still be used, although a visiting priest will usually bring his own oil for the anointing of the sick.
Continue exploring
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- A woman was "ordained" a bishop and then ordained others. Is this valid?Q&A
- Am I Catholic if I received private instruction instead of going through RCIA?Q&A
- Anointing of the SickTract