Chapter XI. Of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction

Q. What do you mean by extreme unction?

A. I mean the anointing of the sick, prescribed, St. James v. 14, 15. 'Is any one sick among you, let him call for the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord shall ease him: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.'

Q. How do you prove that this anointing of the sick is a sacrament?

A. Because it is the outward sign of an inward grace, or a divine ordinance, to which is annexed a promise of grace in God''s holy word. The anointing, together with the prayers that accompany it, are the outward sign: the ordinance of God is found in the words of St. James above quoted: the inward grace is promised in the same place, 'The prayer of faith shall save the sick man — and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.'

Q. How do you prove that this ordinance was designed for all ages, and not only for the time of the Apostles/'

A, Because the words of the scriptures in which this ordinance is contained, are no way limited to the Apostles' time, no more than the words of the ordinance of baptism, St. Matt, xxviii. and because the Church of God, the best interpreter of his words and ordinances, has practised it in all ages.

Q. To what kind of people is the sacrament of extreme unction to be administered?

A, To those who, after having come to the use of reason, are in danger of death by sickness; but not to children under the age of reason, nor to persons sentenced to death, &c.

Q. Can the same person receive the sacrament of extreme unction more than once?

A. Yes^ but not in the same illness, except it should be of long continuance, and that the state of the sick man should be changed, so as to recover out of the danger, and then fall into the like case again.

Q. What are the effects and fruits of the sacrament of extreme unction?

A, First, it remits sins, at least such as are venial, for mortal or deadly sins must be remitted, before receiving extreme unction, by the sacrament of penance and confession. Secondly, it heals the soul of her infirmity and weakness, and a certain propension to sin contracted by former sins, which are apt to remain in the soul, as the unhappy relics of sin; and it helps to remove something of the debt of punishment due to past sins. Thirdly, it imparls strength to the soul, to bear more easily the illness of the body, and arms her against the attempts of her spiritual enemies. Fourthly, if it be expedient for the good of the soul, it often restores the health of the body.

Q. What kind of oil is that which is made use of in the sacrament of extreme unction?

A. Oil of Olives, solemnly blessed by the bishop every year on Maunday-Thursday.

Q. What are the form and manner of administering this sacrament?

A. First, the priest, having instructed and dis ^posed the sick person to this sacrament, recites, if the time permit, certain prayers prescribed in the Ritual, to beg God's blessing upon the sick, and that his holy angels may defend them, that dwell in that habitation, from all evil. Secondly, is said the Confiteor, or general form of confession and absolution; and the priest exhorts all present to join in prayer for the person that is sick; and if opportunity permit, according to the quality ^or number of persons there present, to recite the Seven Penitential Psalms with the Litanies, or other prayers, upon this occasion. Thirdly, the priest, making three times the sign of the cross upon the sick person, at the name of the blessed Trinity, says, 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, may all power of the devil be extinguished in thee, by the laying on of our hands, and the invocation of all the holy angels, arch-angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins and all the saints. Amen.' Fourthly, dipping his thumb in the holy oil, he anoints the sick person, in the form of the cross, upon the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands and feet; at each anointing making use of this form of prayer: 'Through this holy unction, and his own most tender mercy, may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins thou hast committed by thy sight. Amen.' And so of the hearing, and the rest, adapting the form to the several senses. Fifthly, after this the priest goes on: 'Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Our Father, &c. And lead us not into temptation. E, But deliver us from evil. F. Save ihy servant. M. Trusting in thee, O my God. V. Send him, O Lord, help from thy sanctuary. R. And do thou defend him from Sion. F. Be to him, O Lord, a tower of strength. R. From the face of the enemy. F. Let not the enemy have any power over him. R. Nor the son of iniquity be able to hurt him. F. Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. F. The Lord be vith you. R. And with thy spirit.'

Let us pray.

O Lord God, who hast said by thy Apostle James; 'Is any one sick among you? Let him call for the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall ease him; and if he be in sins they shall be remitted to him:' heal we beseech thee, O our Redeemer, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, the maladies of this sick man, cure his wounds, and forgive him his sins, and expel from him all pains of mind and body, and mercifully restore unto him perfect health, both as to the interior and exterior, that being recovered by thy mercy, he may return to his former duties. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us pray.

Look down, we beseech thee, O Lord, on thy servant N. fainting under the infirmity of his body, and refresh a soul which thou hast created.

that he, being improved by thy chastisements, may be saved by thy medicine. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray.

O holy Lord, Almighty Father, everlasting God! who, by imparting the grace of thy benediction to sick bodies, preservest, according to the multitude of thy mercies, the work of thy hands; favourably attend to the invocation of thy name, and deliver thy servant from his illness, and restoring him to health, raise him up by thy right hand, and strengthen him by thy virtue, defend him by thy power, and restore him with all desired prosperity to thy holy church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

As to what belongs to the order of the visitation of the sick, and the prayera and devotions proper upon that occasion, as also the manner of assisting those that are dying, consult the Roman Ritual; out of which I shall present you with the following form of the recommendation of a departing soul.