Part III, The Means of Grace: Extreme Unction

1. What is Extreme Unction?

Extreme Unction is a Sacrament in which the sick, by the anointing with holy oil, and by the prayer of the Priest, receive the grace of God for the good of their souls, and often also of their bodies.

This Sacrament is called Extreme Unction, because it is usually the last of the holy unctions which are administered by the Church.

2. Whence do we know that the Sacrament of Extreme Unction was instituted by Christ?

We know this, 1. From the Holy Scripture; and 2. From the constant doctrine of the Church.

3. What does Holy Scripture say of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?

The Apostle St. James says in his Epistle (v. 14, 15) : ' Is any man sick among you, let him bring in 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 raise him up, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.'

4. Why do we infer from these words that Christ has instituted Extreme Unction?

Because the anointing with oil could have no Sacramental power of forgiving sins, if Christ had not so ordained it

5. How is Extreme Unction administered?

The Priest anoints the different senses of the sick person with holy oil, and uses, at each anointing, this form of prayer : ' Through this holy unction, and His most tender mercy, may the Lord forgive thee whatever sins thou hast committed by thy sight (by thy hearing, etc. ) .

6. What effects does Extreme Unction produce in the soul?

Extreme Unction, 1. Increases sanctifying grace; 2, It remits venial sins, and also those mortal sins which the sick person can no more confess; 3. It removes the remains of sins already forgiven ; and 4. It strengthens the soul in her sufferings and temptations, especially in her agony.

By remains of sins we understand the temporal pur.ishment, the evil inclinations of the heart, and the weakness of the will, which are the consequences of sins committed, and remain even after the sins have been forgiven.

7. What effects does Extreme Unction produce in the body?

It often relieves the pains of the sick person, and sometimes restores him even to health, if it be expedient for the salvation of his soul.

8. Who can and ought to receive Extreme Unction? Every Catholic who has come to the use of reason, and

is so ill as to be in danger of death ; but not persons in health, even though they are in danger of death.

9. How are we to receive Extreme Unction? We are to receive it,

10. In the state of grace; wherefore we must previously, if possible, confess our sins, or, at least, make an Act of Perfect Contrition; and

11. With faith, hope, and charitv, and resignation to the will of God.

_ Acts of these and similar virtues should often be made by the sick person during illness, especially when his end approaches.

and all present ought to help him to do so. It may be briefly done in the following words:

I believe, my God, in Thee,

I most firmly hope in Thee,

And I love most truly Thee,

And all men are dear to me.

All my sins are grieving me.

Which, I beg Thee, pardon me.

I resign myself to Thee,

Thank for good and evil Thee;

Nay, I '11 live and die for Thee. Amen.

10. When should we receive Extreme Unction?

We should receive it if possible, whilst we are still in our senses, and after having received the Viaticum.

11. How often can Extreme Unction be received?

In each dangerous illness it can be received once; it can, however, be repeated on relapse into danger that had passed.

12. Is it not unreasonable for a person, from fear of death, to defer, or even neglect, the receiving of Extreme Unction until he is at the point of death?

Certainly; for,

1. Extreme Unction has been instituted even for the health of the body;

2. The sick person will recover more probably, if he employs in time the remedy ordained by God, than if he waits until he cannot recover except by a miracle ; and

3. If his sickness be mortal, what should he wish for more earnestly than to die happy, which this Holy Sacrament gives him grace to do ?

Relatives also, or attendants, of the sick person, sin grievously, if through their fault the last Sacraments are not administered to him in due time. ' His sisters, therefore, sent to Him, saying: Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick' (John xi. 3). The person who goes to call the Priest should be able to explain the condition of the patient, in order that the Priest may be able to decide whether or not he is to bring the Holy Viaticum with him.

Application. When God in His mercy visits you with.

a dangerous illness, be sure not to put off the receiving of the Holy Sacraments to the last moment; otherwise death may surprise you when it is no longer possible to have the attendance of a Priest.