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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5024 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 01:34 pm |
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The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was once known as Extreme Unction, or the "Last Anointing". It was generally withheld until a person was near the point of death, and was typically administered only once.
Vatican II redefined the sacrament to its original meaning, and broadened its use so that it may be properly administered to any person who is seriously ill or in danger of death from old age, illness, or impending surgery.
| 1515 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. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. |
Anointing of the Sick has several effects:
1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
- the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
- the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
- the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
- the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
- the preparation for passing over to eternal life. |
Intimately tied to the Anointing of the Sick are the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, if the sick person is capable of receiving those sacraments. Eucharist given shortly before the passage into eternal life is known as Viaticum. It may be given in the form of the Precious Body or Precious Blood, even in the smallest quantity, and may be allowed to dissolve on the tongue or may even be administered through a feeding tube.
| 1525 Thus, just as the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist form a unity called "the sacraments of Christian initiation," so too it can be said that Penance, the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute at the end of Christian life "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" or the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage. |
The bishop or priest is the proper minister of the Anointing of the Sick. Deacons may not perform the anointing because of the penitential nature of the sacrament. Oil used in the anointing is the Oil of the Sick, consecrated by the bishop.
In the Eastern Churches, the sacrament is administered by three, five, or seven priests (one only if necessary), using oil consecrated at the time of anointing.
Information on the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church beginning at #1499.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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