Anointing of the Sick

The Anointing of the Sick
What is The Anointing of the Sick?
 Is a Sacrament of the Catholic Church that is administered to Catholic members who are sick or in danger of death.
 The sacrament is also referred to in Latin as Unction, and in the past as Extreme Unction, and is one of the three sacraments that make up the rituals known as the ” Last Rites ”.
 The sacrament is administered by a priest, who uses olive oil or another pure plant oil to bless (anoint) the patient on forehead and hands while reciting certain prayers.
 The anointing is believed to forgive the patient's sins and strengthen his or her soul to face the spiritual and physical challenges of the condition.
Relationship with the Last rites
 Anointing of the Sick is closely associated with, and often administered during the rituals known as the Last Rites. However, the term "Last Rites" is not equivalent to "Anointing of the Sick", since it refers also to two other distinct rites: Sacrament of Penance and Eucharist, the last of which is known as "Viaticum" (Latin:"provision for the journey") when administered to the dying.
 The normal order of administration of the rites is: first Penance (if the dying person is physically unable to confess, absolution is given conditionally on the existence of contrition), then Anointing, then Viaticum.
 It is important to note that during the Last Rites only a priest or bishop can administer the Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick. However, in the absence of a priest, these sacraments may be omitted and a lay person may be distribute the Viatcum to a patient.
The Receiver of the Sacrament.
Following this biblical understanding, the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that.
 The Anointing of the Sick "is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly