The Conferring of Extreme Unction

Extreme unction is a sacrament of spiritual healing and strengthening. This is signified by the bodily healing which sometimes accompanies its use, and may accompany it in any instance of its being administered. Hence, this sacrament is not for those who are in health, but for the sick. And Scripture indicates as much: “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” (James5:14).

Extreme unction is not to be conferred in slight illnesses. It is a proximate preparation of the soul for death, and judgment, and heaven. Its name indicates the fact that it is to be administered in extremity; it is extreme unction. This sacrament is conferred upon a person seriously ill, not necessarily near to death, but suffering an illness that may prove fatal.

Extreme unction is sometimes conferred upon a person who has lapsed into unconsciousness. It is not refused to an unconscious patient whose previous life has indicated, at least implicitly, that he would wish to be fortified with the sacramentswhen he comes to die. Hence, extreme unction is not conferred upon lifelong imbeciles or insane persons; their previous life could contain no evidence of desire for this sacrament.

The sacrament of extreme unction requires, in the recipient, real devotion, actual or habitual. Hence, it is not given to infants, who have not come to the use of reason. Besides,a baptized child under the age of reason has neither sin nor remains of sin on his soul.

In administering extreme unction, the priest anoints,not the whole body, but special parts of the body, namely, those that serve a person constantly and directly in his daily life.

These parts are: eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands, and feet.

Deformity in a bodily member to be anointed is no barto the anointing. Absence of members does not prevent the patient from receiving extreme unction.