The final sacrament for consideration is that called the Anointing of the Sick. The many cures related in the Gospels witness to Christ's special compassion for the infirm and afflicted. His mere word or action cured the sick instantly and completely. Such miraculous cures proved Christ's claim to be the Son of God, and made evident His divine power to heal both the soul and the body

The proper subject for this sacrament is any member of the Church whose condition might be termed serious or critical. When this sacred anointing is properly received, the wounds of sin are healed, the soul is strengthened, and any obstacles to the patient's peaceful union with God are removed. Because this sacrament brings peace, new confidence, and hope to the sick, who are often troubled with anxieties, it often contributes also to the restoration of physical health.

The priest should be called when any of the faithful begin to be in danger from sickness or old age. The benefits of this sacrament are best obtained when the person is fully conscious and able to have the proper dispositions. This sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may be received often, that is, whenever a person during life might be seriously ill.

When the sacrament was instituted by our Lord, or on what occasion, we do not know. We do know that He sent His disciples about making use of anointing for symbolic purposes (see Mark 6:12f.). This practice was certainly continued in the Apostolic Church. For this, we have the testimony of St. James:

"Is anyone of you sick? He should call in the presbyters of the Church, and have them pray over him, while they anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. that prayer, said with faith, will save the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health. If he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him" (Jas. 5:14f.).

The universal tradition of the Catholic Church always has maintained the divine institution of this sacrament. Its matter and form are the consecrated oil and the prayers of the administering priest.

Such is the function of the Church that Christ established, the sanctifying Church which is to continue His redemptive work through all time, to be with the members of His Body from their first waking moments, in the sacrament of Baptism, through their lifetime down to the anointing which prepares them for the true home of Christians for all eternity.