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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’ 2299 or the
sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage. 1526 ‘Is any among you sick? Let him callfor the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offaith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven’ Uas 5:14—15). 1527 The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as
its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the
Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the
condition of grave illness or old age. 1528 The proper timefor receiving this holy
anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to
be in danger of death because of illness or old age. 1529 Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he
may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after
he has received it, the illness worsens. 1530 Only priests (presbyters and bishops) can give
the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, using oil
blessed by the bishop, or if necessary by the
celebrating presbyter himself. 1531 The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick
consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and
hands of the sick person (in the Roman rite) or of other
parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being
accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking
for the special grace of this sacrament. 1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the
Anointing 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;
—theforgiveness of sins, ifthe 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.
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