1. What is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
Extreme Unction is the Sacrament which gives health and strength to the soul and sometimes to the body to persons who are in danger of death.
The words “Extreme Unction” mean “Last Anointing”. In the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, the body is anointed with Holy Oil. In the Sacrament of Extreme Unction the body is anointed with Holy Oil for the last time. Hence the name.
2. Is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction mentioned in the Bible?
Yes, the Sacrament of Extreme Unction is mentioned in the Bible, although the name “Extreme Unction” is not mentioned.
“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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he be in sin, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:14, 15).
3. How is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction given?
First the Priest prays over the sick person, and then he makes the sign of the Cross with the Holy Oil (anoints) on the person’s eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands and feet.
4. What prayer does the Priest say while anointing the sick person?
The Priest says: “Through this holy anointing, and by His most tender mercy, may the Lord pardon you whatever sins you have committed by sight (or hearing, or speech, and so on).”
5. What does Extreme Unction do for the soul?
The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
1) gives me more grace
2) gives me comfort in my sickness
3) gives me strength against the temptations of the devil in my last hours
6. Does Extreme Unction take away sin?
The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
1) takes away all my venial sins
2) it takes away even my mortal sins if I am unable to confess them and if I have religious sorrow for them.
7. What does Extreme Unction sometimes do?
The Sacrament of Extreme Unction sometimes brings back my health if this is helpful for my salvation.
8. Who can receive Extreme Unction?
Any Catholic who is in danger of death from sickness, old age or accident not only may but should receive Extreme Unction. However, Extreme Unction may not be given to infants or to anyone who has never had the use of his mind.
9. When should Extreme Unction be received?
The Sacrament of Extreme Unction should be received whenever sickness or accident is so serious that it will probably cause death.
Examples: pneumonia, ruptured appendix, heart attack, any serious operation.
10. Who can give the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
Only a Catholic Priest can give the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
11. How often can the Sacrament of Extreme Unction be received?
Extreme Unction can be received only once in the same danger of death from the same sickness. However, it can be received again if a new danger arises, for example, after another heart attack.
12. What should be done in case of sudden death?
In case of sudden death, the Priest should be sent for right away, because Extreme Unction may be given even after a person is apparently dead.
Death is the separation of body and soul, and it is difficult to tell exactly when the soul leaves the body. The only sure sign of death is corruption of the body. And so, in the case of sudden death, the soul is probably in the body for some time after breathing and heart beat have stopped.
13. What should be done before the Priest comes to anoint the sick person?
Before the Priest arrives, the sick person and the room should be be prepared. The other members of the family should gather in the sick room and wait for the Priest to come.
14. How should the sick room be prepared?
In the sick room, there should be a table with a white cloth spread on it. A crucifix, two blessed candles, a bottle of holy water, a glass of drinking water, a spoon and some cotton should be placed on the white cloth.
15. What should be done when the Priest comes?
A member of the family, carrying a lighted candle, should meet the Priest at the door and in silence should lead him to the sick room.
No one should talk to the Priest, for he probably has the Blessed Sacrament with him. When he enters the sick room, all should kneel down.
16. What does the Priest do when entering the sick room?
First the Priest recites some prayers and sprinkles the sick person with holy water. Then he hears the sick person’s Confession, if possible, in which case everyone should leave the room.
17. After the Confession, what does the Priest do?
After the Confession, the Priest gives the sick person Holy Communion (called “Viaticum”), then Extreme Unction, and finally, the Last Blessing.
All of these together are called the “Last Sacraments” or the “Last Rites of the Church”.
18. What should be done after the Priest leaves?
After the Priest leaves, someone should stay with the sick person, help him to pray and encourage him.
19. What kind of a sin is it to deprive a sick person of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
It is a very serious sin to deprive a sick person of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. The obligation of sending for the Priest rests on the members of his family.
It often happens that a convert to the Catholic Church is the only Catholic in the family. If such is the case, the Catholic should inform his non-Catholic relatives to send for the Priest if he should ever be in danger of death.
20. What should be said about a family who is afraid to call the Priest lest the sick person become frightened?
It is ridiculous to suppose that the sick person will become frightened when the Priest comes because a Catholic in danger of death is always glad to see the Priest in order to receive the comforts that only the Sacraments can give.
It must be remembered that Extreme Unction sometimes brings back the health, and always brings comfort to the sick person.
21. Why is it wrong to wait until the sick person is unconscious before sending for the Priest?
It is wrong to wait until the sick person is unconscious before sending for the Priest because the sick person must be conscious in order to receive fully all of the benefits of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
22. What should be done when a Catholic dies?
A member of the family and the undertaker should immediately go see the Parish Priest of the dead person to make arrangements for the funeral, deciding the date and time of the wake and of the funeral Mass, and in what cemetery the burial is to take place.
As stated before, it often happens that a convert to the Catholic Religion is the only Catholic in the family. If such is the case, the Catholic should inform his non-Catholic relatives what to do when he dies.
23. In what cemetery should a Catholic be buried?
A Catholic should be buried in the consecrated ground of a Catholic cemetery. This is the law of the Church.
24. Are Catholics allowed to be cremated?
Catholics are strictly forbidden to have their bodies cremated, and the Catholic burial service is denied to those who give orders to have their bodies cremated.
The Church forbids cremation because cremation would destroy belief in the resurrection of the body. However, cremation is allowed in serious public necessity, for example, during a pestilence.