CCC 1532 mentions the effects of the special grace of this sacrament:
– 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;
– the forgiveness of sins, if the 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.
The Catechism clearly states that a person doesn't have to be dying in order to receive this
sacrament. CCC 1514 states: 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 already
arrived."
This is a
sacrament
intended to bring
healing and to give
spiritual as well as
physical strength.
Let us avail of the
graces Christ has
intended for us to
receive and may
we all find healing both in body and in spirit.
CCC 1509 states: "Heal the sick!" The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to
carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of
intercession. She believes in the lifegiving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies.
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