anointing

Lawrence says: Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments. Only a priest or bishop can administer it because of its relationship to the forgiveness of sins.

However, in the case of Last Rites, a designated lay person or ordained minister can also offer the Viaticum (Eucharist or communion rather than sacramental anointing).

In the Roman Catholic Church, Canon 1004 of the Code of Canon Law indicates succinctly who may receive the sacrament: "The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age." A new illness called a renewal or worsening of the first illness enables a person to receive the sacrament a further time.

And "in the case of a person who is chronically ill, or elderly and in a weakened condition, the sacrament of anointing may be repeated when in the pastoral judgment of the priest the condition of the sick person warrants the repetition of the sacrament".

The text of the Rite also states that the sacrament of anointing can be administered to an individual whether at home, in a hospital or institution, or in church; and several sick persons may be anointed within the rite, especially if the celebration takes place in a church or hospital; the celebration may also take place within Mass.

In the Greek Church anointing of the sick is performed annually in church for the benefit of the entire congregation on the evening of Holy Wednesday. In other sacramental churches it may be offered to anyone seeking physical, mental, or spiritual healing.

The Catholic Church views that, as the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. Through the sacrament is given a gift of the Holy Spirit that renews confidence and faith in God and strengthens against temptations to lapse into discouragement and anguish at the thought of death and the struggle of death. It thus leads to spiritual healing with forgiveness of sins.