When I was first learning the names of the seven sacraments in the 1950s the fifth one was Extreme Unction. I never knew what “unction” was and why it was extreme. I only knew it was also called the Last Rites. To me that meant it was given to you when you were dying. I think that’s what most people thought then and many still think that today.
I finally got around to looking up what unction was. It means anointing. So it is extreme anointing. What is extreme about it? That’s where it gets interesting.
Extreme comes from the Latin word extremis, which is normally translated as in extreme circumstances. In medical usage, in extremis is translated as “at the point of death”.
The Latin phrase. Unctionem In Extremis, literally translates to Anointing at the Point of Death. The Catholic Church called it Extrema Unctio. The literal translation being the Last Anointing.
Chapter 3 of the Vatican II document, Constitution On The Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, states in paragraph 73:
“Extreme unction,” which may also and more fittingly be called “anointing of the sick,” is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as any one 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.
Pope Saint Paul VI declared in 1972:
The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is administered to those who are dangerously ill, by anointing them on the forehead and hands with olive oil, or, if opportune, with another vegetable oil properly blessed, . . .
The Code of Canon Law 1 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2 provide more guidance.
The Church, over the last fifty to sixty years, has come to understand and emphasize the healing nature of the sacrament. The healing the Church envisions can be physical healing, if God desires that, but the normal healing is a spiritual healing especially when applied to a chronic illness or for the elderly.
God understands that we, as humans, do not see or understand everything as clearly as we would if we did not have a fallen nature. As we age we suffer more from illness and injury. We suffer from declining mental capabilities. We suffer from declining physical capabilities. We suffer from emotional issues. We get tired. Sin affects our thinking and our actions. We need all of the grace God can give us.
The Catechism states, “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.” 2
One might ask what is meant by the term, “begins to be in danger of death”? That is a fair question especially if one is having surgery for something that in and of itself is not life threatening. I had surgery both in the San Francisco Archdiocese and the Sacramento Diocese that in and of itself was not life threatening. However, I was going to be under general anesthesia which can be a threat to someone’s life if there is a severe reaction to the anesthetic. I was anointed in both dioceses. You may want to clarify the issue with your pastor if you have any questions.
When I say a spiritual healing I am addressing the assistance God’s grace gives us in strengthening our hope and increasing our trust in God.
Disease can only kill the body. We know our body is finite. It is temporal. It is mortal. No matter what we do, no matter how good our genes are, no matter how well we take care of our body, we are going to die. That wasn’t God’s plan from the beginning, but that is how things are now.
Our souls are immortal. Our souls will never die.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt 10:28)
We need to keep our soul strong. The sacraments are there for this very purpose. Anointing of the Sick is intended to help keep our soul, our spirit, strong. When our soul, our spirit, is strong we are better able to resist sin. We are less likely to despair. We are more able to accept the hardships we face and offer our suffering to God to be joined with the sufferings of Christ.
Do not hesitate to avail yourself of this sacrament if you meet the conditions. Talk to a priest or your pastor if you are elderly or have a serious or chronic health issue. Being anointed even once a month may not be too frequent, depending on your circumstances.
At some point we will all be having an experience like one we have never had before. We will be face-to-face with our Creator. The deeper our faith; the stronger our hope and trust; the more we love as God loves; the easier it will be to face Him.
Greg Gillen
July 29, 2025
© 2025 Greg Gillen
1 Code of Canon Law
can. 1004
§1. The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.
§2. This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person, having recovered, again becomes gravely ill or if the condition becomes more grave during the same illness.
can. 1005
This sacrament is to be administered in a case of doubt whether the sick person has attained the use of reason, is dangerously ill, or is dead.
can. 1006
This sacrament is to be conferred on the sick who at least implicitly requested it when they were in control of their faculties.
can. 1007
The anointing of the sick is not to be conferred upon those who persevere obstinately in manifest grave sin.
Code of Canon Law: New English Translation (Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1998), 321.
2 Catechism of the Catholic Church
1514 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.”
1515 If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.
Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 379.
in extremis
adverb
in ex·tre·mis ˌin-ik-ˈstrē-məs -ˈstrā-
: in extreme circumstances
especially : at the point of death
Medical Definition
in extremis
adverb
in ex·tre·mis ˌin-ik-ˈstrē-məs -ˈstrā-
: at the point of death
“In extremis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20extremis
www.papalencyclicals.net/paul06/p6anoin.htm
www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html
Scripture/Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition/Ignatius Press
Photo Credits/ Extreme Unction painted between 1638 and 1640 | Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665) | Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge | Public Domain
