According to Catechism for Filipino Catholics, 1866, The Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament which, through the

laying on of hands, the prayer of faith, and the anointing with blessed oil, provides the sick with Christs healing grace of the Holy Spirit.

The sacrament is also referred to as Unction, and in the past as Extreme Unction, and it is one of the three sacraments that constitute the Last Rites (together with the Sacrament of Penance and Viaticum).

It was discovered that the ritual of Extreme Unction that had been with the Church since the Council of Trent (1545) bore little resemblance to the ritual and understanding of anointing the sick in the early and patristic Church. The current focus was on death, while the early focus was on physical health. The current ministers of the sacrament were priests, while the early ministers were laity.

The sacrament is administered by a priest, who uses olive oil or another pure plant oil to anoint the patient's forehead and perhaps other parts of the body while reciting certain prayers. It is believed to give comfort, peace, courage and, if the sick person is unable to make a confession, even forgiveness of sins. Several other Churches and Ecclesial Communities have similar rituals.

Biblical foundation

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick?* He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord
15 and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:13-15

So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Mark 6:13

In the fourth chapter if the Gospel of Matthew, right after the account of Temptation of Jesus (verses 1-11), Jesus started his public life and public ministry. In his ministry highlighted in Matthew 4:23-24, healing is a major consideration among the many things Jesus has done. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among people. News about him spread over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed and he healed them( Mt 4:23-24, NAB) Specifically, the sacrament is clearly scripturally instituted in James 5. Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:13-15, NAB)

1. Difference between cure and healing

CUREmedical pursuit of the eradication of disease or defect.

HEALING holistic care that touches body, mind and spirit.

2. The Christian attitude toward sickness:

Sickness is a sign of the oppressive presence of evil One must struggle against all sickness & seek good health The sick needs Gods grace

Thus, The Sacrament of Anointing brings about healing:

Not through any magic or natural medicinal causes but through the prayer of faith and anointing in the name of the Lord.

Rites

The Anointing of the sick should be prepared by the Confession, and followed by the reception of the Holy Communion. -Introductory Rites-

The priest greets the sick person and the others present.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: And also with you. The priest sprinkles the sick person and those present with holy water, saying: Let this water call to mind our Baptism in Christ, who by his death and resurrection has redeemed us.

-Liturgy of the WordThe Gospel according to Liturgy of Anointing Priest: My brothers and sisters, in our prayer of faith let us appeal to God for our brother/sister ________. Come and strengthen him/her through this holy anointing: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Free him/her from all harm: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Relieve the sufferings of all the sick: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Assist all those dedicated to the care of the sick: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Give life and health to our brother/sister ________, on whom we lay our hands in your name People: Lord, have mercy. In silence, the priest lays hands on the head of the sick person. Then, the priest anoints the forehead of the sick person with the blessed oil, saying: THROUGH THIS HOLY ANOINTING MAY THE LORD IN HISLOVE AND MERCY HELP YOU WITH THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. People: Amen.

Then, the priest anoints the hands, saying: MAY THE LORD WHO FREES YOU FROM SIN SAVE YOU AND RAISE YOU UP. People: Amen. Priest: Let us pray. Father in heaven, through this holy anointing grant __________ comfort in his/her suffering. When he/she is afraid, give him/her courage, when afflicted, give him/her patience, when dejected, afford him hope, and when alone, assure him of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. People: Amen. Priest: Now let us offer together the prayer our Lord Jesus Christ taught us: Our Father The priest gives the Holy Communion to the sick person (optional). Then he gives the final blessing. Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Priest: May Almighty God bless you the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. People: Amen

The purpose of this Sacrament

In our day the Church wants us to understand that Anointing is not to be feared or put off until death is certain. It is meant to help a person prepare for possible death by taking away sins and giving peace to the soul. It helps the person who receives it to accept God's plan for his life and to die a holy death if this is God's will. Through this sacrament, the sick and the elderly encounter Jesus, who comes to give them his peace and comfort. The Second Vatican Council told us: The Sacrament of the Sick should be given, not at the point of death, but as soon as a Christian begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age (Sacrosanctum concilium, III, 73).