245. The Anointing of the Sick has the effect of forgiving sins.

The Anointing of the Sick has the effect of forgiving sins.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 245

Ave Maria series

245  How does the Anointing of the Sick work?

The Anointing of the Sick imparts consolation, peace, and strength and unites the sick person, in his precarious situation and his sufferings, with Christ in a profound way.  For the Lord experienced our fears and bore our pains in his body.  For many people the Anointing of the Sick brings about physical healing.  But if God should decide to call someone home to himself, he gives him in the Anointing of the Sick the strength for all the physical and spiritual battles on his final journey.  In any case, the Anointing of the Sick has the effect of forgiving sins. [1520-1523, 1532]

Anointing a sick person.…..245

Many sick people are afraid of this sacrament and put it off until the last minute because they think it is a sort of death sentence.  But the opposite is true: the Anointing of the Sick is a sort of life insurance.  A Christian who is caring for the sick person should relieve him of any false fear.  Most people in serious danger sense intuitively that nothing is more important for them at the moment than to embrace immediately and unconditionally the One who overcame death and is Life itself: Jesus, the Savior.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me.” Psalm 23:4

 [1520-1523, 1532]

THE EFFECTS OF THE CELEBRATION OF THIS SACRAMENT

1520 A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death.(Compare Hebrews 2:15.)¹³⁵ This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God's will.(Compare Council of Florence (1439): DS 1325.)¹³⁶ Furthermore, "if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."(James 5:15; compare Council of Trent  --(1551): Denzinger-Schonmetzer 1717.)¹³–Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

1521 Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ's Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior's redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.--CCC

1522 An ecclesial grace. The sick who receive this sacrament, "by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ," "contribute to the good of the People of God."(Lumen Gentium 11 § 2.)¹³⁸ By celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and he, for his part, through the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.--CCC

1523 A preparation for the final journey. If the sacrament of anointing of the sick is given to all who suffer from serious illness and infirmity, even more rightly is it given to those at the point of departing this life; so it is also called sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing).(Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schonmetzer 1698.)¹³⁹ The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointings that mark the whole Christian life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and that of Confirmation which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father's house.(Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schonmetzer 1694.)¹⁴⁰--CCC

IN BRIEF

1532 The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: 
- 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.–CCC