A Sacrament of the New Law, instituted by Jesus Christ, in which the sick who are seriously ill,by the anointing with holy oil, and by the prayer of the priest, receive the grace of God for the good of their souls and often also for the good of their bodies. Its minister is a priest; the recipient must be illfrom sickness, and in a state of grace, though from its secondary end it can also act as a sacrament of the dead and remit mortal sin. Its purpose is to heal the soul and wipe out the remains of sin and thus prepare it for entrance into glory. Restoration to health through the sacrament is of frequent occurrence. The Apostle James (5) writes:
"Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
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