ON THE SACRAMENT OF EXTREME UNCTION.
" IN all thy works," says Ecclesiasticus, " remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin;" [1] words which convey to the subject the pastor a silent admonition, to omit no opportunity of exhorting the faithful to constant meditation on their last end. The sacrament of Extreme Unction, because inseparably associated with this awful recollection, should, it is obvious, form a subject of frequent instruction, not only inasmuch as it is eminently useful to develope the mysteries of salvation, but also because death, the inevitable doom of all men, when frequently recalled to the minds of the faithful, represses the licentiousness of depraved passion. Thus shall they be less appalled by the terrors of approaching dissolution, and will pour forth their gratitude in endless praises to God, whose goodness has not only opened to us the way to true life in the sacrament of Baptism, but has also instituted that of Extreme Unction, to afford us, when departing this mortal life, an easier access to heaven.
In order, therefore, to follow, in a great measure, the same order observed in the exposition of the other sacraments, we will first show that this sacrament is called " Extreme Unction," because amongst the other unctions prescribed by our Lord to his Church, this is the last to be administered. It was hence called by our predecessors in the faith, " the sacrament of the anointing of the sick," and also, " the sacrament of dying per sons," names which naturally lead the minds of the faithful to the remembrance of that last awful hour. [2]
That Extreme Unction is, strictly speaking, a sacrament, is first to be explained; and this the words of St. James, promulgating the law of this sacrament, clearly establish: " Is any man," says he, " sick amongst 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: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick man; and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him." [3] When the Apostle says: " if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him," he ascribes to Extreme Unction, at once the nature and efficacy of a sacrament. That such has been at all times the doctrine of the Catholic Church, many Councils testify, and the Council of Trent denounces anathema against all who presume to teach or think otherwise. [4] Innocent III., also, recommends this sacrament with great earnestness to the attention of the faithful. [5] The pastor, therefore, will teach that extreme Unc-
