EXTREME UNCTION 191 



The name Extreme Unction or Last Anointing, which 

 is of popular origin, is not a very fortunate one because 

 of the implication that the Sacrament forebodes death. 

 But as this name correctly describes the primary purpose 

 of the rite, *. e., to prepare and fortify the soul for its 

 last journey, it was adopted by the Church after it had 

 obtained currency among the people. The Council of 

 Trent employs the older term, "sacra infirmorum 

 unctio," and the modern " extrema unctio," indiscrimi- 

 nately. 



As Father Kern has pointed out, the custom, which has 

 grown wide-spread since the twelfth century, of demand- 

 ing and administering Extreme Unction only when all 

 hope of recovery has vanished and death is imminent, "is 

 opposed to the usage of the ancient Church and owes its 

 existence to such causes as popular superstition, false 

 theological teaching, and avarice, which have nothing 

 in common with the operation of the Holy Ghost. 

 This deplorable practice endangers to a very large extent 

 the attainment of the object for which Extreme Unction 

 was instituted by Christ. The principal effect of this 

 Sacrament is the supernatural strengthening of the sick 

 in order to enable them to bear the sufferings and tempta- 

 tions by which they are harassed, for the honor of God, 

 so that, to apply St. Paul's dictum, 'that which is at pres- 

 ent momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for 

 us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of 

 glory.' 8 This supernatural strengthening of soul and 

 body is intended also to induce the sick man, with the 

 extraordinary assistance of divine mercy, to which he is 

 commended in the name of Christ, to make acts of con- 

 fidence, resignation, patience, contrition, and charity, and 



8 2 Cor. IV, 17. 



