EXTREME UNCTION 



193 



Hence when it is possible to receive this Sacra- 

 ment, a Catholic in danger of death is bound 

 under pain of mortal sin to ask for it, if failure 

 to do so would give grave scandal or involve con- 

 tempt of the Sacrament, 11 or if Extreme Unction 

 were the only Sacrament the patient was still able 

 to receive. According to the commonly accepted 

 teaching of St. Thomas, however, refusal to do 

 so is not per se a mortal sin. 



The state of grace is required for the worthy reception 

 of Extreme Unction, and hence the administration of this 

 Sacrament is generally preceded by Confession and Com- 

 munion. Extreme Unction, in fact, is the consummation 

 of Penance. 12 When Penance and Holy Communion can 

 no longer be administered, it is sufficient that the patient 

 give a sign of contrition, or, if he be unconscious, that he 

 may be reasonably presumed to desire the Sacraments of 

 the dying. 



The positive disposition required for the worthy re- 

 ception of Extreme Unction consists in acts of faith and 

 hope, and confidence in God's mercy. 13 The Roman 

 Catechism admonishes pastors to preach often on Ex- 



11 Cone. Trident., Sess. XIV, Be 

 Extr. Unct., c. 3: "Neque vero 

 tanti sacramenti contemptus absque 

 ingenti scelere et ipsius Spiritus 

 Sancti iniuria esse potest." 



12 Cone. Trident., Sess. XIV, De 

 Extr. Unct., c. 3; Cat. Rom., P. II, 

 c. 6, qu. 12; Pohle-Preuss, The Sac- 

 raments, Vol. IV, p. 1, 2nd ed., St. 

 Louis 1918. 



13 Cat. Rom., P. II, c. 6, qu. 9: 

 "Fides et religiosa animi voluntas." 

 — Cfr. Gury, Comp. Theol. Mor., II, 

 n. 523: "Quaenam dispositio re- 



quiratur ad huius sacramenti sus- 

 ceptionem? (1) Peccatorum con- 

 fessio, si infirmus in mortali verse- 

 tur, hoc enim sacramentum est 

 poenitentiae complementum ideoque 

 haec praecedere debet. (2) Quodsi 

 infirmus non possit sua peccata con- 

 fiteri, contritio saltern praecedat ne- 

 cesse est, hoc enim extremae unc- 

 tionis sacramentum est primario sa- 

 cramentum vivorum et ad reliquias 

 peccatorum tollendas praecipue in- 

 stitutum fuit. — Verum in tali casu 

 ipsa attritio sufflcere posse videtur, 



