“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (Jas 5:14-15).

Anointing of the Sick Brochure (pdf)

Why is the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick so important to Catholics?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that the special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has these effects:

• the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his or her 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 or her soul;
• the preparation for passing over to eternal life.

What changes have been made in this sacrament since I was a child in Catholic school?
When many of us were growing up, this sacrament was called “Extreme Unction,” which actually means, “final anointing.” Since Vatican II, the sacrament has been called the “Sacrament of the Sick” or the “Anointing of the Sick.” The biggest difference is that Extreme Unction was offered only when one was dying, while the Sacrament of the Sick is now offered to anyone who is seriously ill, facing serious surgery, or simply in a state of advancing old age. No longer should the faithful be concerned that the mere suggestion of this sacrament means that they are dying!

Is the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick a “once only” sacrament?
No. It can be received many times. If persons who have received the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick recover, they can receive the sacrament if they fall ill again. Also, should their illness worsen, they may receive the sacrament again.

Do I have to be in the hospital to receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?
No. As with all sacraments, the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration, whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital, or a church, and whether for a single sick person or a group of sick persons. With the shortage of priests that the Church is now experiencing, it is important that you not wait until the last minute to receive the Sacrament of the Sick if at all possible. If you have surgery scheduled, or have just been diagnosed with a serious illness, tell your pastor that you would like to receive the sacrament. Since the sacrament is now often given long before persons are on their deathbeds, it can take place within the regular celebration of the Mass, even before one enters the hospital. More and more parishes now offer communal Masses for the Sick, in which this sacrament is preceded (as it always should be) by the private sacrament of Penance, and followed by the sacrament of the Eucharist. Schedule of Anointing of the Sick

What actually happens in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
First, the priest will offer you the sacrament of Reconciliation. Then, he will anoint your forehead and hands while asking God in prayer to bestow upon you the special grace of this sacrament. Finally, he will offer you the Eucharist, if your condition allows you to receive it.

If I have received the Sacrament of the Sick, don’t I still need a priest at my bedside when I am actually dying?
While it is understandable that the presence of a priest as one actually dies can be very comforting, there should be no dismay if a priest is not at one’s bedside. First, God loves you and knows if it is impossible for a priest to be with you. Second, the “Last Sacrament” of the Roman Catholic Church is not the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Rather, it is the last Eucharist, or “viaticum,” which literally means “with you on the journey.” While a priest is, of course, needed to consecrate the Eucharist, and to give the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, a priest is not needed to bring you Viaticum. Any baptized Catholic may bring Eucharistic to you from the tabernacle.

Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of “passing over” to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection, according to the words of the Lord: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” The sacrament of Christ once dead and now risen, the Eucharist is, for the dying, the sacrament of passing over from death to life, from this world to the Father.

What is " Viaticum" and who can provide this “Last Sacrament” for the Journey?
The term viaticum means "food for the journey.” The celebration of the Eucharist as viaticum, food for the passage through death to eternal life, is the sacrament proper to the dying Christian. It is the completion and crown of the Christian life on this earth, signifying that the Christian follows the Lord to eternal glory and the banquet of the heavenly kingdom. Priests and other ministers entrusted with the spiritual care of the sick should do everything they can to ensure that those in proximate danger of death receive the body and blood of Christ as viaticum.

In The Rites Book, Pastoral Care of the Sick 161-163, Part II, Pastoral Care of the Dying, the term “ minister “ is used to mean that Lay Persons may celebrate the Rite of Viaticum other than priests or deacons.