Catholic
canon law specifies those who may receive the sacrament: "The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age." If a new illness develops or the first illness relapses or worsens, the patient may receive the sacrament a further time. A priest may, on the basis of his pastoral judgment, administer the sacrament numerous times in cases of old age or chronic illness. Like any sacrament, Anointing of the sick can be given only to someone alive; however, as the precise moment of death is not known or defined with precision, someone may be validly anointed during a brief period after having been declared
clinically dead. The sacrament of anointing can be administered to an individual whether at home, in a hospital or care institution, or in a church. Several sick persons may be anointed within the rite, especially if the celebration takes place in a church or hospital. The celebration may also take place during a Catholic
Mass.
Relationship with the "last rites" When administered to those near to death, the sacraments of
penance, Anointing of the sick and
Viaticum (
Holy Communion administered the dying) are collectively sometimes called the
last rites. What in the judgment of the Catholic Church are properly described as the last rites are:
Viaticum, and the ritual prayers of Commendation of the Dying, and Prayers for the Dead. The normal order of administration of these three sacraments to the dying is: confession (if the dying person is physically unable to confess, the absolution is given conditionally on the existence of
contrition), then Anointing, and finally Viaticum. Only a
priest or
bishop can administer the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick, but a
deacon or
layperson may deliver and administer Holy Communion as "Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian".
Established form The oil used in the sacrament is usually
olive oil, though other oils may also be used. It is often from stock blessed by a diocesan bishop at the
Chrism Mass he celebrates, often on the morning of
Holy Thursday or another day close to it. In case of necessity, the priest administering the sacrament may bless the oil then and there within the framework of the rite. In the
Roman Rite of the
Latin Church, as established through the papal document
Sacram unctionem infirmorum of 1972, has the priest anoints the sick person's forehead and hands with oil (usually tracing the form of a cross). The formula is as follows: "Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up." He may also, in accordance with local culture and traditions, and the needs of the sick person, anoint other parts of the body, but without repeating the required sacramental formula. The previous form used in the Roman Rite included anointing seven parts of the body, while saying (in
Latin): "Through this holy anointing, may the Lord pardon you whatever sins/faults you have committed by... ." The sense in question was then mentioned: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, walking, and carnal delectation. Touching of the loins was generally omitted in English-speaking countries unless a male believers consented; it was forbidden in general so to do on female believers. ==Eastern Catholic churches==