The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness.

The Anointing of the Sick "is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived." It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation.

The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:

--the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his 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 soul;

--the preparation of his soul for passing over to eternal life.

Viaticum, The last Sacrament of the Christian:
In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum.