II. Who Receives and Who
Administers This Sacrament?
In case of
grave illness . . .
1514
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."129
1515
If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the
case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same
illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be
repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a
serious operation. the same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more
pronounced.
" . .
. let him call for the presbyters of the Church"
1516
Only priests (bishops and presbyters) are ministers of the Anointing of the
Sick.130 It is the duty of pastors to instruct the faithful on the
benefits of this sacrament. the faithful should encourage the sick to call for
a priest to receive this sacrament. the sick should prepare themselves to
receive it with good dispositions, assisted by their pastor and the whole
ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way
through their prayers and fraternal attention.
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