Often enough, the faithful have had little explanation about the important graces of this sacrament,

the res tantum, the ultimate effect of the sacraments.

And perhaps only a number of us remember anything about the intermediate effect.

The two work together, however, both from a theological as well as a spiritual point of view.

Understanding how these effects work together will help us to appreciate the great power of this sacrament,

both for the individuals who receive it, as well as for the church which is built up through

the ministrations of the sick and infirm, who are anointed sacramentally by priests.

It is my hope that these theological reflections will help you in your priestly ministry as you

anoint the sick and dying, helping them with Christ's power in the day of their suffering.

But also as you teach and preach, as pastors of souls about the necessity of the sacrament both for the salvation of souls

and the building up of the body of Christ.

First, I want to give a word about grace mediated through the sacraments and particularly then

the graces of the sacrament of anointing.

Then I'd like to talk about the intermediate effect of the sacrament of anointing. Then I'd like to talk about the intermediate

effect of the sacrament and why it is really important. Finally, we can sum this up by seeing how

these two effects of anointing of the sick work together. We all know, of course, that Christ is given the church the sacraments in order to give grace.

We say, in fact, that the primary effect of the sacraments is to cause grace. The Catholic

tradition is reiterated in the Catholic catechism, sacraments are signs and instruments

by which the Holy Spirit spreads the grace of Christ. And elsewhere, they are defined

as efficacious signs instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church by which divine life is dispensed to us.

Thus, baptism is the sacrament that frees us from all sin,

while at the same time making us participants in the life of the Blessed Trinity.

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