Of all of the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is probably the least understood.  Some have referred to this sacrament as Extreme Unction, Anointing of the Sick, and Last Rites, all of which allude to different meanings.

The Sacrament of Anointing with Holy Oil is intended for God's healing power to be poured out upon the sick:  to bring healing to the body, mind and spirit.  The anointing for healing is the Church's special act of healing; this sacrament is entrusted to the elders of the Church: the priests and the bishop [James 5].  Other members of the Body are encouraged to pray for healing and to lay on hands at other times for we recognize that there are some called by God to exercise the special gift [a charism] of healing, and because their ministry bears the fruit of healing, they need no special appointment within the Church.  These acts of prayer and faith for healing are accomplished without the use of sacramental anointing oil.  Oil of any kind or mixture may be used by the laity.

The rite is very biblical. In His ministry Jesus not only cured physical ills but also forgave man's sins.   In the prayer of anointing, this connection between physical and spiritual illness is clearly made.  Biblically this sacrament emphasizes the unity of the body and the soul so the person is seen as whole and not compartmentalized.  Restoration to wholeness is the goal, beautifully symbolized by the anointing prayer of faith  and the laying on of hands,  as in James 5:14-16.

As the priest attends to the spiritual and sacramental  needs of the afflicted, all the members of the Church need to be involved on behalf of the sick and afflicted in various ways by visiting,  bringing food,  phone calls,  all the while praying with them and for them.  This sacrament stresses the communal priestly dimension of the Body of Christ.

Scriptural healing is both forgiveness of sin and physical healing.   Everyone should have confidence in the healing power of prayer and seek to bring both spiritual and physical healing to people in need.  Whatever role we play in sharing the healing ministry of God with others, we must follow the example of Christ's compassion to be true ministers of healing [Matthew  8:14-17].