with us in His sacred humanity. When Our Lord
appeared to Saint Margaret Mary He said: "Behold this Heart, that has
loved men so ardently, and is so little loved in return." The first
Friday of every month and the whole month of June are dedicated to the
Sacred Heart.

Lesson 25
ON EXTREME UNCTION AND HOLY ORDERS

"Unction" means the anointing or rubbing with oil or ointment. "Extreme"
means last. Therefore Extreme Unction means the last anointing. It is
called the "last" because other unctions or anointings are received
before it. We are anointed at Baptism on three parts of the body--on the
breast, the back, and the head. We are anointed on the forehead at
Confirmation; and when priests are ordained they are anointed on the
hands. The last time we are anointed is just before death, and it is
therefore very properly called the last anointing, or Extreme Unction.
But if the person should not die after being anointed would it still be
called Extreme Unction? Yes; because at the time it was given it was
thought to be the last. It sometimes happens that persons receive
Extreme Unction several times in their lives, because they could receive
it every time they were in danger of death by sickness. Suppose a person
should die immediately after being anointed in Baptism or Confirmation,
would the anointing in Baptism or Confirmation then become Extreme
Unction? No. Because Extreme Unction is in itself a separate and
distinct Sacrament--a special anointing with prayers for the sick. Oil
is used in Extreme Unction--as in Confirmation--as a sign of strength;
for as the priest applies the holy oil in the Sacrament, the grace of
the Sacrament is taking effect upon the soul. This Sacrament was
instituted as much for the body as for the soul, as all the prayers said
by the priest while administering it indicate. It is given generally
after a person has made his confession and received the Viaticum, and
when his soul is already in a state of grace; showing that it is in a
special way intended for the body. It must be given only in sickness;
for although one might be in danger of death if the danger did not come
from within, but from without, he could not be anointed. A soldier in
battle, persons being shipwrecked, firemen working at a great fire,
etc., could not be anointed, although they are in very great danger of
death; because the danger is not from within themselves, but from
without. If, however, these persons were so f