Q. 959.  To whom may Extreme Unction be given?  A. Extreme Unction may be given to all Christians dangerously ill, who have ever been capable of committing sin after baptism and who have the right dispositions for the Sacrament.  Hence it is never given to children who have not reached the use of reason, nor to persons who have always been insane.

Q. 960.  What are the right dispositions for Extreme Unction?  A. The right dispositions for Extreme Unction are:  (1) Resignation to the Will of God with regard to our recovery; (2) A state of grace or at least contrition for sins committed, and (3) A general intention or desire to receive the Sacrament.  This Sacrament is never given to heretics in danger of death, because they cannot be supposed to have the intention necessary for receiving it, nor the desire to make use of the Sacrament of Penance in putting themselves in a state of grace.

Q. 961.  When and by whom was Extreme Unction instituted?  A. Extreme Unction was instituted at the time of the apostles, for James the Apostle exhorts the sick to receive it.  It was instituted by Our Lord Himself—­though we do not know at what particular time—­for He alone can make a visible act a means of grace, and the apostles and their successors could never have believed Extreme Unction a Sacrament and used it as such unless they had Our Lord’s authority for so doing.

Q. 962. {272} When should we receive Extreme Unction?  A. We should receive Extreme Unction when we are in danger of death from sickness, or from a wound or accident.

Q. 963.  What parts of the body are anointed in Extreme Unction?  A. The parts of the body anointed in Extreme Unction are:  The eyes, the ears, the nose or nostrils, the lips, the hands and the feet, because these represent our senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, which are the means through which we have committed most of our sins.

Q. 964.  What things should be prepared in the sick-room when the priest is coming to give the last Sacraments?  A. When the priest is coming to give the last Sacraments, the following things should be prepared:  A table covered with a white cloth; a crucifix; two lighted candles in candlesticks; holy water in a small vessel, with a small piece of palm for a sprinkler; a glass of clean water; a tablespoon and a napkin or cloth, to be placed under the chin of the one receiving the Viaticum.  Besides these, if Extreme Unction also is to be given, there should be some cotton and a small piece of bread or lemon to purify the priest’s fingers.

Q. 965.  What seems most proper with regard to the things necessary for the last Sacraments?  A. It seems most proper that the things necessary for the last Sacraments should be carefully kept in every Catholic family, and should never, if possible, be used for any other purpose.

Q. 966.  What else is to be observed about the preparation for the administration of the last Sacraments?  A. The further preparation for the administration of the last Sacraments requires that out of respect for the Sacraments, and in particular for the presence of Our Lord, everything about the sick-room, the sick person and even the attendants, should be made as neat and clean as possible.  Especially should the face, hands and feet of the one to be anointed be thoroughly clean.