Anointing, illness and viaticum
Anointing of the Sick offers Christ’s strength, peace, and healing to people seriously affected by illness or old age. It is not reserved only for the final moments of life and is not a guarantee of physical recovery. Prayer, pastoral care, appropriate medical treatment, and support for caregivers belong together. Viaticum is the Eucharist received in preparation for the passage through death.
Follow the sources
An original library introduction, with sources for further study. This is a starting point rather than a complete treatment or a finished formation lesson.