Treatise VI: On Extreme Unction

1870. EXTREME UNCTION, just as it is the last Sacrament, so, according to D. Thomas, is the crown of spiritual life; for, fortified by this Sacrament, a man is disposed proximately to entrance into the heavenly fatherland.

The Treatise on Extreme Unction very fittingly follows the Treatise on Penance; for, according to the Council of Trent (sess. 14, on E. U.), Extreme Unction is the consummative Sacrament of Penance: insofar, namely, as it consummates and perfects penance, deleting the remnants of sins, and imposes an end to the Christian life, which ought to be perpetual penance. "Extreme Unction," says St. Thomas,¹⁰ "is compared to Penance as Confirmation to Baptism; namely in such a way that Penance is of greater necessity, but Extreme Unction is of greater perfection."

The things to be said concerning this Sacrament will be set forth in three chapters. In the first, the discourse will be concerning the nature of Extreme Unction; in the second, concerning its minister; and in the third, concerning its subject.