Through out the history of the church sick people have traditionally been anointed, and for many years this sacrament was especially for those who were close to death, this has now changed:

At the Vatican council in 1963, the sacrament was renamed ‘anointing of the sick’. Its primary purpose was to bring comfort to the sick, helping them to trust in God and giving them strength to overcome their temptations to despair and their anxiety about death. It is now considered that it is the responsibility of all Christians to minister to the sick.

1. The person receives the grace (power and love) of God.

2. They are given the strength and courage to accept their illness - even if they are to eventually recover.

3. To take away the fear of death, to help them to be positive and this in turn might help them to recover.

4. So the sick person can say sorry for their sin and receive forgiveness.

5. The person can show faith which even if they do not recover will help them become closer to God.