In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, throughthe ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.
~ USCCB.ORG from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español
MANNER AND TIME: The situation or occasion determines the number of anointings — for example, during subsequent illnesses or if there is a more serious crisis in the same illness. If a person has lost consciousness or the use of reason, or is in a case of doubt, (whether the person has reached the age of reason, is seriously ill or is dead) it may be administered conditionally, presuming the individual would desire the sacrament. If a person has expired, then prayers of the dead and prayers for the commendation of the dying person are said.
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"Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven."
James 5:13-15