Day 209: Summary of the Anointing of the Sick

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age. CCC 1527

In today's reading, the Catechism gives an "In Brief" about what has been covered over the past few days. I really have nothing further to add to this, but the Catechism Companion, Vol II has some good commentary:

Our lives can serve as a practice for death. Often, we do not reflect deeply on death or the death of those close to us. Reflection is different from worrying, and it involves praying and meditating on our own death. The Church offers ways to prepare for death, such as making a daily examination of conscience. The examination helps us assess whether we are actively saying yes to God or being indifferent or rejecting him... By giving up things that bind us, we cultivate the readiness to let go and prepare for heaven. The Church provides these practices because it wants us to be ready for death. (p. 182)

Finally, Dr. Brant Pitre does a good job explaining the sacrament in this video: