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UNCTION - Anointing of the sick with blessed oil, for the healing of body and soul. The gift of healing is bestowed by the Holy Spirit through the anointing, together with the prayers of the Unction service. (James 5:14, 15; 1 John 2:20.) The seventh Sacrament of Unction with Oil is a special ceremony of anointing the sick for healing the ailments of the body and the soul. This ceremony is usually performed at the bedside of the sick. The ceremony calls for seven priests and seven Gospels and Epistles are read. This Sacrament is performed only once over the same person, but may be repeated if the person becomes ill with another kind of ailment. This Sacrament was instituted by our Lord and practiced in Apostolic times. See also SACRAMENT.
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