Page:Catechismoftrent.djvu/217

 holy joy, and enables us to wait with cheerfulness the coming of the Lord, prepared to yield up all that we have received from his bounty, whenever he is pleased to summon us from this world of wo. Another, and the most important advantage derived from Extreme Unction, is, that it fortifies us against the violent assaults of Satan. The enemy of mankind never ceases to seek our ruin: but to complete our destruction, and, if possible, deprive us of all hope of mercy, he more than ever increases his efforts, when he sees us approach our last end. This Sacrament, therefore, arms and strengthens the faithful against the violence of his assaults, and enables them to fight resolutely and successfully against him. Tranquillized and encouraged by the hope of the divine mercy, the soul bears up with fortitude against every difficulty, experiences an alleviation of the burden of sickness, and eludes with greater ease, the artifice and cunning of the enemy, who lies in wait for her. Finally, the recovery of health, if advantageous to the sick person, is another effect of this Sacrament. However, should this effect not follow, it arises not from any defect in the Sacrament, but from weak ness of faith on the part of him by whom it is received, or of him by whom it is administered; for the Evangelist informs us, that our Lord wrought not many miracles amongst his country men, because of their incredulity. It may, however, be proper to observe, that Christianity, now that it has taken deep root in the minds of men, stands less in need of the aid of such miracles in our days, than in the early ages of the Church. Nevertheless, our faith is here to be strongly excited, and what ever it may please God in his wisdom to do with regard to the health of the body, the faithful should be animated with an as sured hope of receiving from it spiritual health and strength, and of experiencing, at the hour of their dissolution, the truth of these consoling words: " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

We have thus briefly explained the sacrament of Extreme Unction. If the heads of the matter be developed by the pastor more at large, with the diligence which their importance demands, the faithful, no doubt, will derive from their exposition abundant fruit of piety.

FROM an attentive consideration of the nature of the other Sacraments we shall find little difficulty in perceiving, that, so dependent are they all on that of orders, that without its intervention some could not exist, or be administered, whilst others