I cannot leave this lesson on the Holy Eucharist without telling you something of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, now so universally practiced and so closely connected with the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.  The Church grants many indulgences, and Our Lord Himself promises many rewards to those who honor the Sacred Heart.  But what do we mean by the Sacred Heart?  We mean the real natural heart of Our Lord, to which His divinity is united as it is to His whole body.  But why do we adore this real, natural heart of Our Lord?  We adore it because love is said to be in the heart, and we wish to return Our Lord love, and gratitude for the great love He has shown to us in dying for us, and in instituting the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, by which He can remain with us in His sacred humanity.  When Our Lord appeared to Saint Margaret Mary He said:  “Behold this Heart, that has loved men so ardently, and is so little loved in return.”  The first Friday of every month and the whole month of June are dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

Lesson 25 ON EXTREME UNCTION AND HOLY ORDERS

“Unction” means the anointing or rubbing with oil or ointment.  “Extreme” means last.  Therefore Extreme Unction means the last anointing.  It is called the “last” because other unctions or anointings are received before it.  We are anointed at Baptism on three parts of the body—­on the breast, the back, and the head.  We are anointed on the forehead at Confirmation; and when priests are ordained they are anointed on the hands.  The last time we are anointed is just before death, and it is therefore very properly called the last anointing, or Extreme Unction.  But if the person should not die after being anointed would it still be called Extreme Unction?  Yes; because at the time it was given it was thought to be the last.  It sometimes happens that persons receive Extreme Unction several times in their lives, because they could receive it every time they were in danger of death by sickness.  Suppose a person should die immediately after being anointed in Baptism or Confirmation, would the anointing in Baptism or Confirmation then become Extreme Unction?  No.  Because Extreme Unction is in itself a separate and distinct Sacrament—­a special anointing with prayers for the sick.  Oil is used in Extreme Unction—­as in Confirmation—­as a sign of strength; for as the priest applies the holy oil in the Sacrament, the grace of the Sacrament is taking effect upon the soul.  This Sacrament was instituted as much for the body as for the soul, as all the prayers said by the priest while administering it indicate.  It is given generally after a person has made his confession and received the Viaticum, and when his soul is already in a state of grace; showing that it is in a special way intended for the body.  It must be given only in sickness; for although one might be in danger of death if the danger