For Decree XV. Orafmuch as there are fome ignorant Clergymen, who being defired by Christians to read the Gospels and Prayers to them, or to give them the Bleffing on their heads, do ignorantly use the form of Sacramental Abfolution, faying, I abfolve thee from thy Sins in the Name of the Father, &c. wherefore the Synod doth advertise and admonish them not to commit fuch an Error, it being a moft grievous Sacrilege to apply the Sacramental form, where it ought not to be, wherefore they fhall only read the Gofpels and Prayers allowed, ending with the Bleffing In the Name of the Father, &c. The Doctrine of the Sacrament of Ex- He The fifth Sacrament of Extream Unition has for its matter, the Oyl of Olive blessed by a Bishop, it is called Extream Unction, because it is the last of all the Holy Unctions, instituted by our Lord Chrift in his Church, and the last that is received by a Christian; this Sacrament is to be adminiftred to an adult Perfon that is fick, when apprehended to be in probable danger of death, who is to be anointed by the Priest the only minister of this Sacrament, on those parts wherewith he hath offended God chiefly that is to fay, on the Eyes, because of Sins committed ted by the fight; on both the Ears, because of Sins committed by hearing; on the mouth, because of Sins committed by tasting and speaking; on both the hands, for the fins committed in feeling and touching; on both the Feet, for the Sins committed in walking on the Loins and Reins, for being the chief feat of Carnal pleasure; every one of which parts must be anointed by the Priest, making the fign of the Crofs upon them with his Thumb dipt in Holy Oil, and at the fame time repeating the words of the form, which are, By this Holy Unction, and his most tender mercy may our Lord forgive thee all the Sins thou hast committed by thy fight; and fo on, naming every part or sense as it is anointed: The effect of this Sacrament, is the Health of the Soul, and of the Body alfo, fo far as it is convenient and necessary to the Soul, which is the chief; moreover, it washeth away the Reliques of fin, if there are any remaining in the Soul, comforting the Soul of the Sick withall, and confirming and exciting in it a great confidence in the Divine Mercy, by virtue of which Confolation it fuffers the troubles of Sickness with the more patience, and with the greater ease refifts the Temptations of Satan, whose custom it is to affault the Soul with extraordinary violence in its laft Hour: It likewife cherishes and fuccours the Body, fo far as it is convenient for the falvation of the Soul, as S. James teacheth us in his Canonical Epiftle, faying, Is any one Sick, let him call for the Priests of the Church, and they shall pray over him, anoint ing him with Oyl in the Name of the Lord, and the Prayer of Faith fhall fave the Sick, and the Lord fhall give him ease, and if he be in Sins, they fhall be forgiven him: The Apostle in faying they fhall be pardoned, demonstrates it to be a Sacrament, whose Virtue and Nature is to conferr Grace, that pardoneth Sins; and in saying, If any are fick among you, he declares the time when this Sacrament is to be received, that is in time of dangerous Sickness; and in saying, they shall call the Priests of the Church, he fheweth that the Priefts are the only Minifters of this Sacrament, and in faying, they shall be anointed with Oil in the Name of the Lord, he theweth, that Holy Oil is the matter of this Sacrament; and in faying, they shall pray over the Sick, anointing, he thew-. eth, that the form of this Sacrament is to be pronounced by way of deprecation, or Prayer; and in faying, the Lord fhall give him eafe, he fheweth alfo, that the effect of this Sacrament is to give health to the Body, fo far as it is convenient and neceffary to the health of the Soul. And whereas this Sacrament was instituted for the use of the Sick, none but what are dangerously so must take it, and a Person who fhall recover after having received it, may when dangerously fick receive it again, it having been inftituted by our Lord for that end; and to prepare, defend and fortifie us at the time of our departure out of this life, whenfoever it is.. Decree 1 Decree I. Hereas in this Bishoprick there has not been hitherto any use of the Sacrament of Extream Unction, in which for want of Catholick Inftruction, there has been no knowledge of the Inftitution, Effects, or Efficacy thereof; therefore the Synod does moft earnestly recommend the ufe of this Sacrament, commanding the Vicars to be vigilant over the Sick of their Parishes, where-ever they live, whether in the Villages or in the Heaths; and whenever they fhall hear of any in danger of Death, to carry the most Holy Sacrament of Unition, and administer it to them according to the Roman Ceremonial, which is to be tranflated into Syrian, and kept in all Churches, anointing them with Oil, and making the fign of the Crofs with Holy Oil on both their Eyes fhut; doing the right firft, and then the left, upon the Eye-lashes, and upon both the Ears, the Noftrils, and the Mouth, being hut, on both the Lips; but if the Distemper fhould be fuch, that the Sick Perfon's Mouth cannot be fhut, or not without danger, then the upper Lip fhall be anointed, making the fign of the Crofs upon it; as alfo both the Palms of the Hands, the Balls of the Feet and the Loins, ordering the Sick Perfon to be moved gently; neither is it neceflary that any more of thefe parts fhould be anointed than what is convenient for the making the fign of the Crofs ing him with Oyl in the Name of the Lord, and the Prayer of Faith fhall fave the Sick, and the Lord fhall give him ease, and if he be in Sins, they fhall be forgiven him: The Apostle in faying they fall be pardoned, demonstrates it to be a Sacrament, whofe Virtue and Nature is to conferr Grace, that pardoneth Sins; and in saying, If any are fick among you, he declares the time when this Sacrament is to be received, that is in time of dangerous Sickness; and in faying, they fhall call the Priests of the Church, he fheweth that the Priests are the only Minifters of this Sacrament, and in faying, they shall be anointed with Oil in the Name of the Lord, he fheweth, that Holy Oil is the matter of this Sacrament; and in faying, they shall pray over the Sick, anointing, he thew-. eth, that the form of this Sacrament is to be pronounced by way of deprecation, or Prayer; and in faying, the Lord fhall give him eafe, he fheweth alfo, that the effect of this Sacrament is to give health to the Body, fo far as it is convenient and necessary to the health of the Soul. And whereas this Sacrament was instituted for the use of the Sick, none but what are dangerously so must take it, and a Person who fhall recover after having received it, may when dangerously fick receive it again, it having been inftituted by our Lord for that end; and to prepare, defend and fortifie us at the time of our departure out of this life, whenfoever it is. Detree |