Praying for the sick and, more importantly, praying over the sick, especially in association with anointing, is an ancient and venerable practice of the Church, as attested by the Letter of St James. The exact relationship between the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and the recommendation given by St James is not completely clear, but that does not in any way lessen the value of the Church's ancient tradition of anointing the sick.

Believing in its sacramental healing and reconciliation powers is in the spirit of the Gospel, namely Jesus' practice of anointing and his command to his disciples to fulfil the mission entrusted to them. Though the New Testament does not explicitly refer to the seven sacraments and does not call the anointing of the sick a "sacrament", there is reasonably abundant biblical evidence for the Church's belief that this anointing is a source of graces which a sick person needs.

After Vatican II, the Church enhanced the sacramental value of anointing the sick. It was known as the Sacrament of Extreme Unction or the "Last Rites" in the old terminology. However, the Anointing of the Sick has a heightened nuance of mercy and love of God rather than fear. In general, the Sacrament of the Sick is part of the overall renewal of the Church's pastoral Sacrament of Salvation.