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Objection 1: It would seem that these parts are unsuitably
assigned, namely, that the eyes, nose, ears, lips, hands, and
feet should be anointed. For a wise physician heals the disease in its
root. Now "from the heart come forth thoughts . . . that defile a
man" (Mt. 15:19,20). Therefore the breast ought to be
anointed.
Objection 2: Further, purity of mind is not less necessary to those
who are departing this life than to those who are entering therein.
Now those who are entering are anointed with chrism on the head by the
priest, to signify purity of mind. Therefore in this sacrament those
who are departing should be anointed on the head.
Objection 3: Further, the remedy should be applied where the
disease is most virulent. Now spiritual sickness is most virulent in
the loins in men, and in the navel in women, according to Job
40:11: "His strength is in his loins, and his force in the
navel of his belly," as Gregory expounds the passage (Moral.
xxxii, 11). Therefore these parts should be anointed.
Objection 4: Further, sins are committed with other parts of the
body, no less than with the feet. Therefore, as the feet are
anointed, so ought other members of the body to be anointed.
I answer that, The principles of sinning are the same in us as the
principles of action, for a sin is an act. Now there are in us three
principles of action; the first is the directing principle, namely,
the cognitive power; the second is the commanding principle, namely,
the appetitive power; the third is the executive principle, namely,
the motive power.
Now all our knowledge has its origin in the senses. And, since the
remedy for sin should be applied where sin originates in us first, for
that reason the places of the five senses are anointed. the eyes, to
wit, on account of the sight, the ears on account of hearing, the
nostrils on account of the smell, the mouth on account of the taste,
the hands on account of the touch which is keenest in the finger tips,
(in some places too the loins are anointed on account of the
appetite), and the feet are anointed on account of the motive power of
which they are the chief instrument. And since the cognitive power is
the first principle of human activity, the anointing of the five senses
is observed by all, as being essential to the sacrament. But some do
not observe the other unctions---some also anoint the feet but not
the loins---because the appetitive and motive powers are secondary
principles.
Reply to Objection 1: No thought arises in the heart without an act
of the imagination which is a movement proceeding from sensation (De
Anima ii). Hence the primary root of thought is not the heart, but
the sensory organs, except in so far as the heart is a principle of the
whole body, albeit a remote principle.
Reply to Objection 2: Those who enter have to receive purity of the
mind, whereas those who are departing have to cleanse the mind. Hence
the latter need to be anointed in those parts in respect of which the
mind's purity may be sullied.
Reply to Objection 3: Some are wont to anoint the loins, because
they are the chief seat of the concupiscible appetite: however, as
stated above, the appetitive power is not the primary root.
Reply to Objection 4: The bodily organs which are the instruments
of sin, are the feet, hands, and tongue, all of which are anointed,
and the organs of generation which it would be unbecoming to anoint, on
account of their uncleanliness, and out of respect for the sacrament.
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