What are Catholic Last Rites, and How are They Administered?

What are Catholic Last Rites, and How are They Administered?

The term "Last Rites" refers to the Sacrament which Catholics receive at the end of their lives. Specifically, Last Rites include Confession, Holy Communion, and the Anointing of the Sick, as well as the prayers accompanying each of those. 

Linguistically, "Last Rites" were more commonly referred to in past centuries than they are today. While the term is sometimes used to refer to only one of the Seven Sacraments (the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick), that limited application of the term is technically incorrect. In truth, the Anointing of the Sick is only part of the Last Rites, rather than the entirety of them. 

These final prayers and Sacraments were collectively known as Last Rites because they were usually administered when the person who was receiving these Sacraments was in grave danger of passing away. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was also previously known as "Extreme Unction." It is administered both to the dying and to those who are gravely ill, or about to undergo a serious or highly risky operation. The Anointing of the Sick is given to the gravely ill patient for the recovery of their health, as well as for spiritual strength. 

The Catholic Church also developed the ritual of Last Rites to prepare the soul of the dying person for death and the Judgment to come. Such preparations are believed to help the soul in the next world. Thus, confession of one's sins is another essential part of the Last Rites. Having confessed his or her sins, the dying person is absolved by the priest and receives the sacramental grace of Confession.

The exact ritual of Last Rites may vary from situation to situation. For instance, how close to death the confessor is, whether they are capable of speaking, and whether they are a Catholic in good standing with the Church, can all weigh into what rites an individual may be entitled to receive. 

The priest will begin the Last Rites with the Sign of the Cross. Then, if the person is Catholic, conscious, and able to speak, he will administer the Sacrament of Confession. Otherwise, he will lead the person in an Act of Contrition (something non-Catholics can take part in, as well as those who cannot speak). The priest will then lead the dying person in the Apostles' Creed, or in the renewal of his or her baptismal promises, depending again on whether or not the person is conscious. Non-Catholics can take part in this aspect of the Last Rites as well. 

At this point, the priest anoints the dying person, using the form of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for Catholics. For non-Catholics, the priest will do a simple anointing with holy oil or chrism.

After reciting the Our Father, the priest will then offer Holy Communion to the dying Catholic, if he or she is conscious. This final Communion is referred to as "viaticum" or "provision for the journey" into the next life. The ritual of Last Rites concludes with a final blessing and prayers.​

Originally posted on our Random Religion and Spirituality blog at:

https://random-religion-and-spirituality.blogspot.com/

Has this post inspired or impacted you in any way? Please let us know in the comments!

Donate to our Patreon account with a monthly subscription:

https://www.patreon.com/spiritualquestionsandanswers

Tip the author (or buy us a cup of coffee!) on Kofi:

https://ko-fi.com/spiritualquestionsanswers

Please donate to our Patreon or Kofi accounts, so that we can continue to write and publish great blog content! Every dollar counts! Thank you so much for your generosity and support!