Catholic end-of-life practices. When a Catholic patient is approaching end of life, the patient or their family may request that a priest visit to perform Last Rites or Viaticum which includes confession, Anointing of the sick, and final Holy Communion.
The confession of sins is followed by an act of contrition. The dying person repeats their baptismal promises. An alternative is to recite the Apostles' Creed. The priest recites the Our Father prayer.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for those who are seriously ill; Viati- cum, the Eucharist, is the Sacrament for the dying. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick occurs when a Catholic priest prays over, lays hands on and anoints the sick person on the forehead and hands with the Oil of the Sick.
“The Last Rites”
This is a special Eucharistic service celebrated near the time of death. Viaticum may be administered by a priest, deacon or a trained layperson. If administered by a priest, an opportunity for Reconciliation (or confession) may be provided as part of the rite if the patient desires.
The Catholic Rites are comprised of three separate and vital parts. The Vigil, Funeral Mass and the Committal. Through these sacred and solemn Catholic Rites, the family and friends of the deceased are reminded of the companionship and support of Christ and all believers.
They may be administered to those awaiting execution, mortally injured, or terminally ill. Last rites cannot be performed on someone who has already died. Last rites, in sacramental Christianity, can refer to multiple sacraments administered concurrently in anticipation of an individual's passing.
It is administered as soon as a person begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age (CCC 1514). The anointing of the sick can be given to anyone suffering from a serious illness or preparing for a complex procedure or operation. The same holds for an elderly person who is becoming more frail (CCC, 1515).
The Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary says, “The Church prays for those who find themselves unable to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and of the Viaticum, entrusting each and every one to divine Mercy by virtue of the communion of saints and granting the faithful a Plenary Indulgence on the point ...
This is known as the Last Rites, but the true name for this final blessing is the sacraments of Penance, Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum. The purpose of a dying Catholic's Last Rites is to offer a final purification of the dying person's soul and to prepare them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2276) affirms that "those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect." As such, the Catechism views palliative care as a "special form of disinterested charity [that] should be encouraged" (2279).
Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell are what the Church refers to as the Last Things.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Eucharist should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the 'viaticum' for 'passing over' to eternal life” (No. 1517).
The chaplain's job is to provide comfort and counseling, and to ensure that the patient, loved ones, and caregivers are ready to move on when the time comes to do so. After the death of a patient, the chaplain often provides bereavement services and grief counseling for loved ones.
Rabbinical application. Although the priest, or modern kohen, is forbidden to come in contact with a dead body, he is permitted to become defiled for his closest relatives: father, mother, brother, unmarried sister, and child.
What Are Last Rites? The Last Rights, or Viaticum, specifically refers to 3 sacraments. These are confession, the anointing of the sick, and final Holy Communion. Each of these is a way to cleanse a person's soul of sins in preparation for the afterlife.
Typically there will be an on-staff or volunteer chaplain available to administer “Holy Communion for the Dying.” If the facility doesn't provide a chaplain or minister, consider placing a call to your loved one's parish to request Viaticum.
Catholics who are divorced and remarried outside of the Church may receive the Sacrament of Anointing and Last Rites if they are in danger of death. For more information about Anointing of the Sick or administration of the Last Rites, contact the parish office in the parish where you participate.
As a Catholic, may I be cremated? Yes. In May 1963, the Vatican's Holy Office (now the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith) lifted the prohibition forbidding Catholics to choose cremation.
A priest may anoint any Christian upon request. A person may be anointed more than once, especially if they take a “turn for the worse.” The elderly can be anointed when the frailties of age or dementia begin to take their toll.
One of the first things people traditionally do if someone dies is to tie the big toes of the dead body together. This is very important because it will tighten up the Muladhara in such a way that the body cannot be invaded by that life once again.
Trimming hair and nails
Generally, this emanates from the belief that nails and hair were given to the children by the deceased as a parent and as such they shouldn't be trimmed during the mourning period and after the burial. At least you should wait for 49 days.
In the olden days, family members would all gather together in the house of the deceased on the seventh day following the death date. This is when the dearly departed is thought to return back home.
Last Rites are performed traditionally by Roman Catholic priests and are part of their responsibilities and duties within the Catholic Church. However, if a priest is unavailable, the sacraments can also be performed by a bishop, deacon, or trained layperson (a non-ordained member of the church).
Priests are often expected to deliver some kind of eulogy in their homily, as well, despite the fact that the General Instruction for the Roman Missal instructs the priest not to do so (and oftentimes they may not even know the deceased or their family).