“Last rites” is the popular name for the sacraments the Catholic Church gives to a person who is seriously ill or near death: Confession, the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion given as Viaticum. The Catechism calls them “the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland” (CCC 1525).
If someone is dying now, call the parish or the hospital chaplain immediately. Say that a Catholic is in danger of death and needs a priest. Most parishes have an emergency number on their voicemail. Do not wait until the last moments; the sacraments are meant to be received while the person is still alive, and ideally while they are awake.
What the last rites include
| Sacrament | What it does |
|---|---|
| Confession (Penance) | The person confesses their sins, if able, and receives absolution. |
| Anointing of the Sick | The priest anoints the forehead and hands with blessed oil, giving strength, peace and, if needed, forgiveness of sins. |
| Viaticum (Holy Communion) | The last Communion, “food for the journey,” the sacrament of passing from this life to the Father (CCC 1524). |
| Apostolic Pardon | A blessing with a plenary indulgence that the priest may give to the dying. |
When there is time, they are given in that order. In an emergency the priest may shorten the rites, and if the person cannot speak he can still absolve and anoint.
Who can receive the Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is not only for the moment of death. The Second Vatican Council taught, and the Catechism repeats, that it “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death”; the right time is “as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age” (CCC 1514). That includes:
- someone with a serious illness, such as cancer or advanced heart disease
- someone about to have serious surgery (CCC 1515)
- elderly people whose frailty is becoming more pronounced (CCC 1515)
- a person who has been anointed before, if they fall seriously ill again or get worse (CCC 1515)
- a person who is unconscious, if they would have wanted it as a believer
Only a priest or bishop can anoint (CCC 1516). A deacon or lay minister can bring Communion and pray with the sick, but cannot give the Anointing or absolution.
What happens during the visit
- Greeting and sprinkling. The priest may sprinkle the person and the room with holy water, a reminder of Baptism.
- Confession. Family members step out so the sick person can confess privately. If they cannot speak, the priest gives absolution.
- Readings and prayers. A short Scripture reading and a litany for the sick person.
- Laying on of hands. The priest silently lays his hands on the person’s head.
- Anointing. He anoints the forehead and the palms of the hands with the oil of the sick, praying the words of the sacrament: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up” (CCC 1513).
- The Lord’s Prayer and Viaticum. If the person can swallow, they receive Holy Communion, sometimes only a small piece of the Host or a drop of the Precious Blood.
- Apostolic Pardon and blessing.
The whole visit may take ten to thirty minutes. Family members are welcome to pray along.
What the Anointing of the Sick does
The Catechism lists the effects of the sacrament (CCC 1532):
- union of the sick person with the Passion of Christ, for their own good and for the whole Church
- strength, peace and courage to endure illness or old age in a Christian way
- the forgiveness of sins, if the person could not receive the sacrament of Penance
- the restoration of health, if that is good for the salvation of the soul
- preparation for passing over to eternal life
The sacrament comes from the Letter of St. James: “Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:14–15, Douay-Rheims).
The Apostolic Pardon
At the hour of death, a priest can give the Apostolic Pardon, a blessing that carries a plenary indulgence, the remission of all temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. If no priest can come, the Church still grants a plenary indulgence at the moment of death to any of the faithful who are rightly disposed and who habitually prayed during their life (Enchiridion of Indulgences, 1999, grant 12). The Church recommends that a crucifix or cross be used. This is a great consolation for families who could not reach a priest in time.
How to arrange the last rites
- At home: call your parish office. After hours, listen for the emergency option on the recording. If you cannot reach your parish, call a neighboring Catholic parish.
- In a hospital: ask a nurse for the Catholic chaplain, or call the hospital’s spiritual care office. Many hospitals keep an on-call priest.
- In a nursing home or hospice: ask staff whether a priest visits regularly, and give them your parish’s number in advance.
- Ahead of time: add “Catholic, please call a priest” to the person’s medical records and tell the family. A planned anointing before surgery or when a diagnosis is serious is far better than a rushed one at the end.
Have ready: the person’s name, location and room number, whether they are conscious, and a callback number.
A prayer while you wait for the priest
Gather around the person and pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Act of Contrition, slowly and calmly. Help the dying person make an act of sorrow and trust, even silently. A simple prayer such as “Jesus, I trust in you” or “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul” is enough.
When death is near, the Church’s ancient commendation of the dying has been prayed at Catholic deathbeds for more than a thousand years:
Go forth, O Christian soul, out of this miserable world, in the name of God the Father Almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy Ghost, who sanctified thee; in the name of the angels, archangels, thrones, dominations, cherubim, and seraphim; in the name of the patriarchs and prophets, of the holy apostles, and evangelists, of the holy martyrs and confessors, of the holy monks and hermits, of the holy virgins, and of all the saints of God: let thy place be this day in peace, and thy abode in holy Sion: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
If the person has already died
The sacraments are for the living, so a priest does not anoint someone who has clearly died. If there is doubt whether death has occurred, the priest may anoint conditionally (Code of Canon Law, canon 1005). A priest can still come to pray with the family and to bless the body. Prayers for the dead do not end at death: see the Eternal Rest prayer, Catholic prayers for the dead, and how to arrange Mass intentions for the dead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between last rites and the Anointing of the Sick?
The Anointing of the Sick is one sacrament. “Last rites” refers to the whole group of sacraments given at the end of life: Confession, Anointing and Viaticum. The older name for the anointing, “Extreme Unction,” meant the last anointing in a Christian life.
Can a non-Catholic receive last rites?
The sacraments are normally given to Catholics. Orthodox Christians may receive them if they ask on their own and are properly disposed. Other baptized Christians may receive them in danger of death if they ask on their own, cannot reach a minister of their own community, and share the Catholic faith in these sacraments (Code of Canon Law, canon 844 §§3–4). A priest can always pray with and bless anyone.
Is there a charge for the last rites?
No. A priest never charges for the sacraments. Families sometimes make a donation to the parish afterward, but it is not required.
Can the last rites be given more than once?
Yes. The Anointing may be repeated if the person recovers and falls ill again, or if their condition worsens during the same illness (CCC 1515).
What should the family do during the last rites?
Pray, answer the responses if you know them, and keep the room calm. Step out during Confession. Afterward, stay with the person, hold their hand and keep praying.
Related guides
- Prayer for a happy death
- Prayer before surgery
- Catholic funeral prayers
- The seven sacraments
- Prayers of the Faithful for the sick and dying
- Prayers of the Faithful for the sick
- The Act of Contrition
- Catholic prayers for the dead
- Prayers of the Faithful for a Catholic funeral
Texts and sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499–1532 (the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum), especially 1514–1516, 1520–1523, 1524–1525 and 1532.
- James 5:14–15, Douay-Rheims Bible.
- Code of Canon Law, canons 998–1007 (Anointing of the Sick) and canon 844 (sharing sacraments).
- Apostolic Penitentiary, Enchiridion of Indulgences (1999), grant 12.
- Commendation of the dying: William Gahan, The Complete Manual of Catholic Piety, “The Recommendation of a Soul Departing,” public domain (Project Gutenberg); opening words modernized from “Depart then.”