What Are the Catholic Last Rites?
Posted by Brother Oscar
Confession, Anointing, Viaticum, and the Church's Care at the End of Life
A Catholic family member is seriously ill — perhaps unconscious in a hospital, perhaps deteriorating at home after weeks of illness. Someone in the family calls the parish or the hospital chaplain and asks for a priest to come and give the Last Rites. The call is right. The instinct is sound. But what the priest will do when he arrives, and what the Church actually offers, is more specific and more considered than the phrase "Last Rites" might suggest.
Last Rites is a familiar term, not a liturgical title. It does not name a single sacrament. Depending on the person's condition and consciousness, the Church may offer several distinct rites: the sacrament of Penance if the person can confess, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, the Eucharist received as Viaticum — the Church's special name for Communion given to someone approaching death — and the Apostolic Pardon. Prayers of commendation accompany all of these. Not every element is always possible, and the order may vary by circumstance.
This article explains each element, clarifies the important distinctions that popular language often blurs, and answers the practical questions families face in a medical crisis. It primarily describes the Latin/Roman Catholic rites; Eastern Catholic practices vary and are noted briefly where relevant.
What Are the Last Rites in the Catholic Church?
The phrase "Last Rites" has been part of Catholic life for centuries, and it persists because it captures something real: the Church has a pastoral and sacramental care specifically oriented toward those approaching death. But the phrase is not a formal liturgical category. The Church's official ritual, the Rite of Pastoral Care of the Sick and Rites for the Dying, does not use the phrase "Last Rites" as a technical name for any single rite or sacrament.
What the Church offers to a dying Catholic may include, depending on the person's condition:
- The sacrament of Penance (Confession/Reconciliation), if the person is conscious and able
- The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
- Viaticum — the Eucharist given specifically to someone facing death
- The Apostolic Pardon — an indulgence granted at the moment of death
- The Commendation of the Dying — prayers offered as the person passes
The Catechism of the Catholic Church groups Penance, Anointing, and Viaticum together as the sacraments that "complete the earthly pilgrimage" and "prepare [the Christian] for the journey to the Father" (CCC 1525). They are described as completing the arc that the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist — began. A person who received those sacraments at the beginning of Christian life now receives these as Christian life on earth concludes. There is a deliberate symmetry in Catholic sacramental theology.
Are the Last Rites a Sacrament?
"Last Rites" is not a single sacrament, and it is not the formal name of any particular rite in the Church's liturgical books. A person approaching death may receive up to three sacraments — Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist — along with the Apostolic Pardon and the Church's prayers. Each of these is a distinct act with its own theology, minister, and purpose.
The three sacraments involved each belong to the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Penance belongs to the sacraments of healing. Anointing of the Sick belongs to the sacraments of healing. The Eucharist (as Viaticum) belongs to the sacraments of initiation — the same sacrament a person first received at First Communion, now received in its most specific form for the dying. None of these is peculiar to the end of life; all three can be received at other times and for other reasons. What makes them "last rites" in the popular sense is the circumstance of their reception, not any difference in the sacraments themselves.
What Happens During the Catholic Last Rites?
When a priest arrives at a bedside to care for a dying Catholic, the sequence of what he does depends on the person's condition. There is no single universal script, and what is possible varies greatly. The following describes the usual pastoral approach when all elements are accessible.
Arrival and Prayer
The priest begins by greeting the person and those present, and leads the gathering in prayer. This initial prayer acknowledges God's presence and sets a tone of faith rather than fear. The priest may bring a stole, the small portable oil stock containing the Oil of the Sick, and a pyx with the Eucharist if Viaticum is to be given. In many Catholic hospitals a chaplaincy kit containing these is kept for exactly this purpose.
The Sacrament of Penance
If the dying person is conscious and able to communicate, the priest hears their confession. This is a sacrament that requires privacy; family members ordinarily step out during the confession itself, as they would for any confession. The priest, acting with the Church's authority given in John 20:23, pronounces absolution. If the person is weak or has difficulty speaking, the priest will adapt the celebration to what the person can actually communicate and will judge what is possible according to the Church's sacramental discipline.
If the person cannot confess because they are unconscious or have lost the capacity to communicate, sacramental confession cannot take place in the ordinary manner. The Church nevertheless continues to offer its pastoral care. The Anointing of the Sick, as noted below, includes the forgiveness of sins when the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance (CCC 1532).
The Anointing of the Sick
When Anointing of the Sick is celebrated, the priest lays his hands on the person's head and prays silently. Then, using the blessed Oil of the Sick, he anoints the person's forehead and hands, saying the words of the sacrament once. In a case of necessity — if the person's condition makes full anointing difficult — a single anointing on the forehead or another suitable part of the body with the full formula is sufficient.
The effects of the Anointing include the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure suffering in a Christian manner; union with the suffering of Christ; forgiveness of sins where this was not possible through Penance; and, where it is conducive to salvation, restoration of health (CCC 1532). The sacrament does not guarantee physical recovery — Catholic teaching does not claim this — but it is not a sacrament of death. It is a sacrament of healing, administered in the context of serious illness. A dedicated article on the full theology and practice of Anointing of the Sick will cover this sacrament in depth as the next article in this series.
Only a priest or bishop administers this sacrament. Canon 1003 is unambiguous: "Every priest, and only a priest, validly administers the Anointing of the Sick." This was confirmed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2005. A deacon cannot anoint.
Viaticum: The Eucharist Given to the Dying
If the person is able to receive, Viaticum may also be given — the Eucharist received specifically by someone approaching death.
The word comes from the Latin via (road or way), with viaticum meaning provisions for a journey — in Roman usage, the money or supplies given to an official or soldier setting out. The Church applies this language to the Eucharist given at the approach of death: nourishment for the final passage.
The Catechism gives Viaticum a singular status: "The Eucharist as Viaticum, food for the passage through death to eternal life, is the sacrament proper to the dying Christian. It is the completion and crown of the Christian life on this earth" (CCC 1524). Note that the Catechism calls Viaticum — not Anointing — the sacrament proper to the dying. Anointing is given to the seriously ill and may be given at various stages of illness. Viaticum is specifically ordered toward death.
A distinctive feature of Viaticum is the renewal of the baptismal profession of faith by the dying person, if they are able. This is theologically intentional. Christian life begins at the baptismal font with a profession of faith; it reaches its earthly conclusion with the same profession, and with the Eucharist — the sacrament that completes Christian initiation — received as final nourishment. The sacramental arc that Baptism opens closes, provisionally, with Viaticum.
A priest ordinarily brings Viaticum. Where a priest is not available, a deacon or — where lawfully permitted — an instituted acolyte or other authorized minister may bring the reserved Eucharist to the dying as Viaticum. The specific permissions in this regard are governed by the local bishop's provisions.
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
— James 5:14
The Apostolic Pardon
As part of the Church's care near death, a priest may impart the Apostolic Pardon — also called the Apostolic Blessing at the hour of death. This is an indulgence: a remission of temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. It is not a sacrament and is distinct from sacramental absolution in Penance.
The Apostolic Pardon may be imparted in connection with the Church's rites for the dying. It carries a plenary indulgence at the point of death for a properly disposed person. If no priest is available, the Church nevertheless provides for a plenary indulgence at the point of death for faithful who are properly disposed and who were habitually accustomed to prayer during life.
It is worth being clear about what the Apostolic Pardon is not. It is not sacramental absolution and does not replace Confession. Rather, as an indulgence, it concerns the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. It is one expression of the Church's pastoral care for a person at the end of life.
Prayers for the Dying and Commendation
Alongside and surrounding the sacraments are the Church's prayers for the dying, gathered in the rite of the Commendation of the Dying. These are not sacraments; they are the Church's liturgical prayer accompanying someone in their final hours.
The Commendation includes prayers asking God to welcome the dying person, to forgive and receive them, and to grant them peace. The Litany of the Saints — a long litany calling upon the saints to intercede — is traditionally associated with the dying. Psalm 23 is often prayed. There are short prayers that family members or the priest repeat as the person approaches death: "Go forth, Christian soul, from this world…" — the Proficiscere — is among the most ancient and moving of the Church's prayers, and it is addressed directly to the dying person. These prayers are offered whether or not the person is conscious, whether or not the sacraments have been received. They are the Church's final accompaniment.
Family members can participate in these prayers. A priest or deacon ordinarily leads them, but in a case where neither is available, any baptised Catholic may pray them with and for the dying person.
When Should a Family Call a Priest?
Call early. This is the single most important practical point this article can make.
Many families wait until the very final minutes before calling a priest — sometimes because they do not want to alarm the sick person, or because they associate the priest's arrival with a pronouncement of certain death. Waiting can unnecessarily limit what the person is able to receive. Penance requires the person's participation, and Viaticum requires the ability to receive Communion; Anointing of the Sick, however, may still be administered to an unconscious person who at least implicitly requested it while in possession of their faculties (Canon 1006). Calling earlier gives the person the best opportunity to receive the full pastoral and sacramental care available.
A priest should be called — or a hospital chaplain contacted — as soon as a Catholic is:
- seriously ill in hospital or at home
- facing significant deterioration
- before a major or dangerous medical procedure
- weakened by age and declining health
- or when death appears to be approaching
If you are the family member making the call, tell the parish or chaplain clearly that the person is seriously ill or dying and that a priest is needed. Many hospitals have Catholic chaplains available around the clock; many parishes have emergency pastoral care provisions. If the person's parish is not reachable, call any nearby Catholic parish and explain the situation. A priest may also come from a diocesan on-call service. Do not be reluctant to be direct.
Calling a priest does not mean hope is given up. It means the person is receiving what the Church considers among the most important gifts she can give: the sacraments that prepare the Christian soul for what comes next.
What If the Person Is Unconscious?
The Church has addressed this situation directly in canon law. Canon 1006 states that the Anointing of the Sick "is to be conferred on the sick who, when they were in possession of their faculties, at least implicitly requested it." The assumption — unless there is clear evidence to the contrary — is that a Catholic who lived their faith would want to receive the sacrament at the moment of serious need. The priest administers Anointing on this presumed request.
Canon 1005 adds that in any case of doubt — whether the person has attained the age of reason, is dangerously ill, or is dead — the sacrament should be administered. When the situation is genuinely uncertain, the Church errs toward pastoral care.
An unconscious person cannot make an ordinary sacramental confession, and Viaticum cannot be given if the person is unable to receive the Eucharist. Anointing of the Sick may still be administered when the conditions of Canon 1006 are met. The priest may also impart the Apostolic Pardon and pray the Church's prayers for the dying as appropriate. This remains substantial pastoral care, and the effects of Anointing include the forgiveness of sins when the sick person was not able to obtain it through Penance (CCC 1532).
What If the Person Has Already Died?
The sacraments are for the living. A priest does not administer Anointing of the Sick to someone who is known with certainty to be dead.
However, Canon 1005 provides for genuine uncertainty: if there is doubt whether the sick person is dead, the sacrament is to be administered. The canon does not authorize Anointing once death is known with certainty; it addresses precisely those situations in which death is uncertain.
Once death is established, the Church does not offer the sacraments but does offer prayer. A priest who arrives after a confirmed death prays for the deceased, commends the soul to God's mercy, and supports the family. These prayers are genuine liturgical acts of the Church, but they are not the same as the sacramental rites given to the living. Calling them "Last Rites" when they are offered to the dead is a common misunderstanding.
Can the Last Rites Be Repeated?
Because "Last Rites" encompasses several distinct rites, the question needs to be addressed element by element.
Penance and the Eucharist (including as Viaticum) can be received whenever the person is in an appropriate condition to receive them. There is no limit on the number of times a person receives Penance or Communion.
Anointing of the Sick may be repeated when circumstances warrant it. Canon 1004 §2 specifies that the sacrament may be repeated "if the sick person, having recovered, again becomes seriously ill, or if, during the same illness, the danger becomes more serious." Receiving Anointing once does not exhaust the sacrament's application to that person. Someone with a long serious illness may receive it on multiple occasions as their condition changes.
The Apostolic Pardon may also be given in appropriate circumstances at subsequent critical moments. There is no restriction that it may be given only once.
Extreme Unction and Anointing of the Sick
Older Catholics may know the Anointing of the Sick under the name Extreme Unction — from the Latin extrema unctio, last or final anointing. This terminology was standard in the Western Church through much of the medieval and early modern periods, when the sacrament had come to be associated almost exclusively with imminent death. The Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, while formally defining the sacrament and its minister, retained the association with those in extreme danger of death.
This association had a long history but was not the whole tradition. The Letter of James, the sacrament's scriptural charter, speaks simply of the sick, not those at the point of death. Eastern Christianity never restricted the sacrament to the dying. And across the Western medieval period, theologians who read the tradition carefully recognized the tension between the practice of deferring the sacrament and its original pastoral purpose.
The Second Vatican Council's Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) addressed this directly in paragraph 73: "Extreme Unction, which may also and more fittingly be called Anointing of the Sick, is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as any one of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived." The council did not invent a new sacrament; it clarified the scope of an existing one and preferred the name "Anointing of the Sick" as more accurate and less limiting. Pope Paul VI's 1972 apostolic constitution Sacram Unctionem Infirmorum further defined the revised form of the rite.
Extreme Unction and Anointing of the Sick are the same sacrament. What changed was the Church's emphasis on who should receive it and when — opening the sacrament to the seriously ill, not reserving it for those judged to have only hours to live.
Last Rites vs. Anointing of the Sick
This distinction is worth stating plainly, because it is one of the most common confusions around Catholic end-of-life practice.
Anointing of the Sick is a single sacrament for those seriously ill or in danger due to illness or old age. It may be received at many different points in a serious illness. A person may receive it and recover. A person may receive it before surgery. A person may receive it multiple times across different illnesses. It is not exclusively a rite for the dying.
Last Rites is a popular term for the broader pastoral and sacramental care the Church offers specifically to those approaching death. It typically encompasses Penance, Anointing, Viaticum, the Apostolic Pardon, and the Commendation of the Dying. Anointing is one component of this pastoral care, but the Catechism identifies Viaticum as the sacrament specifically proper to the dying — the final reception of the Eucharist that completes the Christian sacramental life.
Someone can receive Anointing without receiving "Last Rites" in the sense of the full cluster of end-of-life rites. And someone who is dying ideally receives not just Anointing but all that the Church offers: Penance, Anointing, Viaticum, and the Apostolic Pardon, in that order where possible.
Biblical Foundation
The clearest scriptural foundation for the Anointing of the Sick — and by extension for the Church's pastoral care of the dying — is the passage in the Letter of James:
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
— James 5:14–15
The Catholic Church reads this passage as the scriptural institution of the sacrament of Anointing (CCC 1510–1511). The "elders" — presbyteroi in Greek, from which the English "priest" derives — are those the Church later identifies as ordained ministers. The anointing, prayer, and forgiveness of sins all feature in the apostolic practice described, and all feature in the sacrament as the Church has celebrated it across centuries.
Mark's Gospel notes that the apostles, during Jesus's public ministry, "anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:13). The connection between anointing, prayer, and care for the sick is thus grounded in the practice of the apostles themselves.
Summary Table
| Rite or Sacrament | What It Is | Who Administers It | When It May Be Given |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penance (Confession) | Sacrament of forgiveness; absolution from sin through confession and contrition | Priest or bishop only | When the person is conscious and able to participate in sacramental confession; the priest adapts pastoral care if communication is impaired |
| Anointing of the Sick | Sacrament of healing for the seriously ill; anointing with Oil of the Sick and prayer | Priest or bishop only | When a person begins to be in danger due to serious illness or old age; may be repeated if illness worsens or person recovers and becomes ill again |
| Viaticum (Eucharist) | The Eucharist given specifically to someone facing death; the sacrament proper to the dying Christian | Ordinarily a priest; a deacon or authorized minister may bring the reserved Eucharist where lawfully permitted | When death is approaching and the person is able to receive Communion |
| Apostolic Pardon | Indulgence remitting temporal punishment due to sin; not the same as sacramental absolution | Priest | Ordinarily given with Viaticum at the approach of death; may be given in other urgent circumstances |
| Prayers for the Dying / Commendation | Liturgical prayers accompanying the dying and commending the soul to God; not sacraments | Priest, deacon, or — in their absence — any baptised Catholic may pray with the dying | At any point near or at the approach of death; may continue into the final moments regardless of consciousness |
Sources and Further Reading
- Catechism of the Catholic Church — Article 5: The Anointing of the Sick (CCC 1499–1532) — The primary source for Catholic teaching on Anointing of the Sick, its effects, minister, and recipients, including the relationship to Penance and Viaticum.
- CCC 1514–1516, 1524–1525 — Recipients and Viaticum — Specific sections on who receives Anointing, the canonical provisions for administration, and the theology of Viaticum as the sacrament proper to the dying.
- Code of Canon Law — Canons 1003–1007 on Anointing of the Sick (Vatican official English text) — The canonical provisions governing the minister (c. 1003), recipients (c. 1004), doubt about death or serious illness (c. 1005), the presumed request (c. 1006), and those who cannot receive (c. 1007).
- Sacrosanctum Concilium 73 (Vatican II, 1963) — The conciliar text that preferred the name "Anointing of the Sick," clarified that it is not reserved for those at the point of death, and called for reform of the rite.
- Sacram Unctionem Infirmorum, Paul VI (1972) — The apostolic constitution implementing Vatican II's reform of the Anointing of the Sick, including the revised form of the sacrament used today.
- CDF Note on the Minister of the Anointing of the Sick (2005) — The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's clarification that only priests and bishops may administer the sacrament, and that deacons and laypersons cannot do so.
- USCCB — Anointing of the Sick — The United States bishops' overview of the sacrament, including pastoral guidance on when it should be requested and what it involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Catholic Last Rites?
Last Rites is a common term for the sacramental and liturgical care the Catholic Church offers to those approaching death. It is not the name of a single sacrament. Depending on the person's condition and circumstances, the rites may include the sacrament of Penance (Confession), the Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum (the Eucharist given to the dying), and the Apostolic Pardon. Prayers and the Commendation of the Dying may also accompany these sacraments.
Are the Last Rites the same as Anointing of the Sick?
No. Anointing of the Sick is one sacrament. Last Rites is a popular term referring to the cluster of sacraments and rites the Church may offer near death, of which Anointing is one part. A person may receive Anointing of the Sick at various points in a serious illness and recover; they may receive it again if the illness worsens. Viaticum — the Eucharist given as the last reception of Communion — is described by the Catechism as the sacrament proper to the dying Christian.
When should you call a priest for the Last Rites?
Do not wait until the final minutes. A priest should be called as soon as a Catholic is seriously ill, has deteriorated significantly, faces a dangerous medical situation, or when death appears to be approaching. Calling early gives the person the best opportunity to receive Penance while able to participate and Viaticum while able to receive Communion. Anointing of the Sick may still be given to an unconscious person when the conditions of Canon 1006 are met. Contact the person's parish, the hospital chaplaincy, or a nearby Catholic parish if away from home.
What happens during the Catholic Last Rites?
When possible, the priest begins with prayer, then offers Penance if the person is able to confess. The Anointing of the Sick follows — the priest prays, lays hands on the person's head, and anoints the forehead and hands with the Oil of the Sick. If the person can receive, Viaticum — the Eucharist — is given next. The priest may also give the Apostolic Pardon and pray the Church's Commendation of the Dying. Circumstances vary significantly, and not all elements are possible in every situation.
Can someone receive the Last Rites if they are unconscious?
Yes, to a significant degree. An unconscious person cannot make an ordinary sacramental confession, but Anointing of the Sick may be given — Canon 1006 states that the sacrament is to be conferred on the sick who at least implicitly requested it while in possession of their faculties. Viaticum requires the ability to receive the Eucharist, so it cannot be given when the person is unable to receive. The priest may also offer the Church's prayers for the dying and other appropriate pastoral care.
Can a priest give the Last Rites after someone has died?
No. The sacraments are for the living. A priest does not administer Anointing of the Sick to someone known with certainty to be dead. However, Canon 1005 states that if there is genuine doubt whether the person is dead, the sacrament is to be administered. Once death is established, the Church offers prayers for the deceased, which are distinct from the sacramental rites given to the living.
What is Viaticum?
Viaticum is the Eucharist given to a Catholic who is dying or in serious danger of death. The word comes from the Latin via (way or road), with viaticum meaning provisions for a journey. The Catechism calls it "the sacrament proper to the dying Christian" and describes it as the completion and crown of the Christian life on earth. Unlike Anointing, which is given to the seriously ill at various stages, Viaticum is specifically associated with the approach of death and is the last sacrament of Christian life.
What is the Apostolic Pardon?
The Apostolic Pardon is an indulgence granted by the Church to someone approaching death. It concerns the remission of temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. It is not the same as sacramental absolution and does not replace Confession. A priest may impart it as part of the Church's pastoral care for the dying.
Can the Last Rites be given more than once?
Because Last Rites refers to several distinct rites rather than a single sacrament, the question needs unpacking. Penance and the Eucharist may be received as many times as appropriate. Anointing of the Sick may be repeated if someone recovers and later becomes seriously ill again, or if the same illness worsens significantly (Canon 1004 §2). The Apostolic Pardon may also be given again in appropriate circumstances.
Does receiving the Last Rites mean someone is definitely going to die?
No. Anointing of the Sick — one element of what people call Last Rites — is a sacrament for anyone seriously ill, not only for those about to die. People receive it before surgery, during serious illness, and at various stages of deteriorating health. They may receive it and recover. The presence of a priest and the sacraments is an expression of the Church's pastoral care, not a pronouncement that death is imminent.
Can a deacon administer the Last Rites?
A deacon cannot administer Anointing of the Sick or sacramental absolution (Penance). Only a priest or bishop may administer those sacraments. A deacon may bring Viaticum — the Eucharist — to a dying Catholic where this is lawfully permitted, and may pray with and for the person. But the core sacramental elements associated with Last Rites require a priest.
What is the difference between Extreme Unction and Anointing of the Sick?
Extreme Unction is the older Latin term — meaning the final or last anointing — used particularly in Western liturgical tradition and still familiar to older Catholics. Anointing of the Sick is the name preferred since the Second Vatican Council's Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963). The sacrament itself is continuous and ancient; what changed was the emphasis. Extreme Unction had become strongly associated with imminent death; Vatican II clarified that the sacrament is for the seriously ill, not only those at the point of death.
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