Catholic Life · Sickness, Death and Mourning

When Should I Call a Priest for Someone Who Is Sick or Dying?

Do Not Wait

One of the most common regrets priests hear from families is this: “We didn’t want to frighten him, so we waited, and then it was too late.”

Calling a priest is not a sign that you have given up hope. The sacraments of the sick are meant to give strength, peace and healing to the whole person, and sometimes they bring physical recovery too. They are most fruitful when the person is still conscious and able to take part.

The Church’s advice is clear: call early. (For what the sacrament itself is and does, see What Is the Anointing of the Sick?)

When to Call

You do not need to wait until someone is dying. The Anointing of the Sick is for anyone who is seriously ill or in danger because of illness or old age (CCC 1514–1515). Call a priest when someone:

has been diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure;
is about to have major surgery;
is elderly and becoming noticeably frail, even without a specific illness;
has taken a turn for the worse in a long illness;
has been admitted to palliative care or hospice;
is clearly approaching death.

The sacrament can be received more than once: if the person recovers and later falls ill again, or if their condition becomes more serious during the same illness.

How to Reach a Priest

Your parish. Ring the parish office. Many parishes have an emergency after-hours number, often given on the answering message or website.
The hospital chaplain. Most hospitals have Catholic chaplains or can contact a priest. Tell the nursing staff the patient is Catholic and would like a priest. Make sure “Catholic” is recorded on the admission form, which helps chaplains find patients.
Aged care homes often have a regular visiting priest.
In an emergency, if your own parish is unreachable, ring any nearby Catholic parish.

When you call, say clearly: the person’s name, where they are, how sick they are, and whether death seems imminent. This helps the priest decide how quickly to come.

What the Priest Will Do

Depending on the situation, the priest may offer what the Church calls the “last rites,” a set of sacraments and prayers for the seriously ill and dying:

Confession. If the person is able, the priest will offer them the chance to confess privately. Family members are usually asked to step out of the room.

Anointing of the Sick. The priest lays hands on the person in silence, then anoints their forehead and hands with blessed oil, praying for strength, peace, forgiveness and healing.

Holy Communion as Viaticum. For someone near death, Communion is called Viaticum, meaning “food for the journey.” It is the last sacrament of the Christian life (CCC 1524–1525). If the person cannot swallow, a tiny particle of the Host or a drop of the Precious Blood may be given, or Communion may not be possible.

The Apostolic Pardon. The priest can give a special blessing for the dying, which grants a plenary indulgence (a full remission of the temporal punishment due to sin) at the moment of death.

Prayers for the dying. The priest may lead the family in prayers, Scripture readings and the Litany of the Saints.

Preparing the Room

If the priest is coming to the home, it helps to prepare a small table near the bed with:

a crucifix;
a candle (or two), lit when the priest arrives;
a glass of water and a spoon, in case the person needs help to swallow the Host;
a clean cloth or napkin;
holy water, if you have it.

Turn off the television and radio. Let the priest know about any relevant medical issues, such as difficulty swallowing.

In hospital, none of this is necessary. The priest will bring what he needs.

Can Family Members Be Present?

Yes. Except during Confession, family and friends are encouraged to be present and pray. Many families find this a deeply peaceful moment.

What If the Person Is Unconscious?

A priest can still anoint someone who is unconscious, if it can be presumed that they would have wanted it, for example because they were a practising Catholic (canon 1006). He may also give conditional absolution. Do not hesitate to call.

What If They Have Already Died?

The sacraments are for the living, so a priest cannot anoint someone who is certainly dead. But if death has only just occurred, and there is doubt, the priest may anoint conditionally. Even after death, call the priest: he can pray with the family and commend the person’s soul to God. It is a great comfort.

What If No Priest Can Come?

Sometimes, despite everyone’s efforts, no priest can come in time. Do not despair.

Pray with the dying person. Hold their hand. Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and simple prayers such as “Jesus, I trust in You” or “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.” Hearing is often one of the last senses to fade.
Encourage an act of contrition. If the person is conscious, help them make an act of sorrow for sin out of love for God. Perfect contrition, with the desire for the sacrament, brings forgiveness even of serious sins (CCC 1452).
Remember the Church’s gift. The Church grants a plenary indulgence at the moment of death to any member of the faithful who is properly disposed and who habitually prayed during life, even when no priest is present.
Baptise in an emergency. If an unbaptised person is dying and wants baptism, anyone can baptise them by pouring water on their head and saying, “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Prepare Ahead

The best way to avoid last-minute panic is to talk about these things while everyone is well. Make sure your family knows that you want a priest called if you become seriously ill. Note it in any health care directive. Encourage older relatives to receive the Anointing of the Sick when they are frail, not just at the very end.