Availability of Last Rites

[lisahiku]

Nowadays it seems the priests are pretty busy, not available, and if you call you get voice mail.
So…what if my elderly relative fell over ill , like near death? What are the odds she would be able to get Last Rites in a PROMPT manner? I really wonder about this.

 

[maryjk]

It took our local pastor less than a hour to get to my house when my mom was dying. He then left his cell phone number in case I needed to call him.

Just an FYI: I am guessing you mean Anointing of the Sick in the hopes that they aren’t the “Last Rites” a person receives. In my mom’s case, they were the last rites.

 

[TimothyH]

Most Churches will have a sign on the door with a phone number to call if you have a sacramental emergency. They often put the number on the after hours voicemail recording and post it on their website. If a parish has several priests, each will take turns being on call for just this reason and I know that some cover for priests in neighboring parishes if they know they are not going to be available.

Anointing of the Sick is one of the main duties of a priest and my experience is that they take it seriously. Priests who serve in parishes near hospitals are busy guys.

Many people who die in hospitals do so very slowly and their heartbeat becomes undetectable but doctors tell us that the heart may continue to beat faintly for some time. And so although a medical doctor might delcare death, we really don’t know when the exact point of death is and the exact point at which the soul leaves the body. A priest who arrives shortly after the doctors have declared death will often anoint the body anyway.

-Tim-

 

[Waiting]

Nowadays it seems the priests are pretty busy, not available, and if you call you get voice mail.
So…what if my elderly relative fell over ill , like near death? What are the odds she would be able to get Last Rites in a PROMPT manner? I really wonder about this.

I visited a dying sister in the hospital and learned that she had not yet seen a priest. I immediately called for the hospital chaplain, but he wasn’t in. So I then called a neighboring parish. No priest was there, either. I took a short visit to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. On my return, I learned that my sister had had the “last rites” twice. Yes, this Sacrament is of great importance to priests as well as the family of the sick. They are quick to answer a request for help.

 

[odile53]

It’s also a good idea to have the phone numbers of a couple of nearby parishes available, just as a backup.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

As others have said, this is a responsibility that priests take very seriously. I also have gotten an almost instant response when I’ve called about my mother when she was very ill.

Since you have an elderly relative that you are concerned about, I would suggest you ask the priest at her parish now what do do if she becomes ill. The parish probably has an emergency number (usually it’s on the voicemail) or a way to page the priests. If your relative has a hard time getting out to Mass, you can also ask about having regular home visits from the priest or an EMHC.

Annointing of the Sick can be done multiple times if necessary, so don’t be concerned to call every time a person gets seriously ill or if they relapse. Better to call sooner than have it be too late.

 

[maryjk]

Annointing of the Sick can be done multiple times if necessary, so don’t be concerned to call every time a person gets seriously ill or if they relapse. Better to call sooner than have it be too late.

I know my mom received Anointing of the Sick at least three times during her last illness. It many have been more.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The Anointing of the Sick can be received many times. I usually get it once a year or so for age and a number of medical problems.

It is urged that when a person is terminal a priest be called. Don’t wait until the last minute. It is preferred that a person receive the Last Rites - Confession, anointing, Eucharist, and Blessing while still conscious enough to understand what is happening. Rites are valid whether or not they are conscious, but probably more beneficial if the patient can participate in them.

 

[CB_Catholic]

My husband had a stroke in April, and was totally paralyzed on his right side. When I arrived at the hospital I immediately asked for a priest, who by the grace of God, happened to be standing in the ER. They wanted to intubate my husband and take him to radiology, but they allowed him to be anointed as they were preparing for this. The priest did his job and the doctors did theirs, and my husband fully recovered from the stroke within hours, and was discharged a week later after some rehab. It was like a miracle. Priests certainly do take the Sacrament of the Sick seriously–everyone should.

 

[puzzleannie]

Nowadays it seems the priests are pretty busy, not available, and if you call you get voice mail.
So…what if my elderly relative fell over ill , like near death? What are the odds she would be able to get Last Rites in a PROMPT manner? I really wonder about this.

what you observe is true in many, not all places, as few priests have the leisure to respond quickly to such calls, It is important for families to understand the priest should be called in for the sacrament of anointing of the sick when the loved one first is diagnosed with the grave illness or condition, when the condition worsens, when they are sheduled for surgery or to enter hospital, or at other transition times–time to enter the nursing home for instance–and NOT to wait until the last moment or extremity. It is also crucial that the patient be identified on hospital and nursing home records as Catholic with a notation that the Catholic chaplain be a regular visitor, and be called in emergency. In many places staff cannot make such a call without that notification if the patient cannot speak for herself.

If you relative has a fall and is in that bad shape your first priority is getting her assistance and calling 911. Call the priest when you have taken care of that.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Most hospitals have an on-call Catholic Chaplain and will be able to get a hold of them, most times, quicker than if you try to call the parish yourself.

 

[whipp711]

Most hospitals have an on-call Catholic Chaplain and will be able to get a hold of them, most times, quicker than if you try to call the parish yourself.

Ditto. When my wife was gravely ill, the hospital chaplain (protestant) did some calling. Finding a priest was difficult, but this guy manage to find a priest from the Phillipines visiting his family here. I believe he worked through the Diocese office. God bless both of them.