Can/Do/Should People Receive Last Rites Before Being Executed?

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pensmama87

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This is not a thread about the morality of the death penalty in general.

I assume that Catholic prisoners in places like the US are permitted to have a priest hear confession and perhaps also bring them the Eucharist before they are executed. But what about Anointing of the Sick? A person on death row is certainly in danger of death, but they could be completely healthy.

I’m just wondering what insight or information others could offer on this. Just a situation I have been musing over.
 
I have always been told that they cannot be anointed; nor can soldiers going into battle. The reason being:
Can. 1004 §1. The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.
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pensmama87 said:
Thanks! I was not aware of that before.
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I can’t speak on what the other poster mentioned about anointing, however, do not confuse anointing of the sick with reconciliation and viaticum (the Eucharist when death is imminent ("food for the journey)),

Confession and the Eucharist are very appropriate for soldiers going into battle, and for those pending execution.
 
Well, our priests anoint anyone going in for any procedure…wrist surgery, anything, as one never knows what can happen once they perform surgery.
I would think that a person on death row, who is scheduled for execution would be attended to by his pastor with anointing. It would seem very harsh to say no. After all, we always say that everyone can be redeemed, even at the last second. If a person asks to be anointed, I doubt there are many priests that would refuse him.
Not doubting the veracity of what has been posted, but it would seem contrary to allowing for true repentance.

Soldiers in battle do get communal penance services though. That’s one of the few instances where they are considered necessary. For the very reason that they are indeed in danger of death. Maybe a prisoner gets a chance for final confession if he or she asks…

Interesting question!
 
pianistclare said:
Well, our priests anoint anyone going in for any procedure…wrist surgery, anything, as one never knows what can happen once they perform surgery.

Whenever anyone will be undergoing anesthetic and surgery, there can, indeed, by danger of death. Being anointed before surgery is appropriate.

I would think that a person on death row, who is scheduled for execution would be attended to by his pastor with anointing. It would seem very harsh to say no.

**No, it would not be harsh to refuse anointing. A person on death row does not qualify for anointing - he or she is not in danger of death from illness or old age. Further, in any situation where anointing is called for, confession would be part of the rite. Anointing only forgives sins if the person is not conscious, or otherwise physically unable to confess. **

After all, we always say that everyone can be redeemed, even at the last second. If a person asks to be anointed, I doubt there are many priests that would refuse him.
Not doubting the veracity of what has been posted, but it would seem contrary to allowing for true repentance.

All Catholics on death row would be given ample opportunity to avail themselves of confession - which would indicate true repentance. That would be all they would need to do.

Soldiers in battle do get communal penance services though. That’s one of the few instances where they are considered necessary. For the very reason that they are indeed in danger of death. Maybe a prisoner gets a chance for final confession if he or she asks…

Interesting question!
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I misunderstood the original question I guess.
I was thinking of a person ABOUT to be executed.
My mother was anointed, and she was conscious…???
thanks for your answers!
 
The term “last rites” is often used as a colloquialism for a series of sacraments; iirc they are:

Anointing
Reconciliation
Viaticum (the last communion)
And the Apostolic Blessing which imparts a plenary indulgence from the Holy See for remission of all sins.

I would think they are all appropriate for someone about to be executed if they are in the appropriate spiritual condition of course. But I am not a scholar on the RC implementation.

Good question.
 
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Joan_M:
No, it would not be harsh to refuse anointing. A person on death row does not qualify for anointing - he or she is not in danger of death from illness or old age. Further, in any situation where anointing is called for, confession would be part of the rite. Anointing only forgives sins if the person is not conscious, or otherwise physically unable to confess.

While your answer is correct from a legalistic point of theology, it may not be from the point of view of charitable or loving theology.

Sometimes the appropriateness of theology can be determined purely on charity

I know a priest who was called to comfort the family as a child died. The newborn was received by God before the priest made it to the hospital. The grief stricken parents had summoned the priest in hopes of the babe receiving Baptism before being taken into the arms of Christ.

They begged and pleaded the baby be Baptized, even after death. No theological explanation consoled them.

The priest, knowing full well the Baptism of a dead person was not theologically correct. baptized the child anyway.

His actions violated all of man’s written rules, but were in keeping with the laws of God to show mercy, love, and compassion for all that are undeniably written on our hearts.

That is real theology. And despite what anyone says, that priest is a holy man, and was doing the divine work of Christ, as he is called to do.

Peace and all good!
 
ChurchSoldier said:
The term “last rites” is often used as a colloquialism for a series of sacraments; iirc they are:

Anointing
Reconciliation
Viaticum (the last communion)
And the Apostolic Blessing which imparts a plenary indulgence from the Holy See for remission of all sins.

I would think they are all appropriate for someone about to be executed if they are in the appropriate spiritual condition of course. But I am not a scholar on the RC implementation.

Good question.
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Right. Note that the thread title may be misleading; the question was re the anointing.
 
Neofight said:
…
I know a priest who was called to comfort the family as a child died. The newborn was received by God before the priest made it to the hospital. The grief stricken parents had summoned the priest in hopes of the babe receiving Baptism before being taken into the arms of Christ.

They begged and pleaded the baby be Baptized, even after death. No theological explanation consoled them.

The priest, knowing full well the Baptism of a dead person was not theologically correct. baptized the child anyway.
…
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From what I have been taught, the time of the soul leaving the body is uncertain. If there is any chance that the soul is still present a conditional baptism may be administered. I hope that was the case here since:
Can. 1379 In addition to the cases mentioned in ⇒ can. 1378, a person who simulates the administration of a sacrament is to be punished with a just penalty.
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I thought about whether or not the thread title should mention anointing specifically, but I was curious about the entirety of what we consider “last rites” in the case of a person about to be executed. As I said in the OP, I expect confession and the Eucharist would be no problem (at least from the Church’s perspective), and it seems like that is true. (I imagine in some places where people are martyred, there would be an incentive on the part of the executioner to specifically deny any and all last rites. :()

I wonder if there are stories out there about this. I know I have read in articles all about an executed person’s last meal, who spoke before the execution, etc, but I can’t recall anything about a person receiving confession, or even having a priest visit them.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
From what I have been taught, the time of the soul leaving the body is uncertain. If there is any chance that the soul is still present a conditional baptism may be administered. I hope that was the case here since:
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“Just Penalty” is the clue.

I’m no canon lawyer, but I’m supposing neither are you. While we both can read canon law, just like most can read the US constitution, we are privy to precedence under the code or the constitution.

“just” is a highly subjective adjective.

Your claim that “I hope that was the case” is fair, as it is your opinion, and personal opinions are far more easier to interpret than the code of canon law.
 
The Irish author Brendan Behan made reference to hanged persons being “anointed” after the drop. I don’t know if that was ever the practice though.

ICXC NIKA.
 
Neofight said:
I can’t speak on what the other poster mentioned about anointing, however, do not confuse anointing of the sick with reconciliation and viaticum (the Eucharist when death is imminent ("food for the journey)),

Confession and the Eucharist are very appropriate for soldiers going into battle, and for those pending execution.
Click to expand...
:amen:
 
GEddie said:
The Irish author Brendan Behan made reference to hanged persons being “anointed” after the drop. I don’t know if that was ever the practice though.

ICXC NIKA.
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As I noted before, the moment of death is not theologically defined; so a conditional anointing would seem possible.
 
It is a sacrament meant for healing of serious physical ailments and for grace during the affliction of physical suffering. It is not the sacrament of preparing for imminent death. We’re supposed to be availing ourselves of Eucharist and Reconciliation in order to always be ready for death, because death may be imminent in any moment, without our being aware of it.

Now, if the person becomes seriously ill while in prison, of course he or she ought to be anointed. Likewise, those who are confirmed while in prison ought to be anointed with chrism, as well: catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=25235&SectionID=2

IOW, this has nothing to do with withholding the sacrament because the person has been convicted of a horrible crime. It has to do with when it is appropriate to dispense each of the sacraments.
 
Neofight said:
No, it would not be harsh to refuse anointing. A person on death row does not qualify for anointing - he or she is not in danger of death from illness or old age. Further, in any situation where anointing is called for, confession would be part of the rite. Anointing only forgives sins if the person is not conscious, or otherwise physically unable to confess.

While your answer is correct from a legalistic point of theology, it may not be from the point of view of charitable or loving theology.

Sometimes the appropriateness of theology can be determined purely on charity

I know a priest who was called to comfort the family as a child died. The newborn was received by God before the priest made it to the hospital. The grief stricken parents had summoned the priest in hopes of the babe receiving Baptism before being taken into the arms of Christ.

They begged and pleaded the baby be Baptized, even after death. No theological explanation consoled them.

The priest, knowing full well the Baptism of a dead person was not theologically correct. baptized the child anyway.

His actions violated all of man’s written rules, but were in keeping with the laws of God to show mercy, love, and compassion for all that are undeniably written on our hearts.

That is real theology. And despite what anyone says, that priest is a holy man, and was doing the divine work of Christ, as he is called to do.

Peace and all good!
Click to expand...
They should have performed an emergency baptism themselves and NOT waited for the priest.
 
GEddie said:
The Irish author Brendan Behan made reference to hanged persons being “anointed” after the drop. I don’t know if that was ever the practice though.

ICXC NIKA.
Click to expand...
Joe_Kelley said:
As I noted before, the moment of death is not theologically defined; so a conditional anointing would seem possible.
Click to expand...
After the drop, it is fair to presume the person had sustained mortally-serious injury, at the very least, so it seems possible a priest would anoint the fellow if it wasn’t certain he was dead. Priests anoint wounded soldiers on the field who are not known to have died, even though they do not give anointing of the sick when the soldier heads into battle but is not wounded yet. That is what the sacrament is for–those who have gotten sick or sustained an injury, not those who might. Those who are anointed prior to a surgery, for instance, are being treated by surgery for a malady they have at the time they are anointed.

Now, what exactly is going to be done by the authorities if the priest or other Christian lays his hands on someone who was supposed to have been executed and the guy comes around, I do not know. It seems to me they ought to conclude that Heaven commuted the prisoner’s sentence, and give him a reprieve. (I do not mean that as a joke. It is possible, after all.)
 
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