Catholic
Nearing end of life
Catholic prayers can bring comfort and peace to those at the end of life.The church has a very rich history of prayers for the dying and many prayers are appropriate. For example,. Prayers for a dying family member or friend, a person dying a cancer, prayer for happy death and others can be found here. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops here gives scripture and prayers for the dying, at death and for mourners.
The chaplet of Divine Mercy is a powerful prayer for the dying. Jesus revealed to St. Faustina Kowaska, “At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same. When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person,… unfathomable mercy envelops the soul, and the very depths of My tender mercy are moved (Diary, 811). Gentle Journey Services coordinates a team of people praying the divine Mercy chaplet for the dying. You can both request the chaplet be said for your loved one or join the prayer team
To make a prayer request for someone at the end of life, click here
To join the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer team, click here
At death
Catholic rituals commonly offered to the sick and dying are the sacrament of reconciliation, the apostolic pardon, the sacrament of anointing of the sick, and Viaticum. The grace of God is received through all sacraments.
Through the sacrament of reconciliation (also called Confession or Penance), God has the power to forgive sins through the priesthood (the priest himself does not have this power). At the conclusion of the sacrament of reconciliation with a dying person, the priest may give an apostolic pardon (also known as an apostolic blessing): “May God open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.”
The sacrament of the anointing of the sick may be performed multiple times throughout life whenever one is facing a health struggle and is seeking physical or spiritual strength.
Viaticum is often the final time the Eucharist is received in either form (body or blood) and can be brought by a priest, deacon or trained lay person. Viaticum can be received multiple times.
Concerning viaticum, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1020) teaches that:
“The Christian who unites his own death to that of Jesus views it as a step towards him and an entrance into everlasting life. When the Church for the last time speaks Christ’s words of pardon and absolution over the dying Christian, seals him for the last time with a strengthening anointing, and gives him Christ in viaticum as nourishment for the journey, she speaks with gentle assurance:
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who suffered for you, in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you. Go forth, faithful Christian!
May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with Joseph, and all the angels and saints….
May you return to [your Creator] who formed you from the dust of the earth. May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life….
May you see your Redeemer face to face.”
Additional practices
This INELDA blog (international End of life Doula Association) offers a brief summary of Catholic prayers, practices and traditions at the end of life, at death, after death, and funeral planning