Ministering to the Dying

What should we do if someone in the house is very ill?

We should call a priest at once. He will hear the confession of the sick person, give him Holy Communion, and anoint him with in in the name of Our Lord. If the sick person be in sin, he will be forgiven and if it is good for his soul, will have his bodily health restored.

Do not wait until there is no more hope before sending for a Priest. It is a sin to let our relatives and neighbors die without the Sacraments.

Do not be afraid to tell a sick person when he is in danger of death that he must prepare himself so that he may die as a Christian.

Always help the sick to be prepared for a happy death: call the Priest.


HOW TO HELP THE DYING HAVE A HAPPY DEATH

The most important moment of a man's life is the moment of death. It is the moment that will decide his fate for all eternity. It will obtain for him Heaven, if he dies a good, or happy, death; it will condemn him to hell, if he dies a bad, or unhappy death. What an act of charity, therefore, it is to help a dying person have a happy death; that is, a death with his soul free from mortal sin!

Before the Priest cmes, we should help the person prepare for his last Confession: we should say with him the act of contrition. When he has made his Confession, received the Viaticum, the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and the Papal Blessing, we should place a crucifix near him or in his hands.

Annoying, worldly, or frivolous conversations should not be carried on in the sick room; the sick person should be given perfect peace in which to prepare himself to meet his God. AT intervals, the Priest or a member of the family should suggest short ejaculations which the agonizing can easily repeat, at least in his mind. The following are good ejaculations:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Lord Jesus, receive my soul.
Holy Mary, pray for me!
Mary Help of Christians, pray for me!

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me now at my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with Thee.

If the person still has full use of his consciousness, we may even repeat with him the Act of Resignation at the Hour of Death. As soon as the person is dead, he should be dressed modestly, with a crucifix placed in his hands.

It is unchristian to have vigils during which the time is spent in feasting, playing cards, etc. If we cannot go to the house of the deceased to pray or to help with some useful work, we had better leave the bereaved family alone with their dead. Far better than flowers, which cannot help the departed one's soul, we should offer Masses and prayers for him. If the family is poor, it is a laudable custom to offer the family money, to help with the funeral expenses.

The funeral should be simple, and held with devotion. The body should first be taken to the church for the blessing, and if possible for a Requiem Mass. On certain important holydays, such as Easter, no Requiem Mass can be said; the Mass, however, can be offered just as well for the dead. Instead of spending money on music bands, extravagant coaches and coffins, and costly wreaths, the family should rather offer prayers, sacrifices, and Masses for the repose of the soul of their loved one.

The body should be buried in a Catholic cemetery, if there is one; at least the grave should be blessed. Over the place of burial a large cross should be erected.

The letters R.I.P. often seen on gravestones stand for Requiescat in pace (May he rest in peace.)

Plenary Indulgence at the Hour of Death

By a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgence of March 9, 1904,

His Holiness, Pope Pius X, granted a plenary indulgence at the moment of death to all the faithful who, on any way they may choose, shall receive the sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist and make the following act with sincere love toward God.

+

ACT OF RESIGNATION AT THE HOUR OF DEATH

O Lord my God, I now at this moment readily and willingly accept at Thy hand whatever kind of death it may please Thee to send me,
with all its pains, penalties and sorrows.

Reference:

My Mission Book
(Meditation, Prayers, Instructions, and Hymns for Use During a Mission or Spiritual Retreat)
by Rev. Father Morrow

Nihil obstat: Jose M. Siguion, S.J.
Censor Deputatus

Reimprimatur:
+ M.J. O'Doherty
Archbishop of Manila

December 8, 1936

Catholic Trade School, 1916 Oroquieta, Manila.

"For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world,

and suffer the loss of his own soul? (Matt. 16:26)