On the general issue of "calling the priest" when someone is dying or thought to be dying. The priest anoints the person, conferring the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. If the person is conscious, the priest may hear his confession. If the person desires spiritual support, the priest may encourage the person. But all this, to be effective, requires contrition. The sacraments work, but they are not magic. They require an interior disposition on the part of the recipient in order for the grace of the sacrament to be conferred. When a magician pulls a rabbit out of a hat, the rabbit has nothing to say in the matter. When absolution, anointing, and Holy Communion are given, they are true sacraments, but their effect on the recipient may be stymied or nullified by the lack of interior disposition.

When priests are called to hospitals and death beds, we assume the contrition of any unconscious person, and we try to encourage and support patients who can respond. And we try to console the family.

None of this is easy. Would CeeLee prefer that we stay at home? Or inquire about whether the patient has contributed to the church lately?

Hey, Geoff, I've been meaning to ask you - when will you be ordained? Just want to make sure I can make it.
--Ann

God willing, in 2008.

The bad news is that our cathedral is small, so many people will have to settle for First Mass invitations.

The hospital will call a priest for you?!?!?

I attended the annointing of an unconscious person last Saturday. The interior disposition was unknown except that the family requested it and indicated that the patient would have wanted it. What is the effect of this sacrament?

Priests assume the good intention of an unconscious person, unless there is definite reason to believe otherwise. In the case you mention, there is good reason to believe that the uncounscious person would have asked for the sacrament if he had been able to do so. When the patient would have desired the anointing, if he were conscious, it has its full effect. But if the patient would have refused the anointing, it would still be a validly administered sacrament, but the interior disposition of the patient would impede the grace of the sacrament.

My wife and I each carry a card stating "I am a Catholic - in case of an emergency please call a priest." Or some language like that.

A very important point:

Father can't visit (for Last Rites or Anointing of the Sick or communion calls or anything else) if he doesn't know you're there.

Greetings,

Apparently you have never tried to get a hold of a priest on a monday. Never get shot on a monday.

peace

I'm always worried that I'm going to get really sick during the Chrism Mass.

I'm always worried that I'm going to get really sick during the Chrism Mass.

You know how hospitals have priests on call for when someone's going to die? What is the purpose of that? A person could just screw around their whole life, sin beyond belief, get shot or something and then right when they're about to die in a hospital, have the priest cleanse them or whatever and then they'll supposidly go up to heaven? Is that what it's for? Isn't that's pretty much telling people, don't bother being a good catholic, you'll go up to heaven anyway? Or, is that even the point of it?

-Carrie

You know how hospitals have priests on call for when someone's going to die? What is the purpose of that? A person could just screw around their whole life, sin beyond belief, get shot or something and then right when they're about to die in a hospital, have the priest cleanse them or whatever and then they'll supposidly go up to heaven? Is that what it's for? Isn't that's pretty much telling people, don't bother being a good catholic, you'll go up to heaven anyway? Or, is that even the point of it?

-Carrie