The Last Rites are a series of prayers that are presided over by a priest to a baptised Catholic as a form of a final blessing and can include an Apostolic Pardon where the person receives a plenary indulgence for the “remission of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven (CCC 1471). The anointing is intended to unite the person's sufferings with those of Christ, that strengthens hope and draws them closer to God’s graces at a time when they need it the most. It is preferable to have the person awake and responsive to sharing in the prayers, but normally the Last Rites are provided very near to the end of life when a person is not responsive. It helps the person and their family to say their final farewells and to commend the dying person to the love and mercy of God. 

Please contact our pastor for further information at pastor@stleonardparish.ca or call the pastoral emergency help line at 613 852-1150 for urgent assistance. Non-baptised Catholics can receive similar prayers and blessings from a priest, but they will not have the same sacramental effect.