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•D. F. MILLER, C.SS.R,

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IMPRIMI POTEST:

FRANCIS J. FAGEN, C.SS.R.,

Provincial

St. Louis Province of Redemptorist Fathers

St. Louis, Mo., November 19, 1945

NIHIL OBSTAT:

H. B. RIES,

Censor Librorum

St. Francis, Wis., November 14, 1945

IMPRIMATUR:

4* MOSES E. KILEY, S.T.D.,
Archbishop of Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wis., November 19, 1945



? • " ’35

SICK ROOM
GUIDE

INSTRUCTIONS ON THE

SPIRITUAL CARE OF THE SICK

AND DYING

by

D. F. MILLER, C.SS.R.

Published by

THE LIGUORIAN PAMPHLET OFFICE

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin





Introduction

JNTO every home, at some time
A

sickness is bound to come, and

sometimes it will be a sickness

that is followed by death. For the

sick person himself, his suffering

is an opportunity to make amends

for his sins, to atone for the evil

committed by others, and to make

a good preparation for his entry in-

to the other world. For the rela-

tives and friends of the one suffer-

ing, sickness offers one of the
greatest of all opportunities for

charity, in the form of both spiritual

and corporal works of mercy.

Our Lord Himself placed charity

toward the sick high on the list of

works pleasing in His eyes. In

fact, He has promised that the re-

ward of the blessed in heaven will

in great part be due to their kind-

ness to the sick. For after the final

3



judgment He will say to them:

"Come ye blessed of My Father,
possess the Kingdom prepared for

you from the foundation of the

world . . I was sick and you visited

Me.” And when they ask, "Lord,
when did we see Thee sick and
visited Thee?" He will answer,

"Amen, I say to you, as long as

you did it to one of these My least
brethren, you did it to Me."

These words should be kept in

mind by those on whom the duty
falls of caring for the sick. They

provide a supernatural motive, and

the surest incentive to unfailing

kindness, in all ministrations to the

sick person. They make one real-

ize that it is not merely a fond

mother or good father or beloved

brother or sister who is being
cared for, but a child of God, an

heir of heaven, and a representa-

tive of Jesus Christ.

4



The one who has the care of the
sick must always be mindful that

his charity should be of two kinds,

the one for the body and the other

for the soul. It is the purpose of

this booklet to set down the rules

for care of the soul of a sick per-

son; nevertheless a few remarks on

providing for the physical comfort

of the patient will not be out of

place.

The cleanliness of the sick room

and of the patient's bed and body

should be of constant concern to

the attendant on the sick, because

nothing contributes so much to

comfort and peace. The room it-

self should be neat and orderly;

unnecessary objects, such as

trunks, old furniture, stored mater-

ials, should be removed. There

should be cheery curtains on the

window, and attractive, preferably

holy pictures on the walls. The

5



floor should be swept and the fur-

niture dusted every day. The bed

linen should be changed often, and

in between changes should be fre-

guently smoothed out and put in

order. For a patient who is con-

fined to bed for a long period, the

attendant should learn how to give

sponge baths as a great means of

comfort and refreshment.

In the midst of all these ministra-

tions, a spirit of cheerfulness

should always be maintained. The

service of the sick is often labori-

ous and monotonous and fatiguing;

it reguires great sacrifices of time

and energy; but it would be ren-

dered fruitless unless it were per-

formed in a spirit of comforting

cheerfulness.

But the most perfect care of the

body and of the physical surround-

ings of the sick would be but poor

charity if it were unaccompanied

6



by an informed and understanding

care of the soul. The highest of

all forms of charity is that which

assists a soul to appear properly

prepared before its Maker. Surely

it should be the earnest wish of a

son or daughter caring for a moth-

er or father, or of a father and

mother caring for one of their own
children, to see that nothing is

lacking that can in any way assure

the soul of its eternal happiness.

Sometimes caring for the sick pre-

sents opportunities for conversion,

or for the awakening of repentance

in those who have lived sinful

lives. Through the physical care

of the sick, one always gains some

access to the soul, and many a

fallen-away Catholic has died at

peace with God, because the one

caring for him in his last illness

knew what to do for the soul.

This booklet therefore sets down

7



the rules that should be followed

in a sick room when the priest

comes to visit the sick, when the

Sacraments are being administer-

ed, when the time of death ap-

proaches, and for the actual mo-

ment when death occurs.

8



SICK ROOM GUIDE

I. When and How to Call the Priest

1. Whenever there is real dan-

ger the priest should be called to

a sick person at once. This does

not mean that the family should

wait until death seems to be close

at hand. To wait until that time is

both dangerous to the soul of the

sick person and an injustice to the

priest. The priest should be called

as soon as it is known that the ill-

ness is a dangerous one. It can be

taken as proof that there is danger

if the doctor expresses himself as

uncertain of the illness. In the case

of serious accident or injury the

priest should be called at once.

2. Except in the case of sudden

illness or serious accident, an ef-

fort should be made to call the

priest during the day, and not on a

9



Saturday afternoon when he is
busy with confessions, nor on a

Sunday morning. However, there

should be no hesitation about call-

ing a priest at night or even out of

the confessional in a suddenly a-

rising danger.

The priest should not be called

during the above-mentioned hours

for someone who has already been

attended and prepared for death,

unless he has not been to see the

sick person for a considerable time,

or unless the sick person insists on

seeing the priest because of some

trouble of mind.

4. The priest should not be call-

ed for sick infants, unless they

have not been baptized. However,

any child having the use of reason,

therefore of seven years or there-

abouts, should have the priest in

danger of death.

5. In suddenly arising danger of

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death it is of the utmost importance

that the priest who is called be giv-

en correct and complete informa-

tion about the sick person. It is

preferable that a messenger be

sent for the priest who can give

him the facts and conduct him to

the home of the sick person. This

messenger should not be a child

who may not be able to give all
the information needed. The tele-

phone may be used to call a priest,
when he can easily find the sick

person's home, because of the time

that may be saved, but the one
whd calls must be ready to give

clearly and completely the facts

that the priest needs to know. If

the call for the priest is made at

night, and especially if he has to

pass through doubtful districts of

the city, or if he may have diffi-
culty finding the home, someone

should be sent to accompany him

11



if that be at all possible. If the

family possesses an automobile, or

if there are friends who have a car
near at hand, someone should be

sent to bring the priest.

6. The following points of infor-

mation should be given to the priest

when he is called to attend the

sick:

a. Full name of the sick per-

son.

b. Name of the street and the
house number where the sick per-

son lives, and any added details

that will be helpful, such as

whether it be an upstairs flat, an

apartment, etc.

c. The age and condition of

the sick person; whether conscious

or unconscious, capable of swal-

lowing Holy Communion or not.

d. Whether the person has
been a practical Catholic, which

may be indicated by mentioning

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when the Sacraments were last re-
ceived, whether there is any mar-

riage problem, etc.

e. Whether the sick person

has been attended in the same ill-

ness by another priest, and by

what priest, and whether the priest

actually administered t h e Sacra-

ments.

f. Whether a doctor has been

called, and if so, what is his opin-

ion.

7. When a person accompanies
or chauffeurs a priest to a sick-call,

and he is carrying the Blessed Sac-

rament, -there should be no con-

versation on the way except that

which is absolutely necessary. A
Catholic who meets a priest carry-

ing the Blessed Sacrament to the

sick should not speak but should

bow his head reverently and say

inwardly: "O Sacrament Most
Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all

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praise and all thanksgiving be ev-

ery moment Thine."

8. It should be remarked that not

only in danger of death should a

priest be called to attend a sick

person. Anyone who is confined
to bed for a long period of time has

a right to receive the Sacraments

at least now and then, even though
there be no danger of death what-

soever. Sometimes families whose

members are in the habit of receiv-

ing Communion often when they

are well, will let months pass by

without thinking of calling the
priest to give Communion to one

of their number who is confined to

bed all during that time. When
illness or confinement drags on,

a priest should be notified and

asked to bring Communion at a

convenient time.

9. In the case of non-Catholics

who are ill in one's home, the

14



priest should be called if they sig-

nify any desire to know more
about the Catholic religion. In the

case of fallen-away Catholics, even

though they express no desire to

see a priest, it would be well to tell

a priest about their condition and

let him judge how and when to ap-
proach them in an effort to win

back their souls.

10. In the matter of calling a

priest, there should be no hesita-

tion on the ground that it may dis-
turb the sick person or make him

think that he is dying, or frighten

him into a worse condition. The

greatest comfort a sick person can

possess arises from the spiritual

ministrations of the Church. There-

fore the highest charity possible

for those who care for the sick is
to see to it that the priest is called

in good time.

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II. Preparing for the Arrival of the

Priest

1. As soon as the priest is to

be called, the room of the
sick person should be tidied up, if

need be, and made, in so far as

possible, a fitting temporary habi-

tation for the Eucharistic Savior

Whom the priest will most likely
bring. Also the sick person should

be made neat and comfortable; the

face and hands washed, the hair

neatly arranged, etc. The bed lin-

en should be clean and smooth,

and if possible, a clean coverlet

should be placed over the bed.

2. If the priest is to bring Holy

Communion, the following articles

are to be provided and arranged

in the sick room. Every family

should have these articles in a

familiar place at all times, and not

wait until sickness suddenly comes

16



to have to go looking for them or

borrowing them.

a. a table or a stand or a dres-

ser with a clean white cover. When
the priest is coming, all objects,

such as books, ornaments, etc., ex-

cept the following, should be re-

moved from the table.

b. a crucifix, standing to the

rear and in the center of the table.

c. two blessed candles in can-

dle-sticks, one on each side of the

crucifix.

d. a vessel of some kind with

holy water, placed at the side of

the table.

e. a clean white napkin, to be

used as a Communion cloth for the

sick person. One of the attendants
may spread this under the chin of
the sick person just before Com-

munion.

f. a glass of water and a tea-

spoon.

17



3. On the walls of the room
should be one or the other religi-

ous picture, and a crucifix within

sight of the sick person. It is fit-

ting that all worldly pictures be re-

moved.

4. If the priest is to give the Sac-

rament of Extreme Unction, there

should be added to the other
articles on the Communion table

a small plate with clean cotton and

a little salt; also a small towel and

a small open dish containing a little

water.

5. If the sick person is to make a

Confession, a chair should be
placed near the head of the bed in

such a way that the priest will be
looking toward the foot of the bed

and not into the face of the peni-

tent.

6. The sick person should be

told beforehand that the priest will

soon arrive, and urged to prepare

18



for whatever Sacraments are to be

received. It often happens that a

priest finds that very little thought

has been qiven to the disposition

of the soul of the sick person for

the reception of the Sacraments.

The relatives should take care of

this, and if the sick person cannot

pray alone, they should read a few

short appropriate prayers slowly

and devoutly for him.

7. When Holy Communion is to
be received in any danger of death

the sick person is not obliged to be

fasting, nor does it matter at what

time of day or night the Sacrament

is received.

III. The Priest in the Home

1. When the priest arrives at the
house, he should be met at the

door by a member of the family

carrying a lighted blessed candle.

19



No ordinary greetings are to be ex-
changed; instead, the one carrying

the candle should make a genu-
flection to the Blessed Sacrament

as the priest enters, and then silent-

ly lead the way to the sick room.
If it be necessary to say anything

regarding the condition of the pa-

tient, it should be done in a low

tone of voice.

2. On reaching the sick room,
the attendant should place the
candle in its candlestick and then

kneel facing the Blessed Sacra-

ment, remaining there till the priest

has finished the first blessing and

prayers. Then, if the sick person

is to go to confession, all are to

leave the room, but to remain with-

in reach of a sign from the priest

to return for the Communion of the

sick, when they should kneel
about the bed.

3. Only grave reasons should

20



be permitted to hinder any mem-
ber of the household from being

present when Communion is given

to the sick, and even the children

and babes in arms should be there.

The sick room is a chapel or
church while the priest is there

with the Blessed Sacrament, and

every member of the family should

be on hand to welcome the Lord

into their own home. It is well to
train the children who have reach-

ed the age of reason to prepare the

sick room for the priest and to

meet him at the door with the

blessed candles, that they may
form a tiny procession to the sick

room. Lessons of faith and devo-

tion are thus inculcated that re-

main indelibly.

4. If any members of the family

know the Confiteor, they should

recite it for the priest at the proper

time in the Communion service.

21



5. If the sick person is to be

anointed, one member of the fam-

ily should assist the priest in the

following ways:

a. If the room is dark, hold the

candle in such a way that he can

read from his ritual.

b. When the priest is anoint-
ing the hands of the sick person,

begin to uncover the feet modestly

so that he may anoint them next.
After the anointing, cover the feet

and then kneel down.

6. When the priest has given
the last blessing, he should be ac-

companied to the door. If he is to

give Communion elsewhere, and

therefore still carries the Blessed

Sacrament, he will bless the family

in the sick room with the Sacred

Host in the pyx as at Benediction

in the church. Then he should

not be spoken to as he departs,

but he should be accompanied to

22



the door by someone carrying the

lighted candle.

7. After the departure of the
priest, someone should remain
with the sick person for a short

time to help him make an appropri-

ate thanksgiving. This is best done

by slowly reading thanksgiving

prayers from a prayerbook, or re-

citing them from memory. For

some time there should be no loud

conversation in the house, and
food should not be given to the

sick person for several minutes af-

ter the departure of the priest, be-

cause the Body and Blood of Christ

may remain for some time.
8. The water, salt, cotton and

whatever else was used by the

priest in purifying his fingers,

should be thrown into the fire.

23



IV. Preparation for Death

1. There is much that relatives

can do to prepare a soul for a holy

and happy death. They should

not permit unreasonable sorrow,

and unwillingness to face the
thought of the death of a loved

one, to prevent them from doing

all in their power to dispose the

soul for its meeting with its Maker.

Apart from calling the priest in

good time, the following services

should also be rendered.

a. A person in his last illness
should be assisted in saying his

morning and evening prayers. An
act of faith, hope, love and contri-

tion should be made with him ev-

ery morning and evening.

b. From time to time during

the day, a few inspiring thoughts

should be suggested, such as: how

much the Saviour suffered for our

24



sins; how easy it is to shorten

one's Purgatory by resignation dur-

ing sickness; how eager the Bless-

ed Mother is to help and comfort

all who call on her name.

c. A little pious reading during
the course of the day f from the

Imitation of Christ or from one of

the Gospels, or from some other

spiritual book, will soothe the pa-

tient's mind and awaken holy af-

fections.

d. In periods of special dis-

tress or pain, acts of resignation to

God's will should be recited slowly

for the patient; the crucifix should

be held before him or placed in his

hand, and a short act of contrition

should be repeated several times.

e. If the sick person has been

invested in the scapular or the Mir-

aculous Medal, the attendant
should see that they are worn dur-

ing the last illness. Sometimes it

25



happens that just when the graces
and blessings gained through these

articles of devotion are needed

most, they are lost because the

articles are laid aside.

2. When the death-agony be-
gins, it is not always possible to

have the priest at hand to recite

the official prayers for the dying.

Sometimes, too, the death-agony

continues for a long time, and
though the priest comes and gives

the blessings and recites the pray-

ers, he cannot remain until the ac-

tual death occurs. Therefore the

family of the dying person should

be well prepared to assist the soul

in its last hour, when the devil may
make a final effort to win it for

himself.

3. One member of the family

should continue to recite, near the

ear of the dying person, some of

the following ejaculatory prayers.

26



They should be said slowly and

distinctly, and should be repeated

even when the person appears to

be unconscious, because there are

times when the sense of hearing

remains alert even though all oth-

er appearances of consciousness

are lacking.

a. I believe in Thee, my God;
I hope in Thee; I love Thee, my
God and my All.

b. Jesus, pardon all my sins.
I am sorry that I ever offended
Thee because Thou are so loving

and good.

c. My Jesus, I resign myself
entirely to Thee; I accept death for

my sins, because it is Thy Holy
Will.

d. By the precious Blood
which Thou didst shed for me, O
Jesus, save me.

e. I thank Thee, O my Jesus,
for all the graces Thou hast be-

27



stowed on me. I thank Thee for

the grace of dying in the bosom of

Thy holy Church and in Thy
friendship and love.

f. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I

give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be with

me in my last hour. Jesus, Mary
and Joseph, may I breathe forth my
soul to you in peace.

g. O Mother of Mercy, behold
my misery and have pity on me.

h. O Comforter of the afflicted,
console me in my affliction.

i. O purest Mary, O sweetest
Mary, O Blessed Lady, help me in
this hour of trial.

4. During the agony, the entire

family should be present in the

sick room, kneeling about the bed.

If the patient appears to be uncon-

scious, the rosary should be re-

cited by all, meditating on the sor-

rowful mysteries.

28



5. If possible, when the end ac-
tually is at hand, one of the attend-

ants should hold a blessed candle

in the hand of the dying person,

and present the crucifix to be kiss-

ed for the last time.

6. When it becomes evident that
death has taken place, the follow-

ing prayers should be recited, eith-

er with one member of the family

leading and the rest answering, or

all reciting them together:

Come to his (her) assist-
ance, all ye saints of God: meet

him (her), all ye angels of the Lord:

receiving his (her) soul; presenting

it in the sight of the Most High.

V. May Christ who has called
thee receive thee, and the angels

conduct thee into the bosom of

Abraham.

R. Receiving his (her) soul.

V. Eternal rest grant unto him

29



(her), O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light

shine upon him (her).

Presenting it in the sight of the

Most High.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father, etc.

And lead us not into temptation.

But deliver us from evil.

Eternal rest grant unto him (her),

O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine up-

on him (her).

From the gates of hell.

Deliver his (her) soul, O Lord.
O Lord, hear my prayer
And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us Pray

To Thee, O Lord, we commend
the soul of Thy servant (name), that

30



being dead to this world, he (she)

may live to Thee, and whatsoever
sins he (she) has committed
through human frailty, we beseech
Thee in Thy goodness mercifully

to pardon, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

31



.

t*



EVERY SHUT-IN WILL APPRECIATE

BLESSINGS IN ILLNESS

by Rev. D. F. Miller, C.SS.R.

A 96 page pamphlet, in large clear
type, made up of 55 short, pointed

inspirational articles on topics of in-

terest to every shut-in.

Some of the titles are: "On the

Thought of Angels," "On Relaxing,"

"On Laughter," "On Loneliness in

Illness," "On Being a Burden," "On

the Right to Seek Health," etc.

Recommended to doctors, priests

and nurses, as well as to sick per-

sons themselves.

#

25 cents each $20.00 a hundred



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