Editing Last rites (section)

{{Short description|Christian prayers and ministrations given before death}}
{{about|Christian ministrations to the dying. For last rites in [[Islam]], see [[Islamic funeral]] and [[Salat al-Janazah]]||Last Rites (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
[[File:Last Rites ca 1600.jpg|thumb|Administering the last rites ([[Dutch School (painting)|Dutch School]], c. 1600)]]

The '''last rites''', also known as the '''Commendation of the Dying''', are the last [[Prayer|prayers]] and ministrations given to an individual of [[Christians|Christian]] faith, when possible, [[Dying|shortly before death]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of THE LAST RITES |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the+last+rites |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=[[Merriam-Webster]] |language=en}}</ref> The Commendation of the Dying is practiced in liturgical [[Christian denomination]]s, such as the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Lutheran Church]].<ref name="ELCA2017"/> They may be administered to those mortally injured, [[terminal illness|terminally ill]], or [[Death row|awaiting execution]]. Last rites cannot be performed on someone who has already died.<ref name="Last Rites">{{Citation|last=Kerper|first=Rev. Fr. Michael|date=July–August 2016|editor-last=vonHaack|editor-first=Sarah J.|title=When can Last Rites be given?|url=http://faithdigital.org/parable/MAN0716|department=Dear Father Kerner|magazine=Parable|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]]|publication-place=Manchester, N.H.|volume=10|issue=1|pages=10–11|id=[[Intelligent Mail barcode #Data payload|USPS]] 024523|access-date=November 15, 2020|quote=The priest was correct: only a living person can receive a sacrament, including the sacrament of the sick.|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506182109/http://faithdigital.org/parable/MAN0716/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Last rites, in sacramental Christianity, can refer to multiple [[sacrament]]s administered concurrently in anticipation of an individual's passing (such as [[Absolution|Holy Absolution]] and [[Holy Communion]]).<ref name="ELCA2017"/><ref name="AradAshleyChristDiemberger2018">{{cite book |author1=Dotan Arad |author2=Kathleen Ashley |author3=Martin Christ |author4=Hildegard Diemberger |title=Domestic Devotions in the Early Modern World |date=10 December 2018 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-37588-8 |page=86 |language=en}}</ref>