Communion of the sick

Normally the sick person makes his or her Confession and receives Holy Communion before receiving the Sacrament of Holy Unction.  If you are caring for someone who is seriously ill, or in danger of death because of old age, you should send for the priest in good time.  Indeed, if anyone is seriously ill or in danger of death, the priest should be told without delay.  People are not always good at doing this.  They may think that someone else will tell the priest and then it can happen that no one does so.  You should put a small table at the foot of the bed where the sick person can see it.  Cover the table with a white cloth.  The priest will let you know if anything else is required. 

If the sick person is going to make his or her Confession, you go out and come back when you are called.

The Sacrament of Holy Unction cannot be repeated in the same illness unless the sick person takes a turn for the worse after beginning to get better.