One of my key responsibility areas as a priest is to administer the sacraments to the dying. Sometimes I get called while the dying person is still conscious and able to swallow. In that case three sacraments can be given: Penance (AKA "Confession"), the Anointing of the forehead and the hands in the Sacrament of the Sick, and Holy Communion. When the person is unconscious the priest administers the Apostolic Pardon, the Anointing of the Sacrament of the Sick, and Commendation of the Dying. All of this sacramental attention is what is called the Last Rites, which include any or all of these three sacraments plus the prayers for the dying.
Since our society does not want us to think about death, the calling for the priest to come for the Last Rites is often put off until the patient is not conscious. Perhaps it's a cultural preference of not wanting to face the harsh reality of death, perhaps it's a matter of not wanting to scare the dying person, or perhaps it's a matter of not grasping the beauty and consolation these sacraments can bring not only to the dying person, but also to the family and friends who are gathered together. More on this another time.
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