IN OUR Roman Catholic Church tradition, viaticum (Eucharist) is the giving of communion to a person who is dying as part of the last rites. This practice assures the dying person that instead of dying alone he or she dies with Christ who promises him or her eternal life. Thus, as the dying person receives the Eucharist, the priest says, “May the Lord Jesus Christ protect you and lead you to eternal life.”
Viaticum is a Latin word which means “food for the journey,” from via, or way. For us, Catholics, the Eucharist is the spiritual food that that strengthens us in our journey from this world to life after death.
In this rite, before the priest gives the dying person this “food for the journey,” he asks the person to renew his or her baptismal vows: “Do you believe in God the Father? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit…in the forgiveness of sins and life eternal?” As the dying person answers a convincing “yes” to these questions and kisses the crucifix, he or she is also assured of the words of Jesus on the Cross to the Good Thief, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”.
Last Holy Week, a friend and a long time supporter of our parish, July Mercado, who was dying asked me for this viaticum. “Father, can you please say a Mass for me in my home?” he pleaded. I could see fear in his eyes and the need for courage to accept death. “Of course, July,” I responded, “I will bring the Eucharist in your home.” And so, the day after Easter Sunday, I went to his home to say Mass and to administer to him the viaticum.
What is even so powerful about this visit was that July went to Confession and received total pardon from all his sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What a beautiful way to prepare for one’s death!
The beauty and richness of our Catholic faith include our Sacraments. As I have always preached, the Sacraments are God’s visible signs of God’s invisible grace. Through the Sacraments we experience tangibly God’s healing and strengthening grace. The laying of hands, the anointing with oil, the pouring of baptismal water, the giving of viaticum are palpable sacramental gestures to assure us of God’s promise of eternal life.
This Sunday, the Gospel of John reminds us of God’s promise of eternal life. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” For us, Catholics, the most palpable and reassuring way of this promise is the reception of the Sacraments of the Church.
The period after Easter is the season of the administration of Confirmation and First Communion. As the air is filled with tangible graces of these Sacraments, may we always believe in the promise of Jesus that although the road to heaven is difficult, the Sacraments of the Church accompany and strengthen us by providing us “food for the journey”.
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].