Preparing for Death: Aspects of Continuity and Change in Swedish Late Medieval and Reformation Traditions

When a person in the parish was in bed seriously ill or was hoveringbetween life and death, the priest would be called to him or her and it was partof the priest’s duty in the medieval and Reformation traditions to make his wayto the sick or the dying whatever the weather or the state of the roads, a journeythat could be both long and arduous. When the priest arrived at the sickbed,he could listen to confession and give communion and extreme unction. Thisarticle gives an overview over the ways in which the pastoral visits to the sickand the preparation for death should or could be carried out liturgically accordingto Swedish medieval and Reformation sources. Some central conceptions ofdying are pointed out in the relevant liturgical parts, as well as their theologicaland pious explanations.