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    LET IT aLL sTART hERE                                                        
 For Catholics who care...

On A Catholic Death

9/30/2015

12 Comments

 
When you love a Catholic whose earthly journey is coming to an end:  CALL A PRIEST!
 
When you work in the medical field or when you are caring for an elderly Disciple of Christ in a nursing home,  take ownership of the duty and honor you have been given and pay attention to what that faithful person of God needs:  CALL A PRIEST!  Understand that for a believer it goes beyond what the body requires and at that point no one can help him but a priest. Remember this:  There are no dress rehearsals in death...no second chances.  So when you love a Catholic one way to show that love is to acknowledge his faith and understand what The Catholic Church teaches then CALL A PRIEST before it is too late.   

Think of my words as an alarm sounding! Think of them as a piercing alert that will be followed by clear instructions.  Or think of them as something like gong that breaks the silence to wake you up and get you to PAY ATTENTION to the needs of the dying Catholic and his soul.  

If you love a Catholic you owe him that much.  The spiritual needs of the sick and the dying at this point supersede all else and "the dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace." (CCC, no.2299)  The guardians of the sick and dying have a responsibility to their charges to provide the prayer that is necessary, and they"must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God."  (CCC, no. 2299)

There is no way around this.  If the Catholic's needs are forgotten, dismissed or ignored as he is dying, if his spiritual necessities are overlooked simply because the caregiver isn't a believer, isn't Christian, or isn't in agreement... then that is neglectful in its intent.  And I say this because I have seen this; and I want to talk about it so that there are no more forgotten Catholics who leave this planet with an “un-punched” ticket.

Families and health care providers are obligated to do what is right for the dying Catholic and that begins with understanding his faith.  It begins with having a dialogue with the Catholic to learn what he would like done, as well as what he needs done.  I have been in hospital settings where a nurse, when questioned about calling a priest responded:  "Well... we’ll get to that tomorrow I’m sure."   (Tomorrow!  If her house was burning down would she look for a bucket of water tomorrow?)    I have also heard of healthcare facilities calling for a priest to come after the person has died. ("Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." )  Remember, sacraments can only be celebrated by the living! 

Caregivers must be empathetic to the urgency of a dying Catholic's plight.  But how does a person who does not believe in God find that empathy?  Try this:    If your home was on fire, if your house was burning down and you had less than two minutes to take what was most important to you, ...think of how might you feel?  Remember that those feelings of panic and uncertainty are multiplied and heightened for the dying Catholic who believes with all his heart in the promises of
Christ.  He needs your help to get ready....

The Catholic’s affairs must be in order and that means he must participate in The Sacrament of The Sick and Dying.  He must participate in reconciliation, which can only be celebrated when a person still has the ability to communicate. More importantly, receiving communion as viaticum, which is what Last Rites are, is only possible while a person is still able to swallow, even if only a small piece of the Body of Christ, or a drop of his Precious Blood.

My prayer is that everyone reading this essay realizes something they hadn't thought much about before and remembers to always call a priest for the sick or dying Catholic.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

12 Comments
jackie white
9/30/2015 05:41:20 pm

Evelyn,
That is so beautifully written. Where I minister at Saratoga Hospital there is a list outside of the Pastoral Care office. The priests in our area are so generous with their time given to the sick and the dying. I feel so blessed when I go into a room and realize how sick an individual is to make use of the list on the door if the parish to which the person belongs has a priest that can't be reached that day. We have several parishes that work together to make sure a priest is available at the end of the earthly journey. I have had a very great success rate in reaching a priest and having him show up within an hour of the call I make. They are dedicated men of God and want to be there for the Anointing, Confession and the Eucharist. Calling the priest from the parish to which the person belongs is always the number one thing to do because that is what most people want. But when that priest can't be reached there is always help for the dying person. Yes, you could not have expressed it any better. CALL A PRIEST...

Reply
Evelyn Augusto link
9/30/2015 06:00:55 pm

You're my biggest fan! Thanks Jackie. Please share this essay with everyone you know. It is just that important. See you Friday#

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Evelyn Augusto
10/1/2015 04:26:31 am

Jackie thanks too for sharing your experience with the subject of ministeringredients to the I'll and dying. There was good information offered.

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Dennis
10/20/2015 06:22:20 am

Evelyn, Where are you? You OK?

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Evelyn Augusto link
10/20/2015 07:54:37 am

Yes. I'm working on an essay about Jesus' wish that we become and remain peacemakers. A tall order for me so I'm having trouble with the subject. It's coming. Thanks for the encouragement and for your support at the blog for Catholics who care!

Reply
Dan
10/21/2015 07:34:50 am

This is a concept that I know little about. And before I ask my question, please know that I am not trying to disregard the need to provide peace for the sick and dying.

My question is, where does Jesus or the Bible teach us about the need for a Christian to speak to a priest before dying? I don't think any man can make another person's life to be in order. This can only be done between the individual and God, through his Son.

Again - this is a question about the role of a priest and NOT an attempt to dismiss the need to love and care for the sick. I hope this didn't come across in a rude way.

-Dan

Reply
Evelyn Augusto link
10/21/2015 12:53:36 pm

Not at all Dan.... You don't know the answer to a question you have. I hope another reader responds but if not I will after giving your question some thought.
Remember Dan we are talking about a Catholic Death and just to give you food for thought: The Eucharist is everything to a Catholic (as you know) and there would be no Eucharist without a priest. Also Reconciliation is an essential part of "getting your affairs in order". Again a priest is needed. If you are familiar with The Gospels you can't deny Jesus' intention to have His 12 Apostles carry out His work in his absence. The priests performs the same Holy work.

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Evelyn Augusto link
10/25/2015 05:24:07 am

Ok...forgive my attempt to offer evidence to address your question if it is anything but "right on"....

To be worthy of uniting ourselves to the Eucharist and with our Triune God (in the end of our life) we must be as free of sin as much as is humanly possible. With that in mind remember that Jesus sent the 12 out on this mission even before He suffered His Passion to redeem us from our sins. If man could wash away mortal sin, by simple saying with a contrite heart: I'm sorry..." then Jesus would have no need to commission them to do His work in His absence. Read St. Jame's Letter...read the Acts of the Apostles. And remember too that The Eucharistic Celebration is a "re-presenting" of Christ's Pascal Mystery. Each time a PRIEST consecrates the bread and wine we have an opportunity to receive Him so that He lives in us and we live in Him. When we receive the Eucharist we clear away our venal sins and get our strength from Him to sin no more. A dying Catholic Christian desperately needs that opportunity because they are running out of time. This is why a priest is essential. Hope that helps. As Christ said Himself: We can do nothing without Him and he gave us priests to keep his promise to be with us always.

Reply
jackie white
10/25/2015 07:15:42 am

Dan,

I am on board with everything Evelyn said. I am also on board with what you said about the person must make it right with God. The right intention must be there for the priest to be the intermediary between God and the person.

Another suggestion besides what Evelyn said could be a plenary indulgence. That also involves the priest and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There are many times during the year when such an opportunity presents itself to wipe away all sins including mortal ones because of confession within a certain time frame before or after the opportunity for the indulgence.

Pastoral Care ministers visit the dying often but when the end is near it is very comforting for the Man of God to be there for the family as well as the dying person. It is a spiritual life insurance policy that I definitely want for myself.

Reply
Evelyn Augusto link
10/25/2015 07:03:41 am

Dan....Here is today's Second Reading which speaks to your question:
Hebrews 5:1-6.
I had ask The Holy Spirit to help me address ypur question and thus us what He sent to me at Mass thus morning.

Reply
Dan
10/29/2015 08:10:04 am

Thank you for the replies! Wow! I forgot to check back in. Sorry I'm "late".

Wow - I guess I have a different view of the ideas of priests and the eucharist. Particularly the need for a priest to be the intermediary between a person and God.

Doesn't the Bible teach that Jesus is the intercessor in Hebrews 7.23-25? Jesus is the one who holds the High Priest position forever making intercession for us.

Hebrews 5.1-6 shows that the great High Priest Jesus is better than all of the priests of the Old Law, not endorsing the need for a new special priesthood. 1 Peter 2.9 and Revelation 1.6 describes all Christians as priests. ("royal priesthood" and "kingdom of priests", respectively).

I am not Catholic, so there are going to be some doctrinal disagreements. But I'm always afraid of allowing someone to come between God and me. Didn't God give us his Bible so that we can use Jesus to reach him? Do we really need a priest to do this for us?

Thanks for the time and your answers. You're really explaining things to me well. I appreciate learning about this.

God bless,
-d

Reply
Evelyn Augusto link
10/30/2015 07:06:54 am

Dan...I invite you to read my latest blog: The Challenge of Being a Peacemaker and maybe site some other significant teachings.

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