Each year on February 11, we observe the World Day of the Sick. The first world day of the sick was held in 1993, having been instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II to be observed annually on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Here we are given an opportunity to prayerfully reflect on how a Catholic approaches sickness and how we can fulfill the commandment of Christ to truly love one another in this regard.
It is not surprising that the Catholic view, a perspective embraced in the Judeo-Christian tradition for millennia, like so many other issues, is counter-cultural today. Increasingly we face not only a disregard for human life, but also an aggressive and unconscionable push to legalize things like physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. The Catholic approach to end-of-life care however, is one of true dignity, true compassion, and true hope.
Pope Francis, in his letter for the 23rd World Day of the Sick, writes about the “wisdom of the heart”, and explains that this is a “way of seeing things infused by the Holy Spirit in the minds and the hearts of those who are sensitive to the sufferings of their brothers and sisters and who can see in them the image of God” (emphasis original). The Holy Father goes on to describe with great insight and understanding how Christians who show by the way they live their lives rooted in genuine faith are especially close to their suffering brothers and sisters. He acknowledges that care of the sick can be difficult, tiring, and even burdensome, especially when protracted over a long time, and then points out something critically important: “What a great path of sanctification this is! In those difficult moments we can rely in a special way on the closeness of the Lord, and we become a special means of support for the Church’s mission.”
How does a Catholic approach issues at the end-of-life? First we must always remember that every human being, no matter how frail or compromised their condition may appear, is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inherent dignity. Whether considering our own or a loved one’s care, the Church offers us guidance, hope, and practical suggestions. By understanding some of the basic moral principles that help to guide us in medical decision-making, we can learn to apply these principles to specific situations, and with the help of good medical care, the counsel of the spiritual and moral wisdom of the Church, and certainly with prayer, we can make correct decisions when called for and be at peace in knowing that we are striving to do God’s will.
How do we know what the Church teaches about end-of-life care and decision-making? There are many good sources of information available to us. In particular we can look to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERD’s) for guidance. This document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops articulates the foundation of health care ministry rooted in the teachings of Christ. The moral principles explained therein are of course rooted in the natural law and the dignity of the human person, and thus their universality becomes obvious. Part Five of the Directives, deals specifically with issues in care for the seriously ill and dying. The introduction to this section begins, “Christ’s redemption and saving grace embrace the whole person, especially in his or her illness, suffering, and death. The Catholic health care ministry faces the reality of death with the confidence of faith. In the face of death—for many, a time when hope seems lost—the Church witnesses to her belief that God has created each person for eternal life.” From there, the document continues to reflect on the spiritual and moral teachings we embrace as Catholics, and also offers us practical guidance when we are faced with decision making for our own or a loved one’s care on matters such as ordinary and extraordinary means of treatment, nutrition and hydration, alleviation of pain, and more. This is a document well worth reading for all of us who sooner or later will face these questions.
What are some practical steps we can take to have our Catholic beliefs and values integrated into our care? Since one could never anticipate all the possible scenarios that may or may not occur at some point in the future, one of the best things to do is to have a Catholic Health Care Proxy. This is a legal document that expresses in general principles our Catholic beliefs, and makes sure that actions incompatible with the faith such as physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia are never used. The document also appoints a person (known as a “proxy” or “agent”) who can speak for us if we are ever unable to make decisions for ourselves. One’s proxy should be chosen carefully, be someone who shares our beliefs and values, understands Catholic teaching, and “be of one mind” with you when it comes to doing that which would be beneficial for you and your particular medical condition.
Our care for those who are sick and suffering is integral to our mission as members of the Body of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI gave a beautiful reflection in 2007 in which he said, “To accept the ‘other’ who suffers, means that I take up his suffering in such a way that it becomes mine also. The Latin word con-solatio, ‘consolation’, expresses this beautifully. It suggests being with the other in his solitude, so that it ceases to be solitude.”
As we reflect on the message for the World Day of the Sick, let us seek the “wisdom of heart” Pope Francis speaks of, so that those who are suffering and those who care for them may “become living witnesses of a faith capable of embracing suffering, even without being able to understand its full meaning”. Because every life is a gift.
Allison LeDoux is the director of the Respect Life Office and the Office of Marriage and Family for the Diocese of Worcester, MA. Mrs. LeDoux serves as coordinator for the New England region of Diocesan Pro-Life Directors and is a member of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference’s Pro-Life/Pro-Family and Health Care Subcommittees. She received her certification in Catholic Health Care Ethics from the National Catholic Bioethics Center in 2007.Mrs. LeDoux and her husband, John, a permanent deacon, are the parents of eight children.
