Diocese of Phoenix - Advance Medical Directives
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"Remember man that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return."
- Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Genesis 3:19
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"The Bible tells us that in the Garden of Eden there was no suffering. God’s plan for us was intimacy with Him, to walk together in the cool of the evening. Original sin brought suffering and death into the world and has been passed on ever since as a spiritual affliction.
But, God didn’t just close the door and turn out the lights. Our punishment somehow becomes our cure. Peter Kreeft calls the sacrifice of Jesus “spiritual Judo” –using the enemy’s own power against him. Sin, the cause of suffering, is conquered by suffering; death conquers death.
Suffering, a mystery beyond our comprehension, was used to open heaven. Suffering must have infinite value, because instead of taking our crosses away, Jesus embraced His and asked us to imitate Him.
He also entered into our suffering and shared our helplessness. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice… ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mk 15:34) No one with faith can ever say to God, “You don’t know what it’s like to suffer like this!” Jesus had been called the tears on the face of God. He has blessed our suffering and made it holy. The pains of dying become birth pangs of eternal life."
An excerpt from Midwife for Souls: Spiritual Care for The Dying - A pastoral guide for hospice care workers and all who live with the terminally ill -- author, Kathy Kalina - available from LHLA - www.lhla.org or Amazon
Bioethics Watch: Death and the Organ Donor by Nancy Valko, RN
An excerpt from Midwife for Souls: Spiritual Care for The Dying - A pastoral guide for hospice care workers and all who live with the terminally ill -- author, Kathy Kalina - available from LHLA - www.lhla.org or Amazon
Bioethics Watch: Death and the Organ Donor by Nancy Valko, RN