| |
|
REspect life against euthanasia lure, says pope
"Man's life is a gift of God, which all of us are always called
to protect," he said. "This must also involve health workers,
whose specific mission is to be 'servants of life' in all its phases,
especially in that phase marked by the fragility connected with
infirmity."
Pope Benedict uttered these words on Saturday, November 17, 2007
at Vatican City upon receiving the audience participants in the
22nd international conference promoted by the Pontifical Council
for Health Care Ministry with the theme: “"The Pastoral
Care of Elderly Sick People."
The Holy Father said that "today's mentality of efficiency"
views elderly sick people as "a 'burden' and a 'problem' for
society." “Euthanasia appears as one of the more alarming
symptoms of the culture of death that is advancing above all in
the society of well-being," he added.
He then urged those who have understanding of human dignity to respect
and support the elderly while they face serious difficulties linked
to their state. He even recalled John Paul II whose exemplary witness
of faith and courage shines even in his illness as he exhorted scientists
and physicians to never cede "to the temptation to have recourse
to the practices of shortening the life of the elderly or the sick,
practices that would in fact result in forms of euthanasia."
The holy Pontiff further stated: "For this reason, a general
commitment is necessary so that human life be respected not only
in Catholic hospitals but in every place of care. The elderly who
are affected by incurable illnesses need palliative care that is
able to mitigate the pain in order to face in a conscious and human
way the last stage of earthly existence, to serenely prepare for
death. In general it is opportune to do what is possible for the
families themselves to welcome and with grateful affection take
care of them so that the elderly who are sick can pass the last
period of their life at home and prepare themselves for death in
a climate of family warmth. This is important because the sick need
understanding, comfort and constant encouragement and accompaniment
as well as competent medical care.”
The Pope also said that may the sick person in the most difficult
moments, supported by pastoral care, be encouraged to find strength
to face his difficult trial in prayer and the comfort of the sacraments.
May he be surrounded by brothers in faith, disposed to listen to
him and share his sentiments.
In closing, he invited believers facing illness and death to "not
to lose their serenity, because nothing, not even death, can separate
us from the love of Christ."
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| LIVES
OF THE SAINTS |
May
12
ST. NEREUS, ST. ACHILLEUS AND ST. PANCRAS
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers who died around
304. They were probably Praetorian guards under Emperor Trajan.
We know little else about them.
May
13
ST. ANDREW FOURNET
St. Andrew Fournet was born on December 6, 1752.
He was from Maille, a little town near Poitiers, in France.
Andrew's parents were religious people. Mrs. Fournet had her
heart set on Andrew becoming a priest.
May
14
ST. MATTHIAS
St. Matthias was one of Our Lord's seventy-two disciples.
He had been a follower of Jesus during his public life. St.
Peter asked the 120 people gathered in prayer to choose an
apostle to replace Judas.
May
15
ST.
ISIDORE THE FARMER
Saint Isidore was born in 1070, in Madrid, Spain. His parents
were deeply religious. They named their son after the great
St. Isidore, archbishop of Seville, Spain.
May
16
ST. UBALD
St. Ubald lived in twelfth-century Italy. He was
an orphan raised by his uncle, a bishop. Ubald was given a
good education. When he finished his schooling, he had the
chance to marry. But he became a priest instead. Eventually,
the pope made him bishop of Gubbio, the city of his birth.
May
17
ST. PASCHAL
BAYLON
St. Paschal, a Spanish saint, was born in 1540. From
the time he was seven, he worked as a shepherd. He never had
the opportunity to go to school. Yet he taught himself to
read and write.
May
18
ST. JOHN
I
St. John I was a priest of Rome. He became pope after
the death of Pope St. Hormisdas in 523. At that time, Italy's
ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian. (The Arians did not
believe that Jesus is God.) Theodoric let Catholics alone
at the beginning of his reign. Later, however, he changed
and became arrogant and suspicious of everyone.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
PHOTO OF THE MONTH |
Tour
of the Relics of the Passion
(International Center
for Holy Relics)
www.HolyRelics.org
|
|
| |
| REFLECTIONS |
 “Jesus’
Baptism”
Why did Jesus, the sinless one sent from the Father in heaven,
submit himself to John’s baptism? John preached a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke
3:3). In this humble submission we see a foreshadowing of
the “baptism” of Jesus bloody death upon the
cross. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning
of his mission as God’s suffering Servant (Isaiah
52:13-15; 53:1-12). He allowed himself to be numbered among
sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s
will. Out of love he consented to this baptism of death
for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust
and submission to God?
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
