The Art of Caring for the Sick

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This book seeks to be a guide and a companion for those who are involved in the health care ministry. As such, it is intended to offer perspectives or windows through which the individual can have a better understanding of the complex world of health, suffering, dying and death. It embraces three different perspectives: prevention, care and rehabilitation. "Prevention has to do with promoting healthy lifestyles. *Care is rooted in the development of human and professional skills for attending those who are experiencing sickness or fragility at several levels in their lives: physical, mental, spiritual and social. *Rehabilitation includes a diligent follow-up to the needs of the patient and the family. This is especially true when the therapies are long and coping with an illness imposes a lot of demands. Follow-up can be handled at home, in a hospital or at any nurturing setting and employs an interdisciplinary team of health-care and mental health-care workers to assure continuity of care. The introductory chapters place health-care ministry within the biblical, theological and historical framework of the Church's mission. Special attention is given to the leaders as the prime agents of all that follows. They need to prepare themselves in order to be better equipped to involve, educate and supervise other collaborators (religious, catechists, volunteers, etc.) who visit and comfort the sick on behalf of the Christian community. The book combines theory with praxis by proposing a number of exercises, the analysis of pastoral dialogues, and the use of case studies.

About the Author: Professor at the International Institute for the Pastoral Theology of Health Care in Rome, Fr. Arnaldo Pangrazzi belongs to the Order of St. Camillus (Camillians). Certified as ACPE Supervisor in Indianapolis, USA, he has worked as a chaplain in Milwaukee and more recently at the Ospedale S. Spirito in Rome. Over the years he has lectured and conducted seminars in some 25 countries around the globe. Author of more than 15 books in Italian, he has a Master of Divinity from Weston College School of Theology, Boston and a Master in Education majoring in Counseling and Psychology from Boston College in Massachusetts. His booklet, Your Words in Prayer in Time of Illnes has been reprinted many times since it first appreared in 1982.