In his catechesis on the theme “The Church, Mother of Christians”, which he delivered last week, Pope Francis said that “the Church, as a good Mother, … supports us in the moment of sickness with the Anointing of the Sick”. This fact alone shows how “the Church accompanies us in our whole life of faith, in our whole Christian life”.

The Pope’s comment vividly reminded me of the pastoral letter which Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, issued on 15 August, feast of the Assumption. It was entitled “Church close to the sick”.

Throughout the past two millennia, the Church has excelled in helping the sick to value their human and spiritual significance of their suffering. Suffice to mention some important names and their contribution.

For instance, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face; “an expert in the scientia amoris” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 42) was totally united with the Passion of Jesus due to the intense suffering she went through in her fatal illness which gradually led her to her death. Blessed Luigi Novarese who highlighted the importance of praying for and with the sick and suffering, would frequently accompany them to Marian shrines, particularly to Lourdes.

Raoul Follereau, inspired by love of neighbour, offered his life to care for people who suffered from Hansen’s disease, even at the world’s farthest ends. He promoted World Leprosy Day. Blessed Mother Teresa, after beginning her day with the Eucharistic Christ she would meet and serve Him in the sick, especially the ones who are “unwanted, unloved, uncared for”. Finally, Saint Anna Schäffer of Mindelstetten joined her sufferings with those of her Crucified Lord.

As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said in her canonization homily on 21 October 2012, “her sick-bed became her cloister cell and her suffering a missionary service. Strengthened by daily communion, she became an untiring intercessor in prayer and a mirror of God’s love for the many who sought her counsel”.

The list too long to include, in Mgr Grech’s words, “those who offer their service in the health field: doctors, nurses, hospital staff and others”. The latter of course being “the hospital chaplains, those priests, religious and lay persons who generously visit the sick. By the service they offer in the parochial community, in institutions for the sick and the elderly, these persons imitate the Good Samaritan, bandaging the wounds and helping in the healing process”. Last, one should mention also “those who do their best not to deny their sick relatives of the care and loving attention they deserve”.

The Church is sensitive to the cry of suffering people, mainly those who are afflicted by incurable and chronic diseases. She primarily cares for them by bringing them the Eucharist, anointing them and also praying for them. The Church’s care is not restricted to the spiritual domain. As an advocate of the suffering the Church appeals to health professionals not to “exploit a patient’s sickness for financial gain”. They should avoid at all costs “the temptation to make a market within the health profession”.

The Church is close to the sick by defending them from those who, led by their greed, “influence [them] and elderly persons to change their testamentary will”. Furthermore, since public healthcare service in Malta is free it does not follow that one can abuse of the system by “tak[ing] free medicine from the hospital and either not use it or pass it on to someone else. One is also at fault if one uses the free hospital and clinic services unnecessarily and thus possibly delaying or depriving someone who really needs the service”.

The Church is morally bound to promulgate “effective care” of the sick. She strongly believes that the sick person has a right to continue “enjoy[ing] respect even when the body loses its beauty and strength, because the body is that of a human being and never loses its dignity; in fact, the more the patient loses his/her autonomy, the more he/she should be respected”.

The pastoral letter calls for “a change of heart in the health operatives”. Will you read it?

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

SAN GWANN