Spirit-Health Connections - Ask the Experts

Can you recommend some good resources on assessing and addressing the

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:10:00 EST

Harold G. Koenig, author of Medicine, Religion, and Health responds:

Harold Koenig, author of numerous books including Spirituality in Patient Care and Medicine, Religion, and Health responds:

Here are some resources:

Aging and God
1992, Haworth Press
http://books.google.com/books?id=r41ring3jdQC&sitesec=buy&source=gbs_navlinks_s

A Gospel for the Mature Years
Haworth Press, 1997
http://books.google.com/books?id=plHako14z7MC&sitesec=buy&source=gbs_navlinks_s

What are some of the healthcare related beliefs and practices of members of the Roman Catholic religion? Are there any healing rituals or dietary practices? What kinds of support networks does the religion have for those who are ill?

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Pat Fosarelli, author of Prayers and Rituals at a Time of Illness and Dying responds:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides several overall statements. (Citations in parentheses refer to paragraph numbers in the text.)

"Life and physical health are precious gifts, entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good" (#2288).
"The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air" (#2290).
"The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense" (#2291).

The Catechism spends many paragraphs (#1500-1532) discussing the meaning of illness for a Catholic and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament can take place "in a family home, hospital, or church, for a single sick person or a whole group of sick persons" (#1517) and is not just for those who are about to die, but for anyone with a serious illness or facing surgery, as death sometimes accompanies surgery. Thus, one may receive the sacrament "as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age..." (#1514). The sacrament may be repeated (#1515) if the condition of the person who received it worsens or if the person recovers but becomes seriously ill again. The same is true for the elderly as they become more frail. The sacrament can only be administered by a priest (not a deacon, chaplain, or lay person). The priest anoints the person on the forehead and hands with "duly blessed oil," saying only once, "Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in His love and mercy, help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up" (#1513). The terms "Extreme Unction" and "last rites" are no longer used.

"In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist [i.e., Holy Communion] as Viaticum" (#1524). Catholics believe that Holy Communion at the time of passing from this life to the next "is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection" (#1524). In other words, death is not the end.

There are no specific dietary rules for the ill. Healthy Catholics are required to fast (eat less food on a given day) and abstain (from meat) on the days appointed by the Church, although pregnant women, the very young, the very old, the very ill, and anyone else whose health would be endangered by a fast would not be required to observe the rule.

In terms of support networks, many individual Catholic parishes have groups of individuals who pray together, especially for healing of body, mind, or spirit. Individual parishes may also have parishioners who regularly visit the sick in their homes or at hospitals, nursing homes, or hospices, bringing them Holy Communion and praying with them.

How do I get stared with training to become a chaplain in the hospitals?

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Siroj Sorajjakool, author of When Sickness Heals responds:

Chaplaincy training normally starts with academic training such as pursuing Master of Divinity through seminary training. While doing an M.Div., the student is also encouraged to take clinical training (Clinical Pastoral Education) that is offered through certified centers across the country (you can google Association of Clinical Pastoral Education for information). It normally requires 4 units (400 hours per unit) or 1,600 hours total (which takes approximately a year to complete). Once you have a degree and the clinical training, you are well prepared to apply for jobs. You can do this by going through the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). Their website has a list of openings. After two years or so of training and working, you may wish to apply to become a board certified chaplain through APC. This is the usual process.

At Loma Linda University (Southern California) we offer a chaplaincy program (MA in Clinical Ministry) that prepares students for chaplaincy. However, this is a 48 credit hour degree and does not qualify for board certification which requires 108 units. There are students in our program who have gone on and take other courses to qualify them for board certification. Also after completing 4 units of CPE, these can be counted for approximate 24 units of academic work.