In the “Blessing of the Sick” we pray, “Lord, give those who are sick the comfort of your presence.” As people of faith, each of us are called to share in Christ’s healing mission.
Jesus teaches us in the parable of the Good Samaritan how we are to respond when we see the sick and the injured in need of care. The Samaritan made healing personal. When we serve the suffering we, like the Samaritan, show that we understand that loving our neighbor is more than a sentimental feeling, it is a call to action.
Pope Benedict XVI issued a new encyclical this week, titled “Charity in Truth.” In it he writes, “Only in truth does charity shine forth, only in truth can charity be authentically lived. Truth is the light that gives meaning and value to charity.” The pope is reminding us that as a society we cannot seek to minimize suffering at any cost or compromise our ultimate respect for human life. Our compassion and service in these complicated times must always be given with authentic charity, enlightened by the truth that God is the author of all life and that we are created in his image.
I recently had the opportunity to bless the new 150-bed, full service, state-of-the-art hospital, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa — Westover Hills. It was truly a moment of grace, as we dedicated this modern facility to providing the best of health care with compassion and respect for the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.
In 1869, three Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word built Santa Rosa Infirmary, from the ashes of a burned building. Nurtured by the grace of God and the commitment of those who would follow them, we have seen that modest nine-bed facility grow into one of the finest hospital systems in the United States. This is just an example of the church’s longstanding commitment to excellence in caring for the sick throughout our history. Today the Catholic Church operates more than 600 hospitals in all 50 states. In 20 of those states, they account for more than 20 percent of all admissions.
As CHRISTUS Santa Rosa continues to expand its service beyond that first nine-bed hospital, we cannot forget the history of service that has defined its value to the families and children of this region for 140 years. Its charity has always been rooted in truth, providing care for those who need it most and can afford it least. That’s the valued heritage upon which CHRISTUS Santa Rosa — Westover Hills is built.
Today’s healthcare offers the promise of wonderful medical miracles. However, it is the role of our Catholic institutions and medical professionals to harness that potential with moral principles consistent with the teaching of the church, letting their compassion be guided by their understanding that “life is God’s gift and it is not ours to manufacture or terminate.”1
As I wrote in my book A Will to Live: Clear Answers on End of Life Issues, “Building such a culture not only requires the collaboration of society’s leaders, but it is also a duty and right of all Christians. A father or mother contributes to the culture of life by educating their children about the value of life as a gift from God; a priest contributes by defending and preaching about the value of life; a young person can help to build the culture of life by announcing the Gospel of Life to his friends and companions without letting himself be overcome by fear.”
When Jesus worked a healing miracle he would say, “It is your faith that healed you.” It is our faith in him that will give us the healing power to transform our culture, and create a world where together we will embody the presence of Christ and bring to life Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
1. A Quote from “Medical Advances and Procedures” A Guide to Ethical Reflection and Decision-making in the Catholic Tradition.” Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown.edu.