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Christology and the Catholic Health Ministry

Spiritual Care Champions August 5, 2008

John F. Wallenhorst, Ph.D.Vice President, Mission & Ethics

Bon Secours Health System

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Objectives To understand and explain four dimensions of the

mystery of Jesus Christ To reflect on the relationship of that mystery to

self and others To understand and explain four practical

applications of Christology for the Catholic health ministry

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Agenda Jesus Christ

Healer & Reconciler Prophet Sacrament Universal Mystery

Health Ministry Application Patient/Resident Care Workplace Community World Some Pastoral Considerations

Discussion

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Personal Experience & Reflection Meaning and purpose of my life? Leads many to the question of

origin and ultimate end Nostra Aetate, 1

Christology is not abstract or philosophical, but intensely personal

“Who do you say that I am?” Mark 8:29 Who do you say?

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History Personal Experience and Reflection Church Life and Reflection

The mystery of the Church is an extension of the mystery of Christ. (Karl Rahner)

Ongoing Development of Doctrine: functional, confessional, ontological, personal

Engagement in the World The mystery of the person is intertwined with the

mystery of Christ. (John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis)

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Christological Themes

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Christological Themes Healer & Reconciler Prophet Sacrament Universal Mystery

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Healer & Reconciler Healing Stories

Man who was mute (Luke 11: 14) Woman who was hemorrhaging (Matthew 9:20-22) Health, Genuinely Human Life, Restoration to Community

Reconciliation Redemption from evil and sin; from isolation and

meaninglessness For living, for others, for the ongoing search for meaning,

value and purpose

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Prophet Denunciation

Woe to you…(Matthew 23) Themes of hypocrisy, smallness, failure to discern, lack of

love Proclamation

Reign of God Divine authority; divine compassion Prophetic witness: dining with tax collectors and sinners Parables

Mustard Seed Pearl of Great Price Laborers in the Field

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Sacrament Image of the Invisible God

Colossians 1: 15-20 Incarnational spirituality, and the mystery at once Sacraments realize what they express, but do not exhaust

meaning

Encounter Person-to-person Mutuality, service, self-giving Concrete and real Transformative

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Universal Mystery Universal

John1: 1-5 Universal, creative, re-creative significance Incarnation as solidarity with every human person Message of love, compassion, care in the face of suffering

has appeal Mystery

Respect for the sacred dimension of human experience Respect that there is always more to experience,

understand, say Religious humility

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Health Ministry Applications

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Patient/Resident Care

Dignity of the person Mystery of the person Unique openness of the person to

the divine The human story: living and dying Compassion, subsidiarity,

community Those on the margins

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Ethical and Religious Directives

“Jesus' healing mission went further than caring only for physical affliction. He touched people at the deepest level of their existence; he sought their physical, mental, and spiritual healing (John 6:35, 11:25-27). He ‘came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly’ (John 10:10).”

- Introduction

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Workplace

Caregivers as persons Dignity and creativity of

work Servant leadership Commercialization of health

care

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Community

Healing and community Reconciliation Communities of service Serving community need

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World

Divine origin Reign of God Respect, dialogue,

engagement Universality of message Sacramentality and

stewardship

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Some Pastoral Considerations

Personal reflection Universal call to holiness Diversity of expression Gentle touch and discretion

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Questions & Conversation

What are some of the challenges?PersonallyProfessionallyOrganizationally

How do you address those challenges? What is our role in healing, prophetic voice,

sacrament, universal mystery?

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“The mystery of Christ casts light on every facet of Catholic health care: to see Christian love as the animating principle of health care; to see healing and compassion as a continuation of Christ's mission; to see suffering as a participation in the redemptive power of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection; and to see death, transformed by the resurrection, as an opportunity for a final act of communion with Christ.”

- Ethical and Religious Directives, Introduction

Conclusion

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Thank you.