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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.