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Fr. Joseph L. Ziliak, Courier & Press article, Saturday, Sept.
25, 2004
One of the great gifts we can give to those who have dedicated their
lives to caring for us is to provide lovingly for them.
Many people are members of the sandwich generation, namely, they have
responsibilities of looking after their children, and looking after
their parents or those who have taken care of them in younger years.
Caring for those older and younger is a challenging position. Others
have been there. Still others will take on such a responsibility.
Longevity is among us as never before. Good health practices, good
health care, easing of life's burdens through new technology have
all contributed to extending the life expectancy of individuals.
How we enter into the final years of life can be quite different today
from generations before us. Proper home design makes it easier for
elderly to care for themselves longer. Stay at home care is also possible.
Assisted living facilities provide another phase that is helpful for
individuals to maintain a sense of self sufficiency. Full assistance
care is yet another level for looking after our elderly.
Do we look to their spiritual needs as carefully as we plan for physical
care? It is a well known fact that our eternal salvation grows in
importance as we close in on the end time of life. If a chapel and
chaplain are not available in a facility for elderly, how are provisions
made for their spiritual care?
Within the geographical limits of our parish, we have four nursing
homes and two assisted living facilities. In addition, we have a number
of our people who are home bound, or find it quite difficult to get
around. Some live alone; some with a spouse; some with children; some
with paid caregivers.
We visit the individuals once a week. These are associates who provide
friendship, but also give a distinctly spiritual dimension to the
visit, for they bring Communion to the home bound. The tradition of
taking blessed and consecrated hosts to the home bound or imprisoned
is from the earliest days of Christianity. One of the stories about
St. Valentine is that he took Communion to the imprisoned and was
martyred for his faith.
At least three times a year, I go to the home bound for an anointing
of the sick. This is our sacrament of healing. Those in nursing homes
and assisted living facilities likewise receive weekly visits or more
with the Eucharist, and anointing on special occasions.
"Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the
priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing
them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will
save the sick person, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they
have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them." (James
5:14-15)
"Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power over all demons
and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of
God and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2)
If we take the Lord seriously, we will fearlessly visit those who
are sick and in need of healing prayer. Our people have a right to
be so served. They have borne the burden of the heat of the day, and
thus are properly ready to be comforted and healed by their savior.
A prayer following the anointing on the forehead and palms of the
hands reads in this fashion. "Father in heaven, through this
holy anointing grant comfort to those suffering. If they are afraid,
give them courage. When afflicted, give them patience; when dejected,
afford them hope; and when alone, assure them of the support of your
holy people."
May each of us hear and know the healing power of Our Lord as we go
gently into our old age, or bear the burden of infirmity!
Father Joseph L. Ziliak is pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic
Church in Newburgh.
