The sacrament of the
anointing of the sick is just one way priests and chaplains can minister
to the dying and their families. They -- along with others in pastoral
care ministry -- can also pray, sing, read Scriptures, counsel, help
with arrangements and mediate conflicts. They even grant final requests.
One patient at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center nursing home in
Guilderland, for example, expressed a lifelong desire to see a certain
play. Marie Venaglia, the Catholic chaplain, rented a DVD from the
library and played it for her. After residents die, the center holds a
service for family, staff and visitors. It also has periodic memorial
services. "It's another form of closure, another way to talk about how
(the bereaved are) doing," Venaglia told The Evangelist, newspaper of
the Albany Diocese. "Death is a natural process. We can speak freely
about it. It's not all medical. The pastoral ministry here is all
incorporated into the whole care." She and other Catholics who encounter
death on a regular basis recently reflected on pastoral care of the
dying, God's presence at a deathbed and their common experiences in
patients' final hours. The anointing of the sick -- which Venaglia
described as "a blessing showing that the whole church is united in
praying for this person at this time in their life, not just a death" --
is offered every six weeks and as needed.
Pope Saint John Paul II , a towering figure of the 20th century, was a staunch critic of socialist ideologies. He recognized the inherent flaws in systems that sought to control economies and societies through centralized planning and state ownership. The pontiff's teachings offered a prophetic warning against the dangers of such regimes, which often led to oppression, poverty, and the erosion of individual freedoms. Recently, a conference organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Spain brought together prominent figures who echoed the concerns raised by the late Pope. Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante boldly declared socialism an "enemy of the cross," highlighting its incompatibility with Christian values. He emphasized the need for a spiritual renewal, urging individuals to embrace the cross as a path to true happiness and fulfillment. French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj also addressed the challenges posed by modern society, warning ag...