Visiting the Sick

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • St. Josaphat Formation Center, Phoenix, AZ

February is the month during which the Church focuses in particular on the care of the sick with a blessing of throats on the feast of St. Blase to deliver the receiver from illnesses of the throat and “every other illness”, and especially with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, designated by Pope St. John Paul II as “World Day of the Sick”, to recognize the value of suffering by the sick and the care and attention they deserve. My recent experience with my own father suffering a grave illness reinforced for me an important lesson about the care of the sick that I think is important to remember. 

The Lord’s clear admonition of taking care of the least of His brothers and sisters who are sick is one of the essential criteria of loving our neighbor and hence of being worthy of eternal life. Yet, in spite of its importance, the task is apparently a very simple one: “when did we see you sick and visit you?” The level of medical assistance these days is extraordinary – thanks be to God – but even with the most sophisticated remedies available it is the presence of caring people that comforts the suffering the most. Us non-medical caregivers can sometimes feel quite inadequate in the face of a loved one’s sickness, but it is not about what we can do for the person, but rather about the support we give by our mere presence. The sick, and especially the elderly, feel a tremendous sense of insecurity and vulnerability from their incapacity to provide, protect, or even position themselves to take a sip of water or adjust the pillow. How much they appreciate the presence of someone who cares about them is truly immeasurable. 

There is, however, one service that is invaluable to the seriously sick – praying with them. My Dad was so weak and out of breath that he couldn’t respond audibly to, or even focus on, his prayers, so he asked that we pray out loud while he followed along in silence. He said that he got more out of the Rosary that way than ever before! It could be the Rosary or a simple reading of prayers and writings of Saints that are uplifting and give hope. 

All of us will have sick and dying relatives at some time in our lives. Visiting them does a world – and an eternity – of good for them and us!

God bless you all!