Kapłan wobec osób chorych terminalnie w ujęciu biblijnym

Abstract

One of the most important branches of modern medicine is the paliative care. The subject of that care are people, whose illness terminates in death. At that stage of life many of them are asking about faith and God, searching answers to fundamental questions. Giving answers is a task for theology based on The Holy Bible. The priests are the first people responsible for giving hope in an evangelical meaning. History of Israel contains examples of the priestly care to sufferers, including the terminally ill. The progress of mentality has changed the doctrine of suffering as a consequence of sin for a reason to share love and help, which was shown by Jesus Christ. Catholic Church, obedient to the Savior, always took spiritual and physical care of the necessitous, particularly of those, who were close to the death. The ministry of priests is in Persona Christi, which means that they have to reflect Jesus crucified and resurrected, thereby proclaiming the Gospel of love and paschal hope to the terminally ill.