1 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

2 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

3 Agenda Jesus Christ Healer & Reconciler Prophet Sacrament Universal Mystery Health Ministry Application Patient/Resident Care Workplace Community World Some Pastoral Considerations Discussion

4 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?

5 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)

6 Christological Themes

7 Healer & Reconciler Prophet Sacrament Universal Mystery

8 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

9 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

10 Sacrament Image of the Invisible God Colossians 1: 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

11 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

12 Health Ministry Applications

13 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

14 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

15 Workplace Caregivers as persons Dignity and creativity of work Servant leadership Commercialization of health care

16 Community Healing and community Reconciliation Communities of service Serving community need

17 World Divine origin Reign of God Respect, dialogue, engagement Universality of message Sacramentality and stewardship

18 Some Pastoral Considerations Personal reflection Universal call to holiness Diversity of expression Gentle touch and discretion

19 Questions & Conversation What are some of the challenges? Personally Professionally Organizationally How do you address those challenges? What is our role in healing, prophetic voice, sacrament, universal mystery?

20 “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

21 Thank you.