Noi motivații ale justificării îngrijirii bolnavului
New Foundations for the Justification of Caring for the Sick

Author(s): Vasile Raduca
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Eastern Orthodoxy, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Ideas Forum International Academic and Scientific Association
Keywords: Christ; life; patient; suffering; illness; palliative care; out-of-body experiences (in both healthy individuals and those who have been in critical situations;
Summary/Abstract: Professor Priest Dr. V. Răducă develops the announced theme, prompted by questions he asked himself after an early experience in his priesthood when he had to administer Holy Communion to a dying person. He confesses that he began to understand that human life is a much more complex phenomenon than we generally believe. Eternal life is not merely an extension of historical life it is the same life but fulfilled. For this reason, Christ calls the time we enter after leaving history „Life”, „Abundant Life”, and „Eternal Life”. The life we all experience within history is marked by the consequences of the primordial Fall, as well as personal mistakes and failures. These culminate in illness, suffering, and physical death none of which were part of what God originally created as „very good”. Yet, they are real aspects of human existence. Against these, man has the duty to fight, following Christ’s example, whose mission was to bring life and to ensure that humans no longer experience definitive separation from God (John 4:14; 6:50-51). Any person who fights against suffering regardless of who is suffering is virtuous, as they become a co-fighter with Christ against evil. Through our interactions with others, we leave a lasting mark on their lives both in this world and beyond, just as they do on ours. Each of us should consider how we are shaped by our encounters with others and how we, in turn, impact their lives especially those whom we may never meet again. Those working in palliative care face a challenging and heroic task. They need strength and education in many aspects, particularly regarding their interactions with the dying. They must be convinced that each person has a life beyond what is visible in a „mere dying person”. Scientifically recognized out-of- body experiences provide additional motivation for palliative workers to approach their task with greater efficacy. The author emphasizes the importance of these experiences in fostering a deeper understanding of the human being.

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