Jesus lit a spark in our little world that exploded and spread like wild fire. Holy men and women began to rise up, filled with the courage of the Holy Spirit. Great saints rose up and began spreading the love of Jesus to the world.
While all nurses are called to take care of a person’s bodily needs, a parish nurse is also called to help take care of their spiritual needs. As Catholics, we recognize the two go hand in hand. In the earliest beginnings of nursing, Catholics would take care of the sickest of the sick, and people no one else was willing to tend to. They did this to serve others as Jesus commanded and help heal their bodies. They also did it to help save their souls. Tending the sick allowed many Catholics to spread the faith to people who would have otherwise never been reached. They helped rich and poor alike, and converted many to the faith through their love.
“Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people.”
-Mother Teresa
Taking care of one another’s bodily needs is literally infused into our Catholic faith. We are called to live our faith by practicing the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy. In case you need a refresher, here they are:
- Feed the Hungry
- Give Drink to the Thirsty
- Clothe the Naked
- Shelter the Homeless
- Visit the Sick
- Visit the Imprisoned
- Bury the Dead
Nurses are able to fulfill many of these in their day to day duties. Doing them with great love, even when patients are difficult, helps Parish Nurses to serve as Jesus asks. In addition to these 7 Corporal Works of Mercy, we are also given 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy. Here they are:
- Admonish the Sinner
- Instruct the Ignorant
- Counsel the Doubtful
- Bear Wrongs Patiently
- Forgive Offenses Willingly
- Comfort the Afflicted
- Pray for the Living and the Dead
Parish nurses can also do many of these in their day to day duties! Bearing wrongs patiently and forgiving offenses is certainly going to come up at some point in your career. Being kind and loving could be an amazing example to even the most difficult of patients.