The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-04-22
SICK CALLS.


less life which finally terminates in
sickness, either of long or of short
duration. To him, the Lords Day has
meant nothing but the opportunity
for pleasure or dissipation. He has
sneered at religion, and deemed 1t
worthy only of the effeminate. He
has not attended Mass for years.
Physically brave, he was morally too
much Of coward to enter the con-
fessional. Then again, he has not had
any purpose of amendment, and has
really said to himself. "It is useless
for me to go to the Sacrements be-
cause j don't intend to give UP my
present mode of life"
So he goes along, day after day, sin
clutching him harder and harder, his
conscience becoming endurated, at
tempting to excuse his crimes by all
sorts of sophistry, until, finally, the
day comes which convinces him that
THE wages of sin is DEATH
He does not want to admit the
gravity of his physical peril. When
others talk to him about calling the
priest, he pretends to get angry, and
tells them, there is time enough for
that / shall be up and around in a
few days, and then I will go to Con-
fession and begin new life" Per-
haps the members of the household
fear to excite him by insisting that the
priest should be sent for, sometimes
they wait too long; disease is treach-
erous, and frequently the patient
takes a sudden turn, becomes uncon-
scious, unable to make any kind of a
confession, fails rapidly, and perhaps
dies before the priest can reach him.
The Scriptural words, GAS you live so
shall you de-" are fulfilled with terri
flying frequency.
In cases of serious illness, what is
your duty to the sick person? Simply
this, do unto others as you would
have them do unto you" Suppose
yourself to be the sick man! Lying
there helpless, knowing your physi-
cal, yes, and your spiritual condition,
even though you will not admit it to
others, hoping against all reason,
realizing that within a few hours or
days you must enter into Eternity, do
you think that your relatives or
friends would exhibit proper interest
in you, If they thought only of your
body?
Any priest of experience will tell
you of the whispered dread of offence
manifested when the sick mans rela
tives say to the clergyman, Father
don't tell him that we sent for you!
He does not know that you are com
ing. Don't feel offended if he should
not receive you kindly. Tell him that
YOU heard that he was little indis
posed, and that you just ran in to see
him" Any priest will tell you that
the dying mans relatives are unreas
enable in their timidity, that in ninety
nine cases out of every hundred Of
this kind, the sufferer is delighted tt
see the priest, always makes most
satisfying confession, and dies at peace
with his God. So, no matter how
strenuously your sick friend objects
to the call for a priest, pay no atten
ton to it, send for the clergyman, tel
him when he comes, all you can about
the case, and let him do the rest. DOM
tell the priest that you think the pa
tient should or should not receive the
Sacraments. He knows his duty, has
had experience with hundreds of sicl
people, and may, or may not, be able
to give dissolution. Leave everything
of this kind to him, once you have go
him to the patient, your responsibility!
ceases.
Send for the priest, even if the mar
may have had only fainting spell, {
shock of apoplexy, a fit, i'm which an
imation is suspended. It is not Ger
tain at just what exact time the sou
leaves the body Give the man thu
benefit of every possible chance.
The chamber of the sick person
should be as clean as possible. In
should be table covered with cleal
white cloth. On the table should b.
a crucifx and two wax candles, ;
ing small piece of bread, or littl
dry meal, and another dish in which i
placed some absorbent cotton or fax
In case of Holy Communion Their
should be a linen cloth to be PLACED
under the chin, and serve as a Com
munion cloth; also, glass of waite
and a small spoon. There should ais
be dish containing water, in which
the priest may wash his hands. 4
towel should also be ready.
Every Catholic family should be sup
piled with these requisites Sickness
or accident may come into any famil.
at any time Don't wait until then t,
think of the necessary preparations
It is shameful and scandalous at times
to witness careless, Indifferent Cathc
lies sending to the neighbors for thos
articles which they should have il
their own house.
One more word Every Catholic VIII
docs not 1.-Two OF homo xuhn iS a hoard