The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-03

How should Catholics comfort
themselves in time of sickness? 1t is
needless to state that they should ac-
cept the illness resignedly as coming
from Him Who permits it. You are
aware that every cross borne with
| patience and resignation brings us
nearer to the heart of Him Who de
liberately chose lifelong suffering
when He might have been exempt
from it entirely. Amy afflictiOn is
blessing il it tends to teach the lesson
that life on earth is time of pro-
baton; the lesson of worthlessness of
everything worldly; il it creates
/ inconsistencies for the better world,
where there will be no more sorrow
nor suffering nor affliction of any
sort. Our Leader and Master went
into glory after suffering the most
acute agony. He, the Eternal Wis
dom, certainly knew the best way,
and when we are permitted to tread
the same path we are privileged. But
we must stand the blows and carry
the cross cheerfully and with patience.
This does not imply that we must
use no means to stay the progress
of our illness or even to cure it. In
fact, it is our duty to have recourse
to medical aid when We are afflicted
with sickness. Our life is not our
own, and we must keep soul and body
together as long as we can. We
should summon an experienced phySi-
clan, one who is we'll educated and
has had experience; and preferably a
Catholic physician, who is sure not to
hold to medical opinions which Gods
| Church must condemn. A Catholic
physician would also be likely to give
early or timely notice of the danger
the patient is in, SO that the rites of
the Church might be administered in
due time. Extreme JUNCTION might do
more toward restoring the sick person
to health than the doctors medicines
| if administered before the patient is
too low. It is the custom of physi-
fNcians who are not Catholics to hold
| back the news of mo hope until the
person is actually dying. Extreme
| Unction should be administered be-
fore this extremity. New born in
fants will hardly die without baptism
| if the physician in attendance is q
practical Catholic.
! It is lamentable that the American
public can be SO attracted by adVer-
| Using doctors, by charlatans and
quackss that they place so much re-
lance on patent medicine. The
writer is acquainted with few makers
of patent medicines, men who never
gave any study to diseases or to medi-
cines
In this connection it might be stated
that the drawing up Of last will
and testament should have ones at
tention before ones mind grows too
weak The sickF person will surely
rest more easily after he has arranged
for the disposal of his belongings and
has received all the comforting rites
of Holy Church. In every Catholic
home there should be kept all that is
needed at the time of administering
the last Sacramento. For the admin
istration Of Extreme Unction there
SnOulQ be prepared near the Ded VI
the sick person, stand covered with a
clean white cloth, and upon it a
crucifix, two blessed wax candles, holy
water and glass of fresh water, a
towel, spoon, and bread and cotton
on two small dishes. People in the
home must not talk to the priest when
he enters the house with the Blessed
Sacrament. but should reverently
kneeI to adore it as the priest goes tC
place it on the table prepared.
Administering Extreme JUNCTION
J does not imply the sure, early death
of the patient, but most often it is q
great assistance toward recovery
hence the relatives of the sick person
; must not wait too long before calling
, the priest. 1t is true Extreme Unc
ton cannot be conferred unless the
person be in danger of death, but dc
, not wait until you are sure he is tc
die. After the Sacramento have been
, administered members of the family