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The Spiritual Companion is a sacred presence and a respectful listener. S/he represents the St. Charles community, assisting the dying person in a time of need. S/he encourages the dying person to tell his/her story, listening for needs.
People facing death often struggle to find meaning in their lives. They face a confined and abbreviated future. They are transformed from being a contributor into a burden on others. They are unable to take care of their basic needs and feel that their bodies are betraying them. They often feel cast out of the world of the healthy. They sometimes feel guilty, abandoned, and angry.
It is at these very challenging times when the Spiritual Companion can be a welcomed presence, someone who accepts the dying person just as s/he is. The love brought by the Spiritual Companion is often soothing and reassuring to the dying person. That, in turn, helps them express their spiritual beliefs with great conviction, often drawing on the seeds of faith that were planted many years earlier in their childhoods.
It is important for the Spiritual Companion to be a respectful listener in order to let the dying person tell his/her story and recognize the strength s/he can find in his/her own faith.
The Spiritual Companion recognizes God as the Source of all action. While the Spiritual Companion represents the entire community, s/he does not carry on his/her shoulders the responsibility for making everything OK. It is not the Spiritual Companion's job to “fix things.” The Companion let's God be the do-er, praying with Jesus, “Not my will but thine be done.”
When appropriate, the Companion shares his/her own faith story with the dying person and members of the family. When appropriate, s/he prays with the dying person and family members.
The Our Father is often prayed, for several reasons: it is how Jesus taught us to pray; it is known by almost everyone, allowing all to participate; it expresses so many sentiments that are important to the dying person – it names us as God's children, it praises His name, it recognizes the link between God's will for us on earth and in heaven, it asks God to nourish us each day, it begs God's forgiveness and offers our forgiveness to those we have harmed, and it asks God to protect us from all evil.
The Spiritual Companion recognizes his/her calling. The Spiritual Companion recognizes this ministry as a calling, a beckoning to show God's love in a special way, to be His presence at a time of serious need. The Spiritual Companion is challenged to integrate his/her faith in this ministry. S/he seeks appropriate training and support in the ministry. S/he reflects regularly on his/her own value system, strengths, and limitations. S/he learns to care for himself/herself in order to be able to help others.
The Spiritual Companion program is a blessing to the people of St. Charles parish and a special blessing to all those who serve as Spiritual Companions. |
