Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

END-OF-LIFE CARE IN GERMANY. An overview
Summary
The author presents an overview on the issue of care for the terminally ill from the triple perspective: a) epidemiological and statistical perspective, b) the perspective of hospital operators and insurance companies, c) the social-political and medical-ethical perspective. All the perspectives are analysed in details. The author of the paper emphasises that a terminally ill person who receives a palliative care should not be viewed only as a separated victim of the illness. Of course from the medical point of view in such cases life quality is systematically reduced, however a palliative patient does not only have fears and worries, but also hope which embraces his family and the nearest and dearest. The end of life can contribute to realisation of its finitude and looking at death as a sort of fulfilment of life. Experience of life coming to its end by persons involved in palliative care may be not only something passive, but an active enrichment of their own existence.

HOMILIES DURING MASS CELEBRATED AT HOME FOR A TERMINALLY ILL PATIENT.
Summary
Accompanying a terminally ill patient by celebrating Mass at home for him/her and his/her family gives a perfect opportunity to intensify one’s faith and to reflect on the importance of faith in life. It is also a chance to reconcile with God and the people as well as to accept sufferings and to offer them to God as a sacrifice for one’s own redemption, redemption of the family members, the Holy Church and all the people. The day’s reading can be a good inspiration for homilies during Mass since they help to get a better understanding of the mystery of the Passion of Christ and Resurrection of Christ. The Eucharist which is the meeting with Christ enables the terminally ill patient to comprehend better the meaning of his/her life, suffering and death; thus he/she is well ‘equipped’ to bear the sufferings and to live the last moments of life in unity with God, being His witness at the same time. The family members of the terminally ill patient benefit from taking part in Mass as well because their faith becomes more intense and mature, the family bonds get stronger and so they are able to help their terminally ill next of kin to pass away to eternity. The work and assistance of doctors, nurses and volunteers who work in hospices is also of great importance because they take very good care of the terminally ill patients and their families. Homilies which were given by the writer of this paper during Masses celebrated at home for the terminally ill patients have been presented in this study. They covered the period of time starting from Ascension Day till the Day of Nativity of John Baptist – on Sundays, on days of special celebrations and church holidays.