The Hospital Prayer Book

by J. Massyngberde Ford

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809118386
• ISBN13: 9780809118380
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Length: 106 Pages
• Weight: 0.16 lbs.

Customer Reviews

EARLY WORK BY THIS BIBILICAL SCHOLAR USEFUL FOR ALL PATIENTS NOW

And, as indicated by its dedication to Kubler-Ross, a comfort and a hope as well for those in terminal stages. J. Massyngberde Ford is the author of the excellent commentary on the Gospel of Saint Luke My Enemy Is My Guest: Jesus and Violence in Luke as well as the scholarly study of the Book of Revelation (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries) published as part of the excellent and academic Anchor Bible series. In brief, a well respected theologian and Biblical scholar, Massyngberde has published later in her career remarkable and pioneering work in Biblical criticism and commentary. We may therefore cherish and receive gratefully this thoughtful, prayerful, Biblical and consoling collection of prayers for those in hospital. The format of this book in the main draws for each particular occassion a Biblical passage and a brief meditation and prayer to be read in the contemplative method of lection divina. The occassions thus considered are quite comprehensive, including visits to a doctor, both "successful" and "disappointing," prayers upon entering the hospital, for x-ray and surgery, for transfusions, for tose who can no longer attend to their needs, for medications, for a restless night, for sedation, for recovery, for hospital visitors and for those who see us suffer, and for patients with friends. Also in this section are morning and night prayers in near breviary style. This first section continues with prayers for those with eye disorders (a Braille edition is not indicated here), for those who have lost the power of speech, for those who are lonely, for those in pain, for "one who wishes to die," and for those suffering depression. Part One therefore is entitled The Presence of the Father. Part Two is called The Return to the Father and, as indicated earlier in the dedication to Kubler-Ross (noted author of such landmark works of mercy as On Death and Dying and On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss), speaks to the final stages of life. THe first passages of this second part is a Meditation on Death. As with many of the sections, it begins with Old Testament and ancient Hebrew texts, here drawn first from the Testament of Abraham, of Father Abraham's encounter with Death. A comprehensive section on the theology of dying traced through the Old Testament follows, and then Death i nthe New Testament. This Meditation is thus fruitful for anyone at any stage of life, even for me today upon my birthday. This is perhaps the longest section in the prayer book, and quite profound and complete. PLease read it carefully, as lectio divina, as Our Holy Father Saint Benedict advises us ever to recall this. Other sections of this second part guide, console, counsel, and accompany in the moments of sharing and making a will, of receiving a terminal diagnosis, of passing through denial and isolation, of encountering friends in denial of your diagnosis (note the terminology from Kubler Ross throughout this