The Message of the Beatitudes in End-of-Life Care for Catholics

An enthusiastic approach to understand Catholic theology and the relativity it has in modern-day healthcare will immediately recognize a connection between the Beatitudes (Matthew 5.) as preached by Jesus Christ and their applications through the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. The latter represents Church doctrine on human dignity and the common good in society. The Beatitudes are a core message of faith and the map to help us return to the presence of our creator, securing our alignment with His purpose for our life. The Beatitudes inspired the saints, who put them into action through the graces they convey. Additionally, the Beatitudes' guidance prepares the faithful followers of Christ to enter eternal joy, "where there is no more pain nor sorrow but eternal life" (Revelation 21:4.). Claiming a multicultural and multinational history of two millennia allows Catholics to connect with time and space that is not only transcendent but well understood intergenerationally in our human experience. With this concept in mind, clinical providers are encouraged to connect with the theological and spiritual Catholic themes in this chapter. Additionally, a correlation to the human experience of universal emotions will be of great benefit in this integrated approach.