The Church must make Sacraments for the sick a priority, the lead bishop on end of life care has said at the launch of a new resource for dying people and their families.
Introducing The Art of Dying Well, a new website run by the Bishops’ Conference that aims to help people make spiritual preparation for death, Bishop John Sherrington acknowledged that a shortage of priests could mean that some Catholics might not be able to receive the Sacraments before they die.
“We have to acknowledge that challenge, but I’ve always felt as a priest and now a bishop that the priority for those who are sick, those who are dying is really important,” he said.
Bishop Sherrington, who has worked as a hospital chaplain and served on hospital ethics committees, continued: “Although we may have fewer priests, we have got to look at our priorities. It’s the priests who celebrate the Sacraments and I think that we have to evaluate priorities and make sure it happens.”
While he said that Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist could play a role, he added: “The role of the priest is really important.”
The website, artofdyingwell.org, is an updated version of the Ars moriendi, a genre of medieval literature that advised Christians on dying. It includes sections on planning for death and what a good death looks like.
As well as practical advice such as making a will and funeral planning the site contains spiritual guidance, prayers and reflections. It has sections for people who are facing death personally, people who face losing a loved one and doctors and nurses involved in their care.
A spokeswoman for the Bishops’ Conference said that one of the main themes of was that Catholics should get in touch with a priest or hospital chaplain on behalf of themselves or their loved ones as early as possible given the limited number of clergy.
The site was launched on 1 November to coincide with All Saints' Day. The Bishops’ Conference has invited people to post pictures and memories of loved ones who have died to its Instagram account, @artofdyingwell, throughout November. Their names and photos will be shared with five convents and abbeys who will pray for them.
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