Midwife for Souls: Spiritual Care for the Dying: A Pastoral Guide for Hospice Care Workers and All Who Live with the Terminally Ill » (2nd Edition)

This classic work on the spirituality of caring for the dying is now expanded with moving stories and lessons gleaned from the author's experience as a hospice nurse. Caregivers, friends, and family members often feel unsure of what to say or do as they care for the terminally ill. Midwife for Souls provides insight, showing how the support of one's Catholic faith and the power of prayer can guide one in ministering to a dying person. Written in a style that is poetic and beautiful, practical and credible, this book is essential reading for anyone who accompanies others to the edge of life-and helps in their birthing to eternal life.

About the Author:
Kathy Kalina is a certified hospice and polliative nurse (CHPN) in Forth Worth, Texas

Foreword     ix
Preface     xi
Acknowledgments     xiii
Hospice Care     1
The Dignity of the Dying     1
The Death Event in a Fragmented Society     4
Midwifery for Souls: Birthing to Eternal Life     6
Family: The Basic Unit of Care     8
Wounds and Battle Scars     8
A Privileged Guest on the Journey     10
You Are Not in Charge     12
You Can't Fix Sick Families     15
...But God Can     16
The Work of Dying     18
The Urgency to Love     19
Life Review     20
Reconciliation     21
Am I Going to Die?     22
Spiritual Distress     23
Signs of Active Labor     27
Dying Is a Physical Process     27
Dying Is a Spiritual Process     30
"An Angel from Heaven Appeared..."     32
A Time for Detachment     34
Praying Them over the Wall     35
Soul-to-Soul Time     35
A Time of Ultimate Choice     36
Complications in the Dying Process     37
Depending on Miracles     40
Near "Bad Death"Experiences     41
The Request for Death     42
Timing     45
Death of the Young     45
Sudden Death Experience     46
"A Time to Die"     47
Calling in the Family     49
The Final Farewells     51
Ministering to the Bereaved     52
Pastoral Care     57
Working with the Family Minister     57
Praying for Those Who Don't Pray     58
Prayer with Families and Patients     60
Spiritual Exercises for the Midwife     62
Become a Pray-er     62
Spiritual Reading     66
Live in a State of Grace     66
Live a Life of Forgiveness     67
Live a Life of Joy     67
The Problem of Suffering     70
The Cause and the Cure     70
The Question of "Assisted Death"     73
The Presence of Christ     74
Harvested Fruit     76
Allow Yourself to Receive     77
Allow Patients to Float Their Own Boat     81
Bow Your Head to the Mystery of Suffering     84
Practice Unconditional Love     87
Learn How to Pray Out Loud      90
Speak When Inspired     93
Take Care of the Story     95
Listen Well     99
Be Able to Beg Forgiveness     102
Suspend Judgment     104
Get Bossy Sometimes     108
Honor the Patient's Journey     111
Don't Ever Think It's Easy     114
Appendices
Prayers     121
Prayer for the Dying     121
Prayer at the Time of Death     122
Prayer for the Family     123
Midwife's Prayers     123
Chaplet of Divine Mercy     124
The Rosary     124
Scriptural Comfort for the Dying and Their Families     128
Suffering     128
Hope     131
Fear     135
Forgiveness     137
Heaven     142