96. What is the importance of the elderly in the family?

The elderly have the treasure of experience and wisdom of life and are a source of sound advice and unity for the whole family. To happily attend to their material and spiritual needs is a pious duty for children and other members of the family, which brings many blessings from God and helps the members to mature.

97. How should the sick be treated?

Family members should see Christ who suffered in those members who are ill. Caring for those who are ill is an opportunity for all the members to grow in faith, hope and love and to be more united. They should do all that is in their power to ease the suffering of the sick member and to help him or her to give supernatural meaning to his or her situation.

98. When should a priest be called to attend to the elderly or sick?

When the illness of a sick or elderly person is life threatening, the family has a serious obligation to call a priest to administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and the viaticum if necessary. They should try to arrange for this as soon as possible and preferably at a moment when the patient is conscious.

99. Should calling a priest be put off for fear that it will unsettle the sick person, making them think that they are about to die?

Calling a priest should not be put off for fear that it will unsettle the sick person. This is a big mistake because the sacraments produce peace and help to recover health. If the person is near death, the sacraments strengthen them to resist despair in their final moments and prepare the way for a happy death and union with God in Heaven forever.

100. Are handi-capped or abnormal children a disgrace or burden?

Handicapped children are neither a disgrace nor a burden. To the contrary, family members should see Christ who suffers in these children and understand that they are a blessing from God to help them grow in generosity, faith and authentic love. Family members should spare no effort to attend to them and care for them as though they were attending to and caring for Christ Himself.

101. Are all these duties towards children, the elderly, the ill and the handicapped an obstacle to the personal fulfillment of the other members of the family?

Quite the contrary. These duties help the family members to mature and to discover the profound and lasting fulfillment that comes with self giving. God does not let himself be outdone and rewards the cheerful giver a hundredfold on earth and afterwards with eternal life in Heaven.