Introduction
Catholicism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world and a branch of Christianity. Its fundamental belief is that there is only one God, consisting of three aspects: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Swaggart, 2020). The main text of the faith is the Bible, which contains stories and life lessons for people to follow, including God’s creation of the world, the existence of heaven and hell, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church places the Pope at the top – the Bishop of Rome. (Swaggart, 2020). Other bishops represent and lead various churches, assisted by priests and deacons.
Health Beliefs and Practices in Catholics
Health in this religion is viewed in connection to faith. Sickness is a part of human life, as people are not the Creator but sinful creations. However, health is a gift from God, which encompasses not only the body but also the soul (Swaggart, 2020). Thus, both causes are holy, and Catholics believe in healing illnesses with faith and medicine.
Some of the customs in Catholicism include Baptism, a rite of passage and initiation into the religion; the Eucharist – the consumption of the Body and Blood of Christ; and Penance – the confession of sins (Swaggart, 2020). Among the taboos are suicide, euthanasia, various sexual practices, abortion, and, in some cases, contraception (Swaggart, 2020; Testoni et al., 2020). Apart from Baptism, another rite of passage is Confirmation – a second step in the initiation process (Walsham, 2023). Catholics celebrate many holidays in honor of various saints, but the days of most tremendous significance include Lent, Easter, and Christmas.
Conclusion
This information about Catholicism can help nurses build relationships with patients. First, it is vital to remember that the Catholic faith highly values health and healing through belief, but also accepts medical practices. Therefore, nurses may appeal to patients by showing their interest and compassion. Second, it is essential to consider the customs and taboos in the Catholic faith when discussing sensitive topics such as end-of-life care, safe sexual activity, and childbirth.
References
Swaggart, J. (2020). Catholicism & Christianity. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
Testoni, I., Bortolotti, C., Pompele, S., Ronconi, L., Baracco, G., & Orkibi, H. (2020). A challenge for palliative psychology: Freedom of choice at the end of life among the attitudes of physicians and nurses. Behavioral Sciences, 10(10), 160.
Walsham, A. (2023). Coming of age in faith: The rite of confirmation after the English Reformation. Studies in Church History, 59, 164-197.