Original scientific paper
DEPRESSION – A CHALLENGE FOR THE PRACTICE OF THE FAITHFUL PASTORAL CARE POSSIBILITIES AND PERSPECTIVES
Nikola Vranješ
orcid.org/0000-0002-0895-0284
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The depression, one of today’s the most frequent psychical illnesses is becoming a considerable socio-medical challenge. In relationship to the ecclesial pastoral practice, depression and other psychical illnesses are growing into a demanding problem. The Church cares for those afflicted by the depression and other psychical infirmities in the domain of the pastoral care for the sick. The care of the Church is primarily of a spiritual and religious nature. The caritative service of the Church helps as well on the socio-cultural level, foremost through the pastoral counselling , contributing to the harmonious involvement of psychically challenged persons in the social and ecclesial community. Following the method of pastoral theological pondering, this lecture presents important elements of the pastoral care of persons afflicted by the depression, the challenges and possibilities of a contemporary pastoral care approach, as well as some perspectives which need to be carried out.
Keywords
depression; illness; pastoral care; Church; faith
Hrčak ID:
84125
URI
Publication date:
29.6.2012.
Visits: 2.417 *