Sheila Cassidy

In Sharing the Darkness, Sheila Cassidy - a leading figure of the hospice movement, and survivor, as a young doctor, of torture for daring to give medical care to an opponent of the Pinochet regime in Chile - meditates on the mystery of our wounded humanity, trying to wrest meaning and a spirituality of caring out of the reality of suffering.

This valuable handbook, written by a specialist palliative care physician and a theologian with experience of hospice ministry, addresses in practical terms the needs of dying patients and their relatives, recognising that these needs are not only physical but also emotional and spiritual. It combines insights from current best practice in palliative care, pastoral experience and theological reflection to explore: • the mystery of suffering • communicating with the family and caring for the bereaved • responding to a request for assisted suicide • forgiveness, reconciliation, anointing • saying goodbyes and dying with dignity Throughout there is a helpful emphasis on team work and self-care: one of the key skills in this area is learning that this is a shared responsibility and privilege. Many people, including clergy, are fearful of what to say or do in such circumstances. This resource will increase courage and confidence.

In short chapters suitable for individual reading or group study, and questions for meditation and reflection, Sheila Cassidy considers the word 'LENT' as an acronym for what it really means to live as a Christian today: L is for LOVE. E is for EMPATHY. N is quite simply for NO! T is for THANK YOU GOD.

The moving story of Sheila Cassidy, who as a young doctor went to work in Chile and became caught in the terrible injustice of the country - injustice which led to her own arrest, imprisonment, torture and expulsion.

Sheila Cassidy encourages us to walk alongside Jesus and alongside her `Good Friday People’, a motley group of saints and sinners mysteriously called to share in the suffering of Christ.