A New Hospital Prayer Book

A New Hospital Prayer Book Published by CTS

This is a very useful prayer book.  It starts with some of the best known Catholic payers (Our Father, Hail Mary etc), which one may feel hardly need to be included (though there absence would be outrageous, of course).  But there is also the practical consideration that when one is ill, sometimes memory plays tricks on one, and the distress of not being able to pray a well-loved prayer for that reason will be relieved by having the text at hand.

There is then a selection of prayers specifically for use in hospital, ranging from prayers of  acceptance or prayers before an operation or surgery.

This is followed by reflections on the Stations of the Cross, and some Prayers to Our Lady, including the mysteries of the rosary.  I think an opportunity was lost here to include some meditations on the mysteries - perhaps specifically related to being in hospital.

The next section is Prayers for Expectant Mothers, ranging from a prayer for the child in the womb through to a prayer for a new born child.  It also includes a prayer for a sick child, and a prayer on teh death of a child.  I wonder about the appropriateness of this prayer at this point in the book.  If I had a sick child and were looking for the prayer for that, and then saw that the very next prayer is 'on the death of a child,' I might find that needlessly upsetting.

There is then a helpful section on Scripture Readings and Ways to Pray, which starts with some help for those who find that they can't pray.  It also includes a selection of passages from the Bible for reading and meditation, mainly from the Gospels, with a few from the Psalms and one from St James.

The next chapter is Saints for the Sick, with brief pen-portraits of St Camillus de Lellis, St Paul of the Cross, St Germaine, St Peregrine, and St Bernadette.  That is followed by the Sacrament of Penance, (including examination of conscience as well as what to say in confession); the Rite of Communion for the Sick, and a chapter on the Anointing of the Sick.  It concludes with the Night Prayer of the Church.

All in all, this is a very good booklet - and would make an excellent gift for anyone who is facing a stay in hospital.