The Compassionate Visitor
Author – Author H. Becker
Publisher – Augsburg Publishing House
Copyright – 1985
ISBN – 0-8066-2094-3
Paperback – 125 Pages
Author, Arthur H. Becker, has served as a pastor, hospital chaplain, supervisor of clinical pastoral education, and seminary professor of pastoral care. He is also the author of Ministry with Older Persons.
The Compassionate Visitor is a practical help for anyone wanting to visit the sick, has a visitation ministry, or caring for a patient’s personal and spiritual needs. The book is an invaluable resource in ministering to someone who needs hope or encouragement.
I quote from the book The Compassionate Visitor, “the one who would seek to comfort and to give also becomes the receiver and the comforted.” The author clearly states in The Compassionate Visitor, that in order to be healed of any illness, a patient has to learn dependency and trust. A patient often feels lonely and isolated. Often, patients feels that on one understands their pain, worry or fears.
The Compassionate Visitor teaches and I quote – “Here again, the simple, warm, compassionate steady acceptance on the part of the visitor is most helpful – one that neither condones nor condemns these dark and hidden fears that plague us all. Here again, the solid reliance of the simple faith that we are always in God’s hands is the most helpful. This is one of the basic messages that the pastoral visitor should be prepared to bring.”
I, the book reviewer, had to read this book as part of my final testing to be a hospital chaplain. I served at a chaplain for both my church and then was requested by the local hospital to be a chaplain for their facility. This book was our right to passage to become a chaplain. If anyone wants to become a visitor not asking anything of themselves but just to help others this book is invaluable as was stated in the second paragraph of this review. The Compassionate Visitor is an amazing book for anyone to give of themselves and not wanting any praise or gratitude back. The gratification of this kind of visitor all comes from within.
Book Review
Carole Walsh Scott
