Dai senodochi romani agli hospice moderni. Sofferenza e cura spirituale nella tradizione cattolica

The essay proposes to examines the relationship between spiritually and illness, with particular regard to the Catholic experience of assistance and care of the suffering. The spiritually care of the elderly, above all for those affected by chronic illness or whose condition is greatly dete-riorated, must often be given the possibility to have meaning where their sense of meaning seems lost. The spiritual care to the elderly fulfill an important role, however, other caregivers of the catholic medical facilities can also intervene successfully to allievate suffering and the sense of abandonment ofter experienced.