The Health and Peace Symposium continued on the morning of September 3 at the campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas. Professor and psychiatrist Renato Diniz Silveira, who made his first communion at Father Eustaquio's church, speaks to us about “Listening with the heart: mental health and the call to care”. He points out that being balanced all the time is not human. Health is not perfect; it has its ailments. Doctors focus more on the process than on truly listening. Caring means listening. To help someone, you must reach the person directly. When Father Eustaquio talks about Health and Peace, he refers to integral care.
Professor Diniz also speaks of fragility in weakness. Fragility is the awareness of our limits, the perception that we are vulnerable. Life is not easy. He also refers to the neurochemical power of welcoming, which has a cerebral effect: the effect of being received, of prayer.
Life constantly reminds us that we cannot live alone. We need support networks, bonds of trust, people who listen to us with an open heart. Listening with the heart is the task of all of us. It means being able to interrupt haste to stand before the other without a mask, without judgment, offering presence as Father Eustaquio did. Presence is more important than words. Fr. Eustaquio dedicated himself to caring for the physical and spiritual health of the faithful, recommending natural remedies and always emphasizing God’s willingness to heal people. Holiness can speak to our humanity.
The second part of the morning was dedicated to a round table: “Health for your bodies: interfaces between health sciences and religious sciences”, with the participation of professors Clayton Lima Melo, Marina Pereira Rocha and Carlos Frederico Barboza de Souza. Professor Clayton recalled Fr. Eustaquio: “Let nothing disturb you… Only God remains forever.” We urgently need to restore human connections. Rebuilding bonds requires rediscovering basic social instincts: belonging, trust and collaboration. The way care is provided is as important as the care itself.
Pharmacist Marina Pereira speaks about Father Eustaquio’s medicinal plants: an encounter between faith and science. In addition to blessings, Father Eustaquio recommended some plants. Familiar with the life of Saint Damien of Molokai ss.cc., apostle of those suffering from leprosy, he knew that the Belgian missionary used herbal baths, combining European botanical knowledge with local wisdom applied to the sick. In Romaria, Father Eustaquio’s medicinal garden is still preserved. What do we learn from Eustaquio?
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Faith does not cancel scientific knowledge.
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Union of European phytotherapy and Brazilian plants.
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New therapies.
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Father Eustaquio reminds us that caring for others is sowing seeds.
Popular knowledge about plants is not a legacy of the past. It is a living seed of care that Father Eustaquio invites us to sow again in this centenary.
09/03/2025