The basic idea of this book derives from Paul Ricoeur's view that since texts and meaningful human actions are sufficiently similar, methods and theories developed for interpreting texts may also be used for interpreting human actions. Donald Capps applies this view to the broad range of pastoral actions and, in the process, formulates a unique and helpful herme neutical model of pastoral care. Capps maintains that such a model can be extremely useful for understanding what a par ticular pastoral action means to those involved in it, and for evaluating its effects on these persons.