Friday, November 1, 2024

Solemnity of All Saints

Revelations 7:2-4.9-14; I John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a

Today we celebrate all holy men and women who enjoy the blessings of eternal life.  The majority of declared saints are probably priests and religious.  However, the company of saints includes people of different professions, nations, and social classes.  Let us focus today on saints who were doctors or healers.

There is biblical evidence that Luke, the author of the third gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, was a physician.  In many cities today the medical profession gathers for the Eucharist on October 18, the feast day of Saint Luke.

Not much is known for certain of Saints Cosmas and Damian except that they were martyred in Syria in the early fourth century.  According to one legend they were physicians who never accepted fees for their healing services.  They are also considered the patrons of doctors.

In contrast to Cosmas and Damian, much is known of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a twentieth century Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother.  During her fourth pregnancy, she was diagnosed with fibroma on her uterus.  Her doctors gave her three choices: abortion, removal of the uterus, or removal of the fibroma.  She opted for the last choice to give her child the best chance of survival.  The child was born, but the mother died of complications a week later.

Saint Martin de Porres did not attend medical school, but he was knowledgeable of medicinal healings with plants and herbs.  He was also considered a surgeon by reason of having apprenticed with a barber in colonial Peru.  He attended many of Lima’s sick and injured people as well as the friars of the Dominican priory where he lived.

All saints are healers in a way.  They guide us to overcome or avoid spiritual injury as they pray for our integral well-being.

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