Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 69(1) February 2019
Semper Idem
Building a Culture of Life!
Semper Idem is the newsletter of the Catholic Medical Association’s Committee for the New Evangelization. The Committee for the New Evangelization aims to support young Catholics in healthcare. Semper Idem is one way in which we hope to do this.
HOLINESS
“And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.
The fruit of
holiness as mentioned by St Paul above is a foretaste of paradise, the
very end that God has lovingly planned for all of us from the beginning of
time. We have only to stick to the path and not mess up ie be holy.
The Right Reverend Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury has this past advent written a beautiful letter on our universal call to holiness. [2] He points out that everyone no matter their state in life is called to holiness and that holiness is the only answer to the scandals and challenges facing us today. Let us heed the call of this good bishop, even if we are not of his diocese, to strive to holiness and be saints.
Holiness
is something to which we are all called. It is simply being always
connected to God, who is the source of all Holiness. Being healthcare
professionals, one may say that our line of work is especially oriented
towards holiness, that we have almost no excuse for not being holy! Our
profession puts us in daily contact with people in their most vulnerable
moments and in need of support. Furthermore, it pushes us out of ourselves
to care for others. Perhaps it is neither wise nor lawful to go full out
preaching in the workplace but holiness has a way of radiating through our
being and touching whoever comes into contact with it.
I would like to know more about the defects of Saints
and what they did to correct those defects. That would help us much more
than hearing about the miracles and ecstasies.
St Bernadette
Another good thing about being healthcare professionals is that it lessens the danger of holiness being an abstract idea. Holiness is about caring and loving even the most difficult patients, it is about giving everything we have to save a life, and then some more. It is about coming home to our families after a long day at work and serving them with joy. Let us not forget also that it is about fasting, praying and penance. It is about carving out time from our busy schedules for the rosary, the sacraments especially confession, and most of all for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Venerable Fulton Sheen once remarked that “we have tried all ways of changing the world but one: holiness. It is easier to wear slippers than to carpet than the whole earth”. Let us then put on our Gospel shoes and change the world!
“Wherefore having the loins of your mind girt up, being sober, trust perfectly in the grace which is offered you in the revelation of Jesus Christ,
As children of obedience, not fashioned according to the former desires
of your ignorance:
But according to him that hath called you, who is
holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy:
Because it is
written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” [3]
References
- Philippians 4:7
- Bishop Mark Davies (2018) Advent Pastoral Letter On Our Call to Holiness, the First Sunday of Advent 2nd December 2018 www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/advent-pastoral-letter-onour-call-to-holiness-the-first-sunday-of-advent-2nd-december-2018
- 1 Peter 13-16