Celebrating the medical profession on the Feast of St. Luke

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the Catholic Church will celebrate the Feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist.  In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul identifies St. Luke as “the beloved physician.”  For this reason St. Luke is known as the patron saint of physicians.  In the Diocese of Corpus Christi, this year’s feast was selected to coincide with the inaugural White Mass honoring medical professionals.

In his letter, St. Paul also refers to those who are “of the circumcision”–or Jewish converts–but St. Luke is not included.  This leads us to believe that St. Luke was a gentile, someone who was not one of the “chosen people.”  St. Luke wrote his Gospel with a sensitive understanding towards gentiles.  It is in his Gospel that we hear Jesus’ praise of the faith of gentiles like Naaman and Zarephath.  The Good Samaritan and the grateful Samaritan leper are also found here.

Not much more is known regarding St. Luke, although tradition reports that he was born in Antioch, Syria, of Greek ancestry.  As it was common for families to educate slaves as physicians so that they would have a resident doctor to care for them, it is possible, given the time and place of his birth, that St. Luke was at one time a slave.

Some traditions consider him one of the 70 sent out by Jesus in Luke 10.  In Acts 16, we hear of a vision that St. Paul had concerning a man of Macedonia (Greece), whereupon he immediately crossed over to this land.  This occurred about 51 A.D. and marked the beginning of St. Luke’s ministry with St. Paul.
 
St. Luke appears to have stayed in Philippi for seven years, rejoining St. Paul in 58 A.D. for his third missionary journey, and seems to have remained with St. Paul until his final imprisonment and martyrdom in Rome.  The year was 61 A.D.  Following St. Paul’s death, the details of St. Luke’s life becomes less certain.  Some early writers report he was martyred, but the earliest written report states that, having completed his Gospel, he died in Boeotia, Greece at the age of 84.

The Gospel of St. Luke can be seen as the Gospel of social justice and the poor.  He reports six miracles and 18 parables not found in the other gospels.  Many of these speak directly to the poor and outcasts.  Forgiveness and mercy are at the forefront of St. Luke’s writings.  It is here that Jesus relates the parable of the prodigal son; it is here, also, where we encounter the repentant woman who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and dries them with her hair.
 
St. Luke shows a great sensitivity to women, uncommon in the patriarchal society in which women had few rights.  It is in his Gospel that we hear of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Magnificat, the Presentation and Mary’s finding of Jesus in the temple when he was lost.  We have him to thank for the scriptural words of the Hail Mary.
 
Considering what we do know of St. Luke, it is understandable why he is the patron saint of physicians.  Today, while we often view physicians as people of great wealth, we must also recognize the many Lucan qualities they often possess.
 
While there are exceptions, most doctors are people who genuinely care for their patients.  They tend to be concerned about the social issues that can affect the health of those entrusted to their care, both family and friends.

Often, than many of us are aware, they treat the poor and write off the cost.  Many do missionary work in underdeveloped countries, sometimes risking their lives to offer free medical care where little is available.

Like St. Luke, they do this at their own cost.  Due to insurance demands, government regulations and scientific advances that challenge the morals and ethics of medicine, it has become more difficult for them to work in the medical profession today.
 
The Catholic Church desires to reach out to all medical professionals to share the light of truth and the wisdom of 2,000 years of faith tradition.  For this purpose, Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey will celebrate a White Mass recognizing and honoring all medical professionals in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.  The White Mass will be celebrated in Corpus Christi Cathedral at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk from the National Catholic Bioethics Center will speak following the Mass.  A reception is to follow in St. Joseph’s Hall. All health care professionals are invited to attend.