Doctors Then And Now

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:1B-8)

Luke has us believe that the Apostles had the same healing power as Jesus.  One wonders about that.  In today’s first reading Philip cured many paralyzed and crippled people.  We would think they would, therefore, be doctors of the Church.  Not so.

In early Christianity there were four Latin (or Western) doctors of the church—Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome—and three Greek (or Eastern) doctors—John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus. To these Eastern doctors Western Christianity added Athanasius the Great.

 "Doctor of the Church" is a title given to those whose writings were considered consistent with church doctrine and which the church believed could be used as teachings. "Doctor" is related to  the word "doctrine."

There are women doctors: Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), Theresa of Avila (1515-1582), Terese Lisieux (1873-1897), and Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179).

While we greatly appreciate these doctors and their contributions to the Church, today and every day we praise and thank the doctors who treat and heal the sick and battle the coronavirus.   And, the doctors, who despite their valiant efforts, bid farewell to their dying patients.

These doctors are scattered throughout our country.  Their super-heroic acts continue to be witnessed in every city and on television where we see and hear their many stories and travails.

Deacon David Pierce