Lord
Jesus,
Divine Physician, who in your earthly
life showed special concern for those who suffer and entrusted to your
disciples the ministry of healing, make us ever ready to alleviate the
trials of our brethren. Make each one of us, aware of the great
mission that is entrusted to him, strive always to be, in the
performance of daily service, an instrument of your merciful love.
Enlighten our minds, guide our hands, make our hearts diligent and
compassionate. Ensure that in every patient we know how to discern the
features of your divine Face.
You
who are the Way, provide us with the gift of knowing how to
imitate you every day as medical doctors not only of the body but of
the whole person, helping those who are sick to tread with trust their
own earthly path until the moment of their encounter with You.
You
who are the Truth, provide us with the gift of wisdom and
science in order to penetrate the mystery of the human person and
their transcendent destiny as we draw near to them in order to
discover the causes of their maladies and find suitable remedies.
You
who are the Life, provide us with the gift of preaching and
bearing witness to the 'Gospel of life' in our profession, committing
ourselves to defending it always, from conception to its natural end,
and to respect the dignity of every human being, and especially the
dignity of the weakest and the most in need.
Make
us O Lord, Good Samaritans, ready to welcome, treat, and
console those we encounter in our work. Following the example of the
holy medical doctors who have preceded us, help us to offer our
generous contribution to the constant renewal of health care
structures.
Bless
our studies and our profession, enlighten our research and our
teaching. Lastly, grant to us, having constantly loved and served You
in our suffering brethren, that at the end of our earthly pilgrimage
we may contemplate your glorious countenance and experience the joy of
the encounter with You in your Kingdom of joy and everlasting peace.
Amen.
John Paul II
