Ferrara, Angelo

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 35 | Number 3 Article 13August 1968The Physician and Vatican IIAngelo FerraraFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqRecommended CitationFerrara, Angelo (1968) "The Physician and Vatican II," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 35 : No. 3 , Article 13.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol35/iss3/13The Physician and Vatican II Angelo Ferrara, M.D. INTRODUCTION In the light of Vatican II, we have come to hear and recognize many of the "in" words such as assiornamento, dialogue, commitment, emerging laymen, etc. On Nov. 19, 1965, after more than a year's ·deliberation and discussion·, a group of learned men gave a final vote of approval on a most important document. This was the "Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity ." Of the 16 .formalized declarations and decrees of Vatican II, at least 4 of them have outlined more precisely our role in the Church. For instance, in "The Constitution of the Church, De Ecclesia ," which is the great charter of the Vatican Council, the layman at last acquires a personality. The role of the layman, becomes soundly based here on firm theological foundation. We see the end of a cleavage between clergy and laity that has been the source of so much confusion and so many misdirected efforts in the past. Then if we stop to consider the "Declaration on Religious Liberty" and the "Constitution of the Church in the Modern World", we notice that these proclamations are a full recognition of the lay nature of the present society. We also find that 216 the Church does not ce2 · with aut_hority but she nov a dialogue with mankind, a theology of earthly reah ascribes to lay people the proper task of the christie. · witness in the secular world while rer .. wing it. LAYMEN IN THE CHUR\~ ri Our immediate reacti· n on this redefinition of the layn· ·n may be "Well, how does this affec• me?" Let's progress a bit further. We are a~ laymen in the Church. (1 /. e Church ~ a continuing · expression of G~ s feeling towards the worlu into whrch He entered through Jesus Christ.) The Church really exists for tl t world and we are a part of both. We are citizens of both the Church and the world and as such we bridge . the two. In comparison, the priest stands betwe~ God and man , ·the layman between t Church and the world . Pope Pius XII elaborated quite . -"The pre cisefy on the layman. he faithful and most appropriately, t. ' li s Ill layman are found in the front ne the life' of the Church ; through the~ the Church is the vital principleh ~ human society. For this reason, t ~ especially should have a concept rno clear, not only of belonging Church, but of constituting the ch itself ... they are the we have pinpointed our position, is our posture in the Church, in world? What is our mission? The mission in the temporal order two things: the enunciation christian principles which must man and the implementation of principles to concrete issues and of life. The first work is by the teaching Church, the This is ~hat the Popes been .so tireless in doing with encyclicals. This is what the are doing in their statements t pm:tor~lletter to their people. The work, the application of these to concrete situations and is the MISSION of the christian Who but he can bring the of the Church from the of an encyclical to his home life, the hospital, or to the golf Here is where he lives, works, recreates and therein does the of the Church. Kraemer in his of the Laity"1 states this in a similar manner: "But if of the Church dispersed in the world , are really what are called to be , the real pted dialogue between and .world · happens through They form the daily repeated of the Church into the They embody the meeting of and world ." · Christian"ity cannot be compartmentalized to Sunday. It must be perennial to experience the Christian joy spoken about of those in the early Church. For most of us "cradle Christians", this new attitude of a layman doesn't come easily. It almost requires a "shot" of spiritual adrenalin, a rebirth of a modern day Pentecostal experience. Today there are many instruments of Christian renewal in the Church. Some of these are movements like the Cursillo br the Better World Movement. Others are modern apprqaches to retreats or · discussion clubs (such as the Christian Family Movement) where spiritual principles form the pivot in a group dynamic setting. EXPERIENCE AT SAINT VINCENT'S HOSPITAL About 2 -years ago, following a retreat weekend experience, a group of us at Saint Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center, started a bi-monthly group meeting. The format was simple. We started with scriptural reading followed by commentaries, then pre-assigned topics were discussed. They were varied and included "Male and Female Image in Our Society'', "World Population"~ "Liberalization of the Abortion Laws", "Working Mothers", "Keeping Silent in Face of Controversy", "Birth Control", and many other areas of possible interest. The me~tings were opened to all and the physicians, nurses, nuns, and student nurses who participated invariably profited . Within a short time , our small group became more enthused and · we gathered hospital personnel to join us in different liturgical experiences such • Hendrik: Theology and the Laity. Westminster Press, p. 170, 1958. 217 as the Pasq.l meals and the Eastern Rite services held in our chapel. One of the highlights of success was our Interfaith Workshop involving our community brethren. In a three week series . and with the help of 9 clergymen of different faiths, we . conducted panel discussions followed by group participan~s and ending in general comment .by the audience. The panel topics included. "Views on Ecumenism" , " God in the World Today", and " Man's Cp nscience in the Secular World". The overall reaction on a community level ~as an ex cellent one. I must say that in the least we did create brotherhood and fellowship if not a sense· of building a community. Our good nuns, the Sisters of Charit?' , responded in a great way not ~nly m their own " house" but also m the neighborhood churches. In all of these endeavors, we are not trying to create an IMAGE OF ACTIVISM (all action without depth) but rather to learn from these invaluable expressions and to grow more sensitive in a christian way to the needs of others, be they superiors, peers, or workers. Remember, we. as physicians h'lve been blessed wtth more than one "talent" but unless we · use these " talents" well in respect to our families , our fellow-man , and our patients, then as christians we have failed. Think of it. CONCLUSION Choose what means you see fit but become ~ true Christian in the light of Vatican H. If you have time for a 218 medica] . convention , you . ' so have time to become spirituall; updated and thus influence Y•- 1r tot~ environment, be it your h ·ne, your hospital, your office, or Y' tr leisure areas. You'll see change: attitude toward home life . marriage will grow firmer. giving your children spirit · Jl values. {They are always showered ·naterially in this affluent society . . In your medical profession, y .u'll deal ethically and live by y, ur mor~ convictions, even in tlT face . of controversy. Your indigent ;opulatwn will be looked upon wi , christian dignity and will be give· time. and patience with your ,.· r?fessto~~ competence . Your ecum• rucal spmt will overflow. St. Paul said to the c;; ristians at Corinth: "And I brethrei could not speak to you as to spiritl• "J men b~t only as carnal , as to W ~ le ones . ll1 Christ. I fed you with milk , not wtth solid food, for you were ndt yet ready for it." At one time i i was rather generally taken for g:. anted .th~ Christians were expected ro remat~ a state of childhood as fat as their Itves in the church were concer:~ed . Layme~ were thought to be · u_u;apab~e . ~s mental prayer, of sc i;d rehgJOof education on the adult level, f assuming responsibility in the work 0 the Church, of acting oil their ow;d They were fed ·with milk and not so food. This does not exist anymor.~ . Even though some of us do not see 1 ' A more the layman has come of age . . s 5 and more of us grow to full statu~o~ Christians, not only we but the w Church will gain immeasurably. Linacre QuarterlY Unique · Program Rev. Anthony N. Teo lis, C.PP.S. you sometimes hear the that medical doctors have impersonal and almost irt their feelings for When a person comes across an to dispel this opinion, he to share it with others. The fine of sacrifice and warm feeling for did not go out with the doctor and the era of the high shoes and buggy carriages. It is group of medical doctors in Ohio, reveal this dedicated in our times. And their number small. About five miles west of city i~ located Brunnerdale , a high school training boys future priests or brothers in the of the Precious Blood. Later boys will · be engaged · in others both in this country and poor regions of South America. Teo/is is Rector of Brunnerdale , Society of the Precious Canton, Ohio.) The health and safety of the students has always been a prime concern of the officials of the seminary. Although they wanted the best for them, problems of finance and engaging good doctors,. when needed~ proved to be stumbling blocks in this regard. They also wanted a " faniily doctor" atmosphere for the students. Ten years ago, the Rector . of the Seminary approached one of the doctors in the area with his problem. The doctor said that he would talk to several of his colleagues to see what could be done. After discussing a few ideas, the doctors came up with a unique idea. The four of them: Dr. James Pagano , Dr. Mark Moots, Dr. Paul Smith, and Dr. Raymond Rosedale , would volunteer their services to the seminary. They would act as the medical board taking care of .all necessary details dealing . with health and safety of the seminarians. These include: supplying the required medicines for dispensary , arranging for TB tests , scheduling flu shots, outlining ways and means of prevention of disease and infection , instruction on personal cleanliness and outward appearance , arranging for 219 

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