St Gianna Molla on Her Vocation as a Physician

In one way or another, everyone in the world works in the service of humanity. The physician works directly with the human person. The object of our science and work is the human person who is before us, who tells us about him or herself, who asks for help, and who expects from us the fullness of his or her existence.

Physicians have opportunities that a priest does not have, for our mission does not end when medicine is no longer of help. There still remains the soul that must be brought to God. Jesus says, “Whoever visits the sick is helping me.” This is a priestly mission! Just as the priest can touch Jesus, so we doctors touch Jesus in the bodies of our patients: in the poor, the young, the old, children…. May Jesus reveal himself through us; may he find many physicians who willingly offer themselves to him.

from Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla: A Woman’s Life by Giuliana Pelucchi