Homilies and Addresses 2007
Mass for the Board Members, Doctors and Staff of Saint Vincent's Hospital for the Opening of the Clinical Year

Celebrated By Archbishop Denis Hart
at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
on Sunday, 18th February, 2007 at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I extend a very warm welcome to Saint Patrick’s to our very near neighbours at Saint Vincent’s Hospital.  Today you are united with the Cathedral congregation as you being the clinical year. 

For us all with the approach of Lent on Wednesday, it is a reminder that each of us is called to renew the purpose for which we exist; to praise, reverence and serve God here on earth and to be happy with him in heaven, and to use our gifts in the service of others.  This is nowhere more critical than in the beautiful gifts of the medical profession and the magnificent contribution that the staff make to Saint Vincent’s Hospital.

As we call to mind our sins, let us remember our gifts and response to the Lord’s invitation, ‘be holy as I, your God, am holy’.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Together we have already reflected on the kindness of David to Saul, remembering in the Psalm how the Lord is kind and merciful, forgiving, full of love and compassion.  Jesus’ own ringing words of love and compassion are a reminder of the way in which in the lives of each of us gifted and skilled medical care go hand in hand with Christian compassion.

Shortly before the time of Christ the Rabbi, Hillel, taught: “What you would not have done to you, do not do to another.  That is the whole law, the rest is only commentary.”  Jesus did not accept this negative attitude, inviting us to love our enemies and going even further in his words, ‘love one another, as I have loved you’.

Members of the medical profession and those associated with them are involved in the holistic care of healing souls and bodies.

For many of us, particularly as we grow older, we see that illness is typical to the human condition.  As Saint Augustine expresses clearly in his prayer:  “Have mercy on me Lord!  See:  I do not hide my wounds from you.  You are the doctor, I am the sick person; you are merciful, I am wretched.”

In these Sundays prior to Lent we see Jesus involved at the beginning of his public ministry with preaching and healing the sick in the villages of Galilee.  Today’s Gospel challenges us on the extent of our love and of our self-giving.  In the telling words:  “Love one another, as I have loved you”, Jesus challenges us to ask whether we are simply doing a job, providing professional or other services in the area of our life, or whether we give of ourselves, of our time, of our many gifts, our readiness to think and grapple with problems so that people will be healed.

Many people have told me of the extent to which their doctors and carers have gone far beyond the call of duty.  This is the invitation that Saint Vincent’s gives us in the motto of the Sisters of Charity – ‘The Love of Christ carries us on’.  Indeed, as we begin another year I come as archbishop with thankfulness and regard for the magnificent standards in medical care, dedication and holistic healing for which Saint Vincent’s is famous.

We do live in a time when pragmatists and governments are being led to show a lesser respect of life.  We are indeed fortunate that our Catholics hospitals have a clear code of ethics and have recently published, together with the Bishops’ Committee for Doctrine and Morals, a clear set of documents for patients and carers, so that those who are facing challenges in health care, indeed even are possibly approaching death, will be able to work together with their carers in a way which is consonant with the Gospel and with the teaching of the Church.

We must stand out in our society for our respect for the smallest and the weakest.  We must also be gifted and prominent in the care that we provide as it moves forward always having as a point of reference the healing power of Christ and the important sharing which each of us has in that sacred mission.

God always wants us to know life in abundance, (John 10:10), eternal life, full and happy.  If we remember that Christ is the hand of God stretched out to humanity to rescue it from the quicksands of illness and death, then our use of our gifts will always be consonant with the Gospel and will promote the lasting welfare of the people we serve. 

Every one of us here is invited to make our appropriate contribution, mirroring the kindness and mercy of the Lord, exercising the very best of modern medical care and drawing all of the aspects of a patient – clinical, medical, pastoral and human – together, as we seek to serve them. 

Mother Teresa sought to see Jesus suffering in the sick person.  The ancient chivalry Orders of Malta and others see Christ in the sick person, so that all of us who are blessed with the gift of good health, skill and ability to work may move forward together in his service. 

Today we thank God for Saint Vincent’s, for what it has meant for over one hundred years to the Catholic community, and we rededicate ourselves to service, whether in hospital or community as a contribution which we make to the Melbourne and Victoria of 2007.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.