Medicine and the Church: Being a series of studies on the relationship between the practice of medicine and the church's ministry to the sick
Religion
Medicine and the Church: Being a series of studies on the relationship between the practice of medicine and the church's ministry to the sick
Medicine -- Religious aspects; Pastoral medicine
In the light of our increasing knowledge of psychological processes,
we to-day are turning with new interest and sympathy to the old
stories of marvellous healing that have come down to us from early and
medieval times; and we are doing our best, by careful investigation and
analysis, to separate the well-authenticated cases from those for which
the evidence is not satisfactory. Already it is clear beyond reasonable
doubt that the instances in which directly religious influences wrought
extraordinary cures were far more numerous than have been generally
admitted by critical students of the history. In Mr. Percy Dearmer’s
volume entitled ‘Body and Soul’ a large number of testimonies have been
collected relating to such experiences at various times throughout the
Christian centuries. Thus the passage from St. Augustine is quoted,
in which he said that in his days miracles were still being wrought,
‘partly by the sacraments,’ and partly through other instrumentalities.
And instances of such miracles are described as they were recorded of
Bernard, and Francis, and Catherine of Siena; of Philip Neri, Fox,
Wesley, Cardinal Hohenlohe, Pastor Blumhardt, Father John of Cronstadt,
and many more. At least two cases are given in which the benefit was
definitely connected with the reception of Holy Communion.[112]
[112] pp. 370, 381. Compare also the witness of St. Thomas à Kempis
in regard to the power of this Sacrament. ‘The grace is sometimes so
great that out of the fulness of devotion here given not the mind
only but the weak body also feels great increase of strength bestowed
on it’ (vires sibi praestitas sentiat ampliores). _De Imit._ iv. 1.
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