Saint Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor

by Antonio Tripodoro

Overview

This is the compelling and inspirational true story of a twentieth-century doctor and saint. Giuseppe Moscati, born of an aristocratic family in Naples, Italy, devoted his medical career to serving the poor. He was also a medical school professor and a pioneer in the field of biochemistry, whose research led to the discovery of insulin as a cure for diabetes.

Moscati regarded his medical practice as an apostolate, a ministry to his suffering fellowmen. Before examining a patient or engaging in research he would place himself in the presence of God. Moscati treated poor patients free of charge, and he would often send them home with an envelope containing a prescription and a fifty-lire note. He could have pursued a brilliant academic career, taken a professorial chair, and devoted more time to research, but he continued to serve his beloved patients and to train dedicated interns.

By the witness of his example, he taught his many medical students to practice their profession in a spirit of service, saying that “suffering should be treated not as just pain of the body, but as the cry of a soul, to whom another brother, the doctor, runs with the ardent love of charity.| .| .| . [The sick] are the faces of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel precept urges us to love them as ourselves.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781586179458
Publisher:	Ignatius Press
Publication date:	09/22/2015
Edition description:	Translatio
Pages:	184
Sales rank:	366,384
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Antonio Tripodoro S.J., a Jesuit priest, has been a leader in promoting devotion to Saint Giuseppe Moscati since his canonization in 1987. He has taught philosophy and history, and is the editor of Il Gesll Nuovo, the official publication about devotion to Moscati. He is the author of the books Giuseppe Moscati: Il medico santo di Napoli, and Preghiere in onore di san Giuseppe Moscati, a collection prayers. He carries on a worldwide correspondence regarding devotion to Saint Giuseppe Moscati.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Chronology ix

From the Sabato to Vesuvius 1

A Model Student 7

University Studies 13

Scientific Preparation and Victory in Competitions 23

Passing Up a Professorship 30

Professor and Teacher of Spirituality 37

Extraordinary Clinical Intuition 44

Man of Science, Man of Faith 53

Love for Christ and the Virgin Mary 64

Poor Doctor and Doctor of the Poor 77

Fruitful Chastity 88

Lover of Art and Nature 98

Sudden, Silent Death 111

A Saint Sixty Years after His Death 115

Three Miracles for the Beatification and the Canonization 124

Appendices

Relevance of the Message of Saint Giuseppe Moscati 137

Prayers 159

Abbreviations of Sources 163

Bibliography 165

Index of Personal Names 167

Editorial Reviews

"A fascinating account of a doctor who cared for the body as well as the soul of the sick. His exemplary life inspires us to strive for holiness and love for the poor and suffering. Highly recommended!"
— Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, EWTN TV Host, Author, The Kiss of Jesus

"God gives us saints like Dr. Moscati as gifts to pull us toward Him."
— Marcus Grodi, EWTN Host, The Journey Home

"The life of St. Moscati highlights in an outstanding way what the saint himself called the 'sublime mission' of those who serve the sick. His example of deep Eucharistic devotion, personal poverty and self-denial, chastity, and of service to the poor is a source of great inspiration for us in living our Christian vocation."
— Sr. M. Regina van den Berg, F.S.G.M., Author, Communion with Christ

"Antonio Tripodoro's biography of Giuseppe Moscati illuminates the soul of a man whose lifelong devotion to the suffering – in whom he saw "the faces of Jesus Christ" – is an inspiring model for all who strive not only to fulfill the duties of their vocation, but to do so with Christ-like love and devotion. May this saint, who found in his own life a life-giving synthesis of reason enlightened by faith, guide our modern efforts to permeate the civil world with the love and the light of the Gospel."
— Mother Agnes Mary Donavan, S.V., chairperson of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious and superior general of the Sisters for Life

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