indirectly attributable to a morbid temperament, sleeplessness due to wrongdoing, or chronic dyspepsia due to worry. In such cases as these, the doctor may do little or nothing. The malady is only incidentally a physical one. Here 'Spiritual Healing' in the true sense is the only remedy, and every liberal-minded medical practitioner would desire it for the patient.
Practically, as I have repeatedly found from experience, priest and doctor can combine to the great advantage of the patient. Medical practitioners need have no fear that, with wise and experienced priests, they will find their special province interfered with; on the contrary, their hands will be strengthened, the patients calmed, and their fortitude increased. It has been my lot many times to find the irritable patient resentful of her illness, and of God's dealing with her, brought to a calm, hopeful, restful frame of mind, and that by the ministrations and prayers of a wise and tactful priest.
Perhaps St. Catherine of Siena expresses what is meant by all this in speaking of praying for others. 'It is toil for him . . . to hold him in the presence of God.' And it is here that the priest can so greatly assist us in our labours on behalf of those weak or sick ones who have been entrusted to our care.
