Archbishop Golka Calls Medical Professionals to Share in Christ's Healing Mission at Annual White Mass
At the annual White Mass in Littleton, Catholic healthcare professionals renewed their commitment to serve others in the spirit of Christ, the Divine Physician.
By Madisen Martinez
On Sunday, October 18, Denver Archbishop James Golka celebrated the annual White Mass for the Denver Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) at St. Mary Parish in Littleton, where roughly 40 medical professionals gathered to pray and renew their commitment to serve others in the spirit of Christ, the Divine Physician.
“Just a word to the medical and health professionals that are here,” said Archbishop Golka. “A great word of gratitude for you.”
During his homily, Archbishop Golka noted that Jesus’ saving mission can also be understood as a healing mission. In this way, he is the Divine Physician and Healer, and the medical professionals gathered are called to participate in that mission in a particular way.
“How does Jesus save? By healing us,” Archbishop Golka shared. “We believe he heals our body, mind, soul and spirit. So any work of healing, we believe, is part of the way that Jesus saves all of humanity.”
With Jesus as the ultimate Healer, the medical professionals in the pews were reminded that they have been called to be the healing hands of Jesus for those they serve.
“Sometimes, Catholics think that heaven is like a club for the perfect,” said Archbishop Golka. “No. Heaven is a place where people go to allow themselves to be healed by Jesus.”
The White Mass has long been an opportunity for Catholic physicians and other healthcare professionals to gather in prayer and reflect on their vocation.
“The White Mass has actually been going on roughly since the early 1930s when the first Catholic Physicians’ Guild was started,” said Dr. Thomas Jensen, MD, president of the Denver CMA. “It was specifically done on the day of October 18 or around that time for the feast of St. Luke, who's the patron of physicians.”
The Mass is named for the white coats customarily worn by physicians, which many brought with them to the celebration.
“Over the years, we've expanded to other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and others to welcome them in a healthcare community,” Dr. Jensen said. “Because we all know we're serving God's purpose in Christ and serving his model as the Divine Physician.”
For Dr. Wendy Madigosky, MD, who has practiced family medicine for 26 years, being a physician is a vocation.
“God helps to give strength in all the challenges that we see,” said Dr. Madigosky. “Not just the diseases that we care for, but also in bringing people to wellness and the challenges of systems. It's an important part of my professional life to be a person of faith.”
A unique staple of the annual White Mass, the medical professionals gathered were invited to renew their commitment to that healing mission in cooperation with Christ through the Catholic Healthcare Professional Annual Promise.
“Lord God, our Father and Creator, we ask you to look with favor upon your servants gathered here today to pledge themselves to your service as Catholic healthcare professionals. We ask you to forgive their sins, enlighten their minds, strengthen their wills and open their hearts to your grace,” Dr. Jensen prayed as he led the promise.
“Catholic healthcare professionals, you are called to imitate Christ, the Divine Physician,” he continued, “to make your work his work and his work yours, to dedicate yourselves to the needs of your patients, keeping all financial and political interests secondary to the personal needs of each patient. Do you accept the responsibilities of your apostolate?”
Healthcare professionals heartily responded “we do” to this and five more promises.
As Mass continued, Archbishop Golka invited everyone to pray and ask Jesus to help them take on his way of life.
“We all need healing from Jesus … that’s possible. Let Jesus heal you,” prayed Archbishop Golka. “As you receive him, try to take on his way of living, which is self-gift, giving himself away. Love multiplied completely.”
To help them accomplish that mission, Archbishop Golka offered a special blessing to healthcare professionals at the end of Mass.
“Jesus, you are the Divine Physician. We thank you for the gift of healing. May you continue to touch our souls, and our hearts, and our minds to be more like you,” he prayed. “May you calm any worry. May you fill them with confidence in you, and may your blessing be with them always.”
