Saint Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor

by Antonio Tripodoro

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.”

Genres: Catholic

184 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2015

Reviews

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read the book description for an introduction to this book and the life of St. Joseph Moscati. In youth ministry this year, we divided our youth into small discussion groups based on different Catholic saints. I chose St. Joseph Moscati for our group because his lifetime was relatively recent, 1880-1927, he was not a religious, a priest or a brother, and he led a very heroic life. The students could pick their groups, and I recommended that students join this group if they were interested in careers in medicine, the military, or as an emergency responder. The brief introduction that I gave to the large group intrigued many youth joined the St. Joseph Moscati discussion group. Each week, I used this book to tie the specific lesson of the evening to the life of St. Joseph which turned out to be easy. He had such a love of God and such a wholehearted, sacrificial approach to his faith and his life, that it was easy to connect him to everything we studied: including chastity, pro life teachings, love for the poor and social action, prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, living the life of faith in the real world, and everything else we studied. This book looks and reads like a book written for young people, but it is rich in detail, quotes, and documentation. It is a thorough look into the life of St. Joseph or Giuseppe Moscati and an enlightening glimpse into the history of his time period, including medical practices of the time and eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius. I highly recommend this book for everyone. Unanimously my students said that the best part of our discussion group was learning about this saint. My prayer is that St. Joseph Moscati become much better known. St. Joseph Moscati, please pray for us!

[Dina Maio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for everyone considering a career as a physician. This man lived what medicine is about. It is not about the bottom line. It is about the compassion for humans who are suffering and in pain. Doctors should emulate Moscati as someone who set the right example for them to follow. To aid those in pain not manipulate their suffering for obscene profit.

[Audrey Monahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography beautifully depicts the life and works of Saint Giuseppe Moscati. I had only heard small tidbits of his story before so it was wonderful getting to know the saint in a bit more detail. Reading his own words to friends, family, and colleagues in letters was especially moving. In particular, the way in which St. Giuseppe views suffering, death, and medicine is beatific and a perspective that is much needed in today’s climate. Anyone aspiring to work in health care ought to read his words and befriend him as an intercessor!

“Remember that in pursuing medicine you have assumed responsibility for a sublime mission. Persevere, with God in your heart, with the teachings of your father and your mother always in your memory, with love and devotion for the abandoned, with faith and enthusiasm, deaf to praises and criticisms, steadfast against envy, and inclined only to do good.”

Saint Giuseppe Moscati, pray for us!

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we think of saints in the Catholic Church, we tend to think of the popular ones, Peter, Paul, Therese, and Teresa just to name four. Due to the sheer number of saints in our Tradition, it is easy to overlook some of the lesser known ones. For example, have you ever heard of Saint Giuseppe Moscati? Me neither! Ignatius Press has graced us with a book, bearing his name, to tell us more about his life.

The book begins with a backstory on the life of Giuseppe's father and mother. His father was a judge, so Giuseppe came from a noble family. There were nine children in all, and Giuseppe was number seven! His parents were devout Catholics, and they placed great importance on the Sacraments. Giuseppe was a brilliant boy, who used his smarts to become a professor and a doctor. During his time teaching, his life was just as much an example as his words were. He was apparently gifted at autopsies, and he used them as a way to teach medicine and exhibit his faith in a very sad and desolate place. With his brilliance in medicine, good looks, and pleasant personality, he could have had a high paying job, lived a very comfortable life, and done good works by merely giving a tithe and calling it a day. He instead became a doctor for the poor; often helped people, receiving little to no payment; and almost put other doctors out of business due to his practice. Truly, a great man!

In addition to receiving a biography of his life, this book also contains numerous primary sources to better paint the picture of Giuseppe's life and the influence he had on others. After his death in 1927, he was beatified in 1975 by Pope Paul VI and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987. Often thought of as a miracle-worker in life, his canonization miracle involved curing a man of leukemia. He was the first "modern doctor" to be canonized and his feast day is November 16th. This book is a great read during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, because St. Giuseppe Moscati is an amazing example of mercy. Anyone could benefit from reading this book, but if you have a family member or friend in or considering entering the medical field, then I'd consider this a must-read for them. Great book on a great man! Be sure to check out the movie with the same name!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giuseppe Moscati is truly a saint for modern times, and this book does a wonderful job of illustrating his life and character.

Providing details of his childhood, parents and siblings, and medical career, this biography weaves the practical details of Moscati's life with his deep and profound spirituality. In fact, it's more like his faith was the one factor that directed the course of his life. He responded to God's grace and His call in a giving and generous way.

Choosing to remain celibate his whole life, he gave himself entirely to the practice of medicine, helping the poor, and healing wounded bodies and broken souls. On more than one occasion, he turned down the opportunity to have prestigious teaching positions within the medical hierarchy, preferring to stay humbly hidden with the lowest members of society. He practiced and taught his own medical students to see Christ in each sick person, that they were treating the soul as well as the body. Patients were not to be handed mere "cold prescriptions" and sent on their way. He often accepted food and prayers as payment for his services, and dipped into his own finances to give assistance to the poor who could not afford a decent meal. If only all doctors and medical professionals could have the same love and sense of compassion! What a different world we would live in!!

For this was Giuseppe's defining quality: his all-encompassing love for Christ, and his tireless effort to bring Him to others by use of his profession and his talents. His whole life is an example of how faith and science complement one another, contrary to secular opinions. The excerpts of his letters included in the book are humbling and full of spiritual advice to his family, friends, patients, and contemporaries. The prayers in the back of the book are beautiful and honestly simple. The tone of the writing is practical yet tender, as I can imagine St. Giuseppe was himself. Highly recommended!!!

[Anna Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-written biography of this medical doctor and professor turned saint! As a physician myself, Prof. Moscati’s figure is highly relatable and easier (though by no means “easy”!) to emulate than the Ancient Church’s saint-physicians like Sts. Cosmas and Damian. The book’s portrayal of his life is quite balanced: it takes care to show the saint’s childhood, his medical education, his laid back life, his love of art and nature, and most importantly his piety! If I could change something, I’d probably delve deeper into his opponents’ (“enemies”) reactions towards him. I think for many of us that would make his struggle even more tangible.

[Marco Aurélio Fornazieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great biography

A man who served the others. A saint of our times showing that is possible to be holy in the middle of the world.

[El Segoviano]

Se trata de la biografía del protagonista Giuseppe Moscati. La he leído en italiano, lo que me ha evitado entrar en detalles que lógicamente desconozco, por mi falta adecuada del idioma, pero las ideas generales se extraen bastante bien del libro.
Lo compré en Nápoles, donde se desarrolla la vida del personaje y me ilustré un poco del caballero.
Es la historia de un hijo de gente adinerada que se hace medico y dedica su vida a los pobres. Acaba santificado por Juan Pablo II, en fecha relativamente reciente,
El personaje es la mar de interesante y además tiene un merito especial, desde mi modesto punto de vista, porque el caballero provenía de una situación económica y social mas que suficiente y sin embargo, se dedicó en cuerpo y alma a atender a los mas necesitados, lo cual tiene un importante merito.
Toda su vida ha sido un derroche de humildad, trabajo y apoyo a los mas necesitados, lo cual tiene su merito, sobre todo en los tiempos que corren, porque prácticamente este es un santo de antes de ayer y casi contemporáneo nuestro. Es el ultimo santo de Nápoles.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it after I watched a movie about him ... both were very good. 😀