Every Day Miracles

By David J. Hilger, M.D.

On April 21st of this year, my friend Dr. Edward Gatz, anesthesiologist, passed away at the age of 89. At the age of 51, Dr. Gatz was given the prognoses of six months to live after surgery for a high-grade esophageal cancer at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Gatz and his wife Jeanne prayed every day to Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, asking for her intercession in his healing. Dr. Gatz survived for 37 years without further treatment. After years of investigation, the Catholic Church determined that his cure was a miracle and so Jeanne Jugan was canonized on October 22, 2009. I met Dr. Gatz about that time through the Omaha Guild of the CMA.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a miracle as a sign or wonder that “can only be attributed to divine power.” The Church has a high bar for miracles, using non-believing experts in the discernment process. My friendship with Dr. Gatz was a blessing for me. It wasn’t that I required his testimony for my faith. However, his story inspired me and likely motivated me to be more involved in the Catholic Medical Association.

Subsequently, I began studying miracles, especially the greatest miracle – the Resurrection and the Shroud of Turin. Why am I, and other scientists and physicians, so interested in miracles? The great early 20th century English Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton wrote, “The believers in miracles accept them (rightly or wrongly) because they have evidence for them. The disbelievers in miracles deny them (rightly or wrongly) because they have doctrine against them.” In either case, scientists become engaged by miracles since they can’t be explained by the laws of nature. Miracles are at the intersection of faith, reason and science.

Dr. Gatz’s example is extraordinary – however miracles are not infrequent at all. Miracles can be physical, spiritual, or both. As devout Catholics, we believe in the miracle of the Eucharist occurring daily at Mass throughout the world.

As Catholic physicians, we believe in the healing power of faith, prayer and forgiveness. The secular medical environment discourages incorporating these into standard medical practice, despite concrete evidence that they enhance healing and recovery from illness. Catholic medicine offers much more than the secular world offers, by treating the whole person. Physical healing often involves spiritual healing.

The upcoming Annual Education Conference, ‘Mysteries and Miracles’, is about “Restoring the practice of medicine to heal the whole person”. This conference will offer inspiration from miracles endorsed by the Church. The conference will also inspire attendees with presentations incorporating Christian anthropology, conscience formation, and Catholic social teaching in the practice of medicine. I invite you to join me and the CMA board in Phoenix September 10-12 to be untied in fellowship, wonder and encouragement as we continue our important work in the medical field. Register Here.

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