St. Giuseppe Moscati was an Italian doctor, scientist, and saint who dedicated his life to serving the poor and the sick. He was known for his compassion, generosity, and faith. He died of a stroke at the age of 47, leaving behind a legacy of holiness and healing. In this article, we will explore his life, his work, and his cause of death.
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Early Life and Education
St. Giuseppe Moscati was born on July 25, 1880, in Benevento, Italy, to a noble and devout family. He was the seventh of nine children, and had a close bond with his mother, Rosa, who suffered from diabetes. He moved to Naples with his family in 1884, where he attended a prestigious school and developed an interest in science and medicine. He was inspired to become a doctor after his older brother, Alberto, suffered a severe head injury from a horse accident and received poor medical care.
He graduated from the University of Naples in 1903, with a doctorate in medicine and surgery. His thesis was on hepatic urogenesis, a topic related to his mother’s condition. He also studied biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology, and made important contributions to these fields. He discovered the role of insulin in diabetes, and developed new methods for diagnosing and treating various diseases.
Medical Career and Service to the Poor
St. Giuseppe Moscati began his medical career at the Hospital of the Incurables in Naples, where he worked as a physician, researcher, and administrator. He treated patients with various illnesses and injuries, especially those who were poor, homeless, or marginalized. He often gave them money, food, clothes, and medicine, and sometimes paid for their hospital bills or funeral expenses. He also visited them at their homes, and prayed with them and for them. He was known for his kindness, patience, and humility, and for his ability to diagnose and cure diseases with remarkable accuracy and speed.
He also served as a professor at the University of Naples, where he taught biochemistry and physiology. He trained many students and colleagues, and encouraged them to practice medicine with ethics and compassion. He was respected and admired by his peers, and received many honors and awards for his scientific achievements and humanitarian work.
He was also involved in social and charitable activities, such as founding a hospital for the poor, supporting orphanages and schools, and helping victims of natural disasters. He donated most of his income and inheritance to the needy, and lived a simple and frugal life. He was rejected by the Italian army during World War I, but he volunteered to treat wounded soldiers and civilians.
Spiritual Life and Vocation
St. Giuseppe Moscati was a devout Catholic, who attended Mass and received Communion daily. He had a deep love for Jesus and Mary, and a special devotion to St. Joseph, his patron saint. He also prayed the rosary, read the Bible, and practiced various forms of penance and mortification. He was influenced by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and St. Thomas Aquinas, and by the guidance of his spiritual directors, such as Caterina Volpicelli and Bartolo Longo.
He considered his medical profession as a vocation and a mission from God, and he saw his patients as his brothers and sisters in Christ. He said, “Not science, but charity, has transformed the world.” He also said, “The doctor should not consider the patient as a heap of organs, but as a living being, animated by a soul made in the image of God.” He consecrated himself to God, and made a private vow of celibacy at the age of 34. He declined several offers of marriage, and dedicated himself to his work and his faith.
Cause of Death and Canonization
St. Giuseppe Moscati died on April 12, 1927, in his office in Naples. He had attended Mass that morning, and spent the rest of the day at the hospital. He returned home around 3 p.m., and felt tired. He sat down on an armchair, and passed away peacefully. He was 47 years old. The cause of his death was a stroke, according to the Encyclopedia.com. He had a history of high blood pressure, and had suffered a minor stroke a few months before his death, according to EpicPew.
He was buried in the Church of Gesu Nuovo in Naples, where his tomb became a place of pilgrimage and miracles. Many people reported being healed or helped by his intercession. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975, and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987. He is the patron saint of biochemistry, bachelors, doctors, physicians, and people rejected by religious orders. His feast day is November 16.
St. Giuseppe Moscati was a remarkable man, who combined science and faith, and who served God and humanity with love and excellence. He is an example and an inspiration for all Christians, especially for those who work in the medical field. He shows us how to live a holy and happy life, and how to die a peaceful and blessed death. He invites us to follow his motto: “Work, science, and prayer: here is the program of life.”
