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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Fr Dermot Preston

The Professor

Good morning.

My Mum was a medical student in Cork University. She was awaiting the arrival of one of her Professors for an early morning lecture.

The Professor swept in, unexpectedly late, flanked by two orderlies escorting a very sick-looking man, who was whisked onto a central podium where he was sat on a chair, facing the class.

The Professor spoke to the intrigued students. 鈥淏efore I proceed with today鈥檚 lecture, I want to present this patient to you and I鈥檇 like your diagnoses of his rare condition.鈥�

The patient had bleeding gums, loose teeth, and his body was easily bruised; he had extreme fatigue, dry-&-brittle hair, joint pain and wounds that were not healing.

The medical students suggested various lurid illnesses to match the symptoms: blood cancer, jaundice, brain tumours鈥�

鈥淵ou are all wrong!鈥� said the Professor finally. 鈥楾his man has scurvy. He鈥檚 been drinking too much whiskey, taking no exercise and has not been eating any fruit or vegetables. Take him away, give him some Vitamin C!鈥�

It was a vivid demonstration that lodged in my Mum鈥檚 memory: the wonder of how the lack of a trace-chemical like Vitamin C can have such a devastating effect on the integrity of the human body.

Thus it is in the spiritual life: we can trek along, everything seemingly normal - but over time, by conscious decisions, neglect or just drift, something essential is being leeched away from my core鈥� Suddenly, in a crisis, my soul is found to be 鈥榥ot fit for purpose鈥�.

Lord, let your Holy Spirit guide me that, in my choices and priorities this day, I will not compromise the health & integrity of my soul.

Amen.

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