1. QUALITIES OF A NURSE
Just as Mary was given virtues by the Creator in order that she might fulfill her task on
earth, so too the nurse, being destined to do special work, is equipped by Almighty God her
Creator with those qualities which she will need to be a good nurse.
“What shall I give her now?” said God.
“She has the strength with which to plod
The ways of life, the love of right,
The gift of song when skies are bright.
“Wisdom is planted in her mind,
This girl shall be both true and kind;
Earth's beauty shall delight her eyes
And to it's glories she shall rise.
“She shall know right from wrong, and she
defender of the Faith shall be;
What more on her can I bestow
Before to earth I let her go?”
Then spoke an angel standing near:
“Wisdom is not enough, I fear,
Master, for all that she must do
Grant her a sense of humor, too.”
Here is God, surrounded by many of His angels, preparing the nurse's soul for it's
entrance into the world. A generous share of natural gifts and talents is bestowed upon her. All
the supernatural virtues implanted in souls at baptism will be hers. But these are not enough
because the nurse's task is not an ordinary one.
An angel comes forward with a lamp, the symbol of nursing, and presents it as a sign
that God is calling her to this particular state of life.
A second angel opens a scroll and reads a passage from Scripture that the nurse must
keep in mind at all times. “The Lord loves obedience better that any sacrifice” (I Kings 15:22).
The Lamp is now filled with oil which is a figure of strength and healing.
Another angel steps forward with a burning taper and lights the lamp, saying: “Let your
light shine before your fellowmen, that they may see your good example and praise your
Father who is in heaven”
(Matt. 5:16).
Almighty God Himself then points to the flame of the lamp as a symbol of charity and
commands that a nurse let the warmth of her charity extend to all men, regardless of their
race or station in life. “Whatever you do to one of the least of my brethren, you do to me.”
Finally, before the soul sets out upon its journey through life, one of the angels reads
God's promise to those nurses who are faithful to their trust: “God Himself shall abide in their
midst. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes. No longer will there be death, no longer
will there be mourning or cry of anguish or pain................ Night will be no more, and so they
will have no need of light of lamp or of sun, because the Lord will shine upon them, and they
will reign for ever and ever”