.tmb-0.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=f05aa159_1 "ST. MARK JI TIANXIANG (1500psd)")
As we reflect on the ways we attend to the whole person in our ministry, consider the story of St. Mark Ji Tianxiang (tyen-sheyahng), whose commitment to his patients and devotion to his faith are valuable reminders that we are all more than a collection of symptoms. St. Mark Ji Tianxiang was a dedicated physician, acupuncturist and respected leader in his Christian community of what is present-day Hebei Province, China. He offered care to patients regardless of their ability to pay and demonstrated a devotion to his faith that eventually led to his martyrdom during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. However, he was not without his own health struggles. After becoming ill with a violent stomach ailment, he became addicted to opium, which had been prescribed to treat him. Despite his attempts to cure himself, his community saw his illness as a moral failure. He was denied reception of the Eucharist for nearly 30 years. Nevertheless, Tianxiang remained steadfast in his faith. Even in the face of death, he remained confident in God’s accompaniment and saving
grace despite his illness of being addicted.