The priest doctors.

©FFPRHC J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2007: 33(2) Priest doctors As the stream of monks left their foundations at the dissolution of the monasteries in the mid-16th century, the society that surrounded them was profoundly affected. While some fought dramatically against closure – even losing their lives – the vast majority of monks went quietly, with pensions, into the sunset. No matter how welcome the Reformation was to many, for hundreds of years these monasteries had provided work, some education, shelter, legal systems and medical support. The idea of the healing monk is not just lodged in the mythical 12th century Brother Caedfael of Shrewsbury. In fact, a vast majority of the early doctors were also priests or monks. There are many logical reasons for this. Priests were educated men; they could read the works of the Greek medical philosophers and put their works into practice. The bible is dotted with examples of Christ healing the sick and lame, so they were following in His footsteps. Another good reason why priests were considered suitable to be doctors was their high moral and spiritual standing, which gained immediate respect and trust in the community. One might call it a sort of ‘body and soul’ approach.