Prayer of Maimonides

Prayer of Maimonides

(mi-mon'i-dez?) [Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides in Greek), Jewish philosopher and physician, 1135–1204] A prayer used at graduation ceremonies by some medical schools. See: Declaration of Geneva; Declaration of Hawaii; Hippocratic Oath; Nightingale Pledge

“Thy eternal providence has appointed me to watch over the life and health of Thy creatures. May the love for my art actuate me at all times; may neither avarice nor miserliness, nor thirst for glory, or for a great reputation engage my mind; for the enemies of truth and philanthropy could easily deceive me and make me forgetful of my lofty aim of doing good to Thy children.

“May I never see in the patient anything but a fellow creature in pain.

“Grant me strength, time, opportunity always to correct what I have acquired, always to extend its domain; for knowledge is immense and the spirit of man can extend indefinitely to enrich itself daily with new requirements.

“Today he can discover his errors of yesterday and tomorrow he can obtain a new light on what he thinks himself sure of today. Oh, God, Thou has appointed me to watch over the life and death of Thy creatures; here am I ready for my vocation and now I turn unto my calling.”

See: Hippocratic oath;
See: Declaration of Geneva; Declaration of Hawaii; Nightingale Pledge; Prayer of Maimonides