One of the members of our congregation recently underwent eye surgery. When I visited her, she commented favorably on the gentleness, the compassion, and the concern of the surgeon who had performed the operation.

She commented further on the number of people he helped and yet, at the same time, was never too busy to carefully explain what he would do in the course of surgery.

Furthermore, the parishioner continued, every other month the surgeon went to Puerto Rico to work for one week in a free clinic.

Her summary was: My doctor is not a Christian, but he lives out Christianity better than many of us who profess to be Christians.

The astute observation of my friend serves as a fitting introduction to the life and ministry of Hiltgunt Margaret Zassenhaus.

Hiltgunt Zassenhaus, like the…