杏MAP导航鈥檚 World Day of Sick message: Nearness, charity for those who suffer

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis releases his message for the 30th World Day of the Sick, and urges Catholics and Church-run institutions to continue efforts to heal and soothe the wounds of those suffering illness.

By Devin Watkins

鈥�Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful鈥� (Lk 6:36): Standing beside those who suffer on a path of charity.鈥�

Those words formed the theme of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� message for the World Day of the Sick鈥攕cheduled for 11 February鈥攚hich was released on Tuesday.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that this year鈥檚 occurrence marks 30 years since 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II instituted the World Day to encourage all members of the Church to 鈥渂e increasingly attentive to the sick and to those who care for them.鈥�

He also expressed his gratitude for the great advances in healthcare and pastoral care of the sick in the intervening three decades, while recalling that many people still live in areas that are poorly served by healthcare systems and pastoral outreach.

He noted that the annual celebration of the World Day of the Sick is taking place in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica, rather than in Arequipa, Peru, as originally planned, due to the ongoing health crisis.

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� message comes a few short months after his own brief hospital stay at Rome鈥檚 Gemelli Hospital following a scheduled surgery on his colon.

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鈥楳erciful like the Father鈥�

In his message, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on various aspects of 鈥渕ercy,鈥� starting with the mercy of the Father.

He said God鈥檚 mercy is part of His very nature and combines 鈥渟trength and tenderness.鈥�

鈥淕od cares for us with the strength of a father and the tenderness of a mother. He unceasingly desires to give us new life in the Holy Spirit.鈥�

鈥楯esus, the mercy of the Father鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said that Jesus offers the best witness to the Father鈥檚 merciful love for the sick.

In His earthly life, Jesus healed all manner of disease and illness, and made it an important part of His missionary mandate to the apostles, who were sent to 鈥減roclaim the Gospel and to heal the sick.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis drew on a consideration by French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas to explore why ministering to the sick is such an important part of the Christian mission.

鈥淧ain isolates in an absolute way,鈥� said Mr. Levinas, 鈥渁nd absolute isolation gives rise to the need to appeal to the other, to call out to the other.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said acute experiences of our human frailty urge us to seek out those near to us, and it is the Church鈥檚 job to respond with concrete signs of God鈥檚 charity.

鈥淲hen individuals experience frailty and suffering in their own flesh as a result of illness, their hearts become heavy, fear spreads, uncertainties multiply, and questions about the meaning of what is happening in their lives become all the more urgent.鈥�

鈥楾o touch the suffering flesh of Christ鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to consider the many healthcare workers who daily minister to 鈥渢he suffering flesh of Christ.鈥�

He thanked all healthcare professionals and volunteers for dedicating their lives to helping those who suffer.

鈥淒ear healthcare workers, your service alongside the sick, carried out with love and competence, transcends the bounds of your profession and becomes a mission. Your hands, which touch the suffering flesh of Christ, can be a sign of the merciful hands of the Father. Be mindful of the great dignity of your profession, as well as the responsibility that it entails.鈥�

At the same time, the 杏MAP导航 praised the technological and therapeutic advances made in the field of medicine.

Yet no advancement, he added, can allow us to 鈥渇orget the uniqueness of each patient, his or her dignity and frailties.鈥� Patients, he said, 鈥渁re always more important than their diseases.鈥�

鈥楥entres of care as 鈥渉ouses of mercy鈥濃€�

The 杏MAP导航 said the World Day of the Sick allows the Church to take stock of her long-running dedication to providing healthcare to the poor and marginalized by opening hospitals and clinics in poverty-stricken areas.

He reaffirmed the work of Catholic healthcare institutions, calling them 鈥渁 precious treasure to be protected and preserved鈥� since they offer 鈥渢he gift of charity鈥�.

鈥淎t a time in which the culture of waste is widespread and life is not always acknowledged as worthy of being welcomed and lived, these structures, like 鈥榟ouses of mercy鈥�, can be exemplary in protecting and caring for all life, even the most fragile, from its beginning until its natural end.鈥�

鈥楶astoral mercy: presence and proximity鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis then expressed his appreciation for those who carry out pastoral care among the sick.

Those who act on Christ鈥檚 invitation include professionals like hospital chaplains, as well as ordinary Catholics who take the time to visit their ailing neighbors.

鈥淚f the worst discrimination suffered by the poor 鈥� including the sick, who are poor in health 鈥� is the lack of spiritual attention, we cannot fail to offer them God鈥檚 closeness, His blessing, and His word, as well as the celebration of the sacraments and the opportunity for a journey of growth and maturation in faith.鈥�

United to Christ in our suffering

The 杏MAP导航 wrapped up his message for the 30th World Day of the Sick by entrusting all the sick and their families to the intercession of Mary, Health of the infirm.

鈥淯nited with Christ, who bears the pain of the world, may they find meaning, consolation and trust,鈥� he concluded. 鈥淚 pray for healthcare workers everywhere, that, rich in mercy, they may offer patients, together with suitable care, their fraternal closeness.鈥�

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04 January 2022, 12:00

杏MAP导航