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WORLD DAY OF THE SICK , FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES ,
FEBRUARY 11TH
The 11th February liturgical feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is also designated World Day of the Sick by the Catholic Church. Each year, since the institution of the World Day of the Sick by Pope John Paul II in 1992 , a papal message has been delivered and a country and an appropriate theme has been selected to host the event for the universal Catholic Church internationally.
Pope John Paul stated in his first message for the World Day of the Sick hosted at the shrine of Our Lady in Lourdes ‘The Christian community has always paid particular attention to the sick and the world of suffering in its multiple manifestations.. This day, which, beginning in February 1993, will be celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, for all believers .’.to be ‘a special time of prayer and sharing, .....On the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, ….in spiritual communion with the whole Church’.Pope John Pauls inaugural letter for the First World Day of the Sick reached out to those afflicted or suffering ill health ,to health care workers and chaplains of spiritual care to the sick.
Pope John Pauls inaugural letter for the First World Day of the Sick reached out to those afflicted or suffering ill health ,to health care workers and chaplains of spiritual care to the sick.
‘To you, dear sick people all over the world, the main actors of this World Day, may this event bring the announcement of the living and comforting presence of the Lord. Your sufferings, accepted and borne with unshakeable faith, when joined to those of Christ take on extraordinary value for the life of the Church and the good of humanity.
For you, health-care workers called to the highest, most meritorious and exemplary testimony of justice and love, may this Day be a renewed spur to continue in your delicate service with generous openness to the profound values of the person, to respect for human dignity, and to defence of life, from its beginning to its natural close.
For you, Pastors of the Christian people, and to all the different members of the Church community, for volunteers, and particularly for those engaged in the health-care ministry, may this World Day of the Sick offer stimulus and encouragement to go forward with fresh dedication on the way of service to tried, suffering humanity.’
Subsequent World Days of the Sick have been hosted in 1994 Czestochowa, Poland, 1995 Cote D’Ivoire Africa, 1996 Mexico City, Mexico, 1997 Fatima ,Portugal, 1998 Loreto, Italy, 1999 Beirut, Lebanon, 2000 Rome, Italy, 2001Sydney ,Australia, 2002VailanKanny, India , 2003Washington DC,USA, 2004 Lourdes,France 2005 Yaounde, Cameroon,Africa, and 2006 Adelaide Australia and Seoul, Korea
Pope John Paul’s final World Day of the Sick Message in 2005 stated the ‘"World Day of the Sick aims to stimulate reflection on the subject of health"
Pope Benedict XVI has continued support for the World Day of the Sick established by his predecessor.
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