‘Be not afraid!’

Submitted on February 08, 2007

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke

Introduction Sunday, Feb. 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, is the World Day of the Sick. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is a most appropriate time for us to devote ourselves to prayer for our brothers and sisters who suffer illness and to those who care for them. At Lourdes, our Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous, inviting her to drink the water from a miraculous spring for strength and to bath in it for healing. She encouraged Bernadette to pray the Rosary, meditating upon the mysteries of Christ’s life in which we share. Above all, she drew Bernadette to the Holy Eucharist, the Heavenly Food and Medicine that sustains and heals us all along the way of our earthly pilgrimage, and on our final journey from this life to the life which is to come. This year’s celebration of World Day of the Sick for the universal Church will take place in Seoul, Korea.The international celebration includes gatherings, presentations and the celebration of the Holy Mass, in which the sick and their families, and health care personnel, especially from Korea, will take part. In the archdiocese, I will celebrate the Solemn Mass for the Sick and Health Care Professionals at the Cathedral Basilica at 10 a.m. on Feb. 11.The Knights and Dames of Malta, who are dedicated in a particular way to bringing the sick on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, are helping in the organization of the archdiocesan celebration of the World Day of the Sick. I offer you a heartfelt invitation to participate in the archdiocesan celebration at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Message of His Holiness Each year, our Holy Father issues a message for the World Day of the Sick.In a world which sees illness in a totally negative light, seeking to keep the ill from our sight and avoiding conversation about illness, it is important that the Shepherd of the Universal Church draw our attention to the true meaning of illness and our fundamental mission of caring for the sick. In his message for this year, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that, notwithstanding the many advances in the health sciences, many continue to suffer serious, even incurable, illnesses, and many are living in conditions which seriously compromise their health and in which they lack access to needed medicine and medical care.The Holy Father reminds us of the particular care of the Church for those who suffer from incurable illnesses, of her concern that the conditions which cause disease be corrected, and of her commitment to "policies which create conditions where human beings can bear even incurable illnesses and death in a dignified manner." Pope Benedict offers a special word of understanding and encouragement to "those who work daily to ensure that the incurably and terminally ill, together with their families, receive adequate and loving care."He reminds us of the particular care of the Church for the sick and suffering: "Through her individual members and institutions, she continues to stand alongside the suffering and to attend the dying, striving to preserve their dignity at these significant moments of human existence." The Holy Father directs a special word of encouragement to those who are suffering from incurable diseases.He invites the ill to unite their sufferings of the Passion and Death of Christ. He recalls to all of our minds the truth that our sufferings, united to those of Christ, bring untold graces to individuals and the whole Church.He assures the sick that the Church, through "her priests and pastoral workers," desires to make "Christ’s own loving mercy" present for them. Finally, Pope Benedict XVI urges the whole Church, and especially those dedicated to health care, "to continue, with the help of Mary, Salus Infirmorum, to bear effective witness to the loving concern of God our Father."He asks the Blessed Virgin Mary to comfort those who are afflicted and to sustain those who care for them. Indulgences for the World Day of the Sick To confirm all that he has written in his Message, the Holy Father grants indulgences to those who celebrate World Day of the Sick.The plenary indulgence is granted "to the faithful who, under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, eucharistic communion and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Holy Father), and with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin," participate in World Day of the Sick in Seoul or, in the archdiocese, participate in the Mass for the Sick and Health Care Professionals at the cathedral basilica on Feb. 11. The plenary indulgence may also be obtained by those who assist the sick and cannot take part in the celebration, if, on World Day of the Sick, "they generously provide, at least for a few hours, their charitable assistance to the sick as if they were tending to Christ the Lord Himself, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the conditions required for obtaining the plenary indulgence." Those who, because of sickness or advanced years, are unable to participate in the celebration of the World Day of the Sick may obtain the plenary indulgence if, "with soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the conditions required, they spiritually participate together with the Holy Father" in the observance, praying for the sick and offering "through the Virgin Mary, ‘Health of the Sick,’ their physical and spiritual sufferings to God." Finally, partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, between Feb. 9 and 11 contritely and devoutly pray to our all-merciful Lord for the sick, especially those who are suffering incurable and terminal disease. Conclusion United with our Lord, the Good Shepherd, in His steadfast and loving care of the sick, and in the offering of His suffering for the cure of body and soul, let us all observe, as we are able, the World Day of the Sick. On the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, may God bless, in a special way, all who suffer serious illness and all who care for the gravely ill.