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Monday, February 12, 2007

HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT FOR THE INCURABLY ILL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 2007 (VIS) - The World Day of the Sick , which falls today Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, was the main theme of Benedict XVI's brief reflections before praying the Angelus this morning with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

  The Pope recalled the fact that the Church today celebrates the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette, an event that took place on February 11, 1858 in the grotto of Massabielle near the French town of Lourdes. "For nearly 150 years, the Virgin's call to prayer and penance has rung out powerfully, almost like a permanent echo of the call with which Jesus inaugurated His preaching in Galilee."

  The shrine of Lourdes, Pope Benedict went on, has attracted "many sick pilgrims who, in listening to Most Holy Mary, are encouraged to accept their sufferings and offer them for the salvation of the world, uniting them to those of the crucified Christ. Precisely because of this connection between Lourdes and human suffering, 15 years ago the beloved John Paul II called for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to mark the World Day of the Sick."

  The Holy Father sent his greetings to Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Ministry, who is presiding over the celebrations for this year's World Day, being held in Seoul, Korea. He also extended his thoughts "to healthcare workers all over the world, well aware of the importance your service to the sick has in our society.

  "Above all," he added, "I wish to express my spiritual closeness and affection to our brothers and sisters who are sick, with a special thought for those struck by the most serious and painful illnesses. To them in particular our concern is directed on this World Day. It is necessary to support the development of forms of palliative care that provide integral assistance, and offer the incurably ill that human support and spiritual accompaniment of which they have such great need."
ANG/WORLD DAY SICK/...                    VIS 20070212 (350)


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