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Published on 04 February 2022

2022 World Day of the Sick: let us remain close on our path of charity to those who suffer

The celebrations in the Basilica of Saint Anthony on 11 February and the online initiatives

Thirty years ago, Saint John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick to encourage the people of God, Catholic health institutions and civil society to be increasingly attentive to the sick and to those who care for them.

As with the previous years, this year on Friday, 11 February, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, on the occasion of the XXX World Day of the Sick, a special Holy Mass for the Sick and for those who take care of them will be held in the Basilica of Saint Anthony at 18:00 (CET).

At the end of the celebration the messages and prayer intentions that have been entrusted by devotees to our dear Saint Anthony will be taken to his Tomb in the Basilica.

You may write down the name of your dear loved one who is sick and send us your prayer from this page: click here

 

THE CELEBRATION MAY BE FOLLOWED LIVE STREAM FROM

 

Here is the Holy Father’s message for the XXX World Day of the Sick:

We are grateful to the Lord for the progress made over the years in the particular Churches worldwide. Many advances have been made, yet there is still a long way to go in ensuring that all the sick, also those living in places and situations of great poverty and marginalization, receive the health care they need, as well as the pastoral care that can help them experience their sickness in union with the crucified and risen Christ.

 

The theme chosen for this Thirtieth World Day of the Sick, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36), makes us first turn our gaze towards God, who is “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4); he always watches over his children with a father’s love, even when they turn away from him. Mercy is God’s name par excellence; mercy, understood not as an occasional sentimental feeling but as an ever-present and active force, expresses God’s very nature.  It combines strength and tenderness. For this reason, we can say with wonder and gratitude that God’s mercy embraces both fatherhood and motherhood (cf. Is 49:15). God 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.

Read the whole message from here: 

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/sick/documents/20211210_30-giornata-malato.html