Yesterday, the Vatican Press Office published the Holy Father's Message for the next World Day of the Sick, which will be observed on February 11, 2014.
Dear brothers and sisters,
On the occasion of the XXII World Day of the Sick, which this year has the theme Faith and charity: We too should lay down our lives for our brothers (cf. 1 Jn 3:16), I would like to address a word particularly to those who are sick and to those who assist and care for them. The Church recognizes in you, dear sick persons, a special presence of the suffering Christ. In your suffering, in our suffering, we recognize the suffering of Jesus which unites us and reveals its meaning to us. When the Son of God was raised on the cross, he destroyed the solitude of suffering and illuminated its darkness. In this way, we are placed before the mystery of God's love for us, a love which gives us hope and courage: hope because in the loving plan of God, even the night of suffering gives way to the light of Easter, and courage to face every adversity in union with Him, united to Him.
The Son of God made man did not take sickness and suffering away from the human experience, but has taken them upon himself, transformed them and redefined their effect. He has redefined them so that they no longer have the last word, which instead is new life in all its fullness; transformed because in union with Christ, a positive can be drawn even from the negative. Jesus is life, and with his Spirit, we can follow him. Just as the Father gave his Son out of love, and as the Son gave himself out of this same love, so we too can love others as God has loved us, giving life to our brothers. Faith in the good Lord becomes goodness, faith in the crucified Lord bestows the strength to love even to the end, and this applies equally to our enemies. The proof of authentic faith in Christ is the gift of self, manifested toward our neighbour, especially toward those who do not merit such love, toward those who suffer and toward those who are marginalized.
By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, we are called to be conformed to Christ, the Good Samaritan for all those who suffer. In this way, we have come to know love: by the fact that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 Jn 3:16). When we tenderly approach those who are in need of care, we bring hope and God's smile amidst the contradictions of the world. When dedication and generosity toward others characterizes our actions, we make room for the Heart of Christ and we ourselves are warmed by its love and offer our own contributions toward the coming of the Kingdom of God.
To grow in tenderness, in respectful and delicate charity, we have a Christian model to whom we can safely direct our gaze. She is the Mother of Jesus and our Mother; she is attentive to the voice of God and to the needs and difficulties of his children. Mary, motivated by the divine mercy which is embodied within her, forgets herself and travels quickly from Galilee to Judea in order to meet and to assist her cousin Elizabeth; she intercedes with her Son during the wedding at Cana, when she sees that they have no more wine at the feast; she carries within her heart, along the pilgrimage of her life, the words of old Simeon who predicted that a sword would pierce her soul, and with fortitude, she remains at the foot of the cross of Jesus. She knows how to walk this road, and for this reason she is the Mother of all the sick and the suffering. We can confidently come to her with filial devotion, sure that she will assist us, support us and will never forsake us. She is the Mother of the Crucified and Risen Christ: she remains close to our crosses and she accompanies us on our journey toward the resurrection and the fullness of life.
Saint John, the disciple who was with Mary at the foot of the cross, takes us back to the source of faith and charity, to the heart of God who is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), and reminds us that we cannot love God if we do not love our brothers. He who stands beneath the cross with Mary learns to love as Jesus does. The cross is the certainty of the faithful love of God for us. A love so great that it enters into our sin and forgives it, it enters into our suffering and gives us the strength to bear it, it enters into our death in order to bring victory and save us ... The Cross of Christ also invites us to depart from it, contaminated by its love. It teaches us to always look at others with mercy and love, above all, to look toward those who suffer, and toward those who need our help (Way of the cross with young people, Rio de Janeiro, July 26, 2013).
I commend this XXII World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary so that she may help those who are sick to live their own suffering in communion with Jesus Christ and in order that she may support those who care for them. To all the sick, to caregivers and volunteers, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, December 6, 2013.
Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the World Day of the Sick
February 11, 2014
Dear brothers and sisters,
On the occasion of the XXII World Day of the Sick, which this year has the theme Faith and charity: We too should lay down our lives for our brothers (cf. 1 Jn 3:16), I would like to address a word particularly to those who are sick and to those who assist and care for them. The Church recognizes in you, dear sick persons, a special presence of the suffering Christ. In your suffering, in our suffering, we recognize the suffering of Jesus which unites us and reveals its meaning to us. When the Son of God was raised on the cross, he destroyed the solitude of suffering and illuminated its darkness. In this way, we are placed before the mystery of God's love for us, a love which gives us hope and courage: hope because in the loving plan of God, even the night of suffering gives way to the light of Easter, and courage to face every adversity in union with Him, united to Him.
The Son of God made man did not take sickness and suffering away from the human experience, but has taken them upon himself, transformed them and redefined their effect. He has redefined them so that they no longer have the last word, which instead is new life in all its fullness; transformed because in union with Christ, a positive can be drawn even from the negative. Jesus is life, and with his Spirit, we can follow him. Just as the Father gave his Son out of love, and as the Son gave himself out of this same love, so we too can love others as God has loved us, giving life to our brothers. Faith in the good Lord becomes goodness, faith in the crucified Lord bestows the strength to love even to the end, and this applies equally to our enemies. The proof of authentic faith in Christ is the gift of self, manifested toward our neighbour, especially toward those who do not merit such love, toward those who suffer and toward those who are marginalized.
By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, we are called to be conformed to Christ, the Good Samaritan for all those who suffer. In this way, we have come to know love: by the fact that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 Jn 3:16). When we tenderly approach those who are in need of care, we bring hope and God's smile amidst the contradictions of the world. When dedication and generosity toward others characterizes our actions, we make room for the Heart of Christ and we ourselves are warmed by its love and offer our own contributions toward the coming of the Kingdom of God.
To grow in tenderness, in respectful and delicate charity, we have a Christian model to whom we can safely direct our gaze. She is the Mother of Jesus and our Mother; she is attentive to the voice of God and to the needs and difficulties of his children. Mary, motivated by the divine mercy which is embodied within her, forgets herself and travels quickly from Galilee to Judea in order to meet and to assist her cousin Elizabeth; she intercedes with her Son during the wedding at Cana, when she sees that they have no more wine at the feast; she carries within her heart, along the pilgrimage of her life, the words of old Simeon who predicted that a sword would pierce her soul, and with fortitude, she remains at the foot of the cross of Jesus. She knows how to walk this road, and for this reason she is the Mother of all the sick and the suffering. We can confidently come to her with filial devotion, sure that she will assist us, support us and will never forsake us. She is the Mother of the Crucified and Risen Christ: she remains close to our crosses and she accompanies us on our journey toward the resurrection and the fullness of life.
Saint John, the disciple who was with Mary at the foot of the cross, takes us back to the source of faith and charity, to the heart of God who is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), and reminds us that we cannot love God if we do not love our brothers. He who stands beneath the cross with Mary learns to love as Jesus does. The cross is the certainty of the faithful love of God for us. A love so great that it enters into our sin and forgives it, it enters into our suffering and gives us the strength to bear it, it enters into our death in order to bring victory and save us ... The Cross of Christ also invites us to depart from it, contaminated by its love. It teaches us to always look at others with mercy and love, above all, to look toward those who suffer, and toward those who need our help (Way of the cross with young people, Rio de Janeiro, July 26, 2013).
I commend this XXII World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary so that she may help those who are sick to live their own suffering in communion with Jesus Christ and in order that she may support those who care for them. To all the sick, to caregivers and volunteers, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, December 6, 2013.
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