In the messianic activity of Jesus in Israel, John Paul II reminds us, “Christ drew increasingly closer to the world of human suffering ... his actions concerned primarily those who were suffering and seeking help. He healed the sick, consoled the afflicted, fed the hungry; freed people from deafness, from blindness, from leprosy, from the devil ...
“He was sensitive to every human suffering, whether of the body or of the soul. And at the same time he taught, and at the heart of his teaching there are the eight beatitudes which are addressed to people tried by various sufferings in the temporal life.” (John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, “Salvifici Doloris”, 16, 11 February 1984)
We, who want to be faithful followers of Christ, must learn from him how to treat the sick and how to love them. We have to approach them with great respect, affection and mercy. We should be happy when we are able to do some little service for them: visiting or keeping them company; making it possible their receiving the Sacraments promptly.
There will be times when we will be sick ourselves, or people we know are sick. This is a treasure that God gives us to cherish. Our Lord comes close to us so that we may learn to love more and also to find him.
In dealing with people who are suffering, the words of Our Lord become a reality, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:191-3
Jesus cures a paralytic
The joy the inhabitants of Capernaum showed at the return of Jesus compensated for the insult offered him by the Gerasenes. As soon as news of his arrival in the house spread, the crowd increased till it was almost impossible for anyone to get near especially those carrying the sick.
Four men brought a paralytic “... when they could not find a way to get in because of the crowd, they went up the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in his bed into the midst before Jesus” (Lk 5:19).
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic -- “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9:2). The paralytic sought only the cure of his bodily ailment; and he receives also that of his soul.
The paralytic’s spiritual cure was immediately followed by the healing of his body. Jesus desired to prove to the unbelieving Scribes and Pharisees that he is really God.
Thus, he said to them -- “That you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” ... and addressing the sick man, “‘Arise, take up your bed and go home’” (Mt 9:6). “And he arose and went home.” (Lk 5:25)
This ingenious expedient is admirable, unique, prompt and bold. What caused the great eagerness of the paralytic? His desire to be cured of his disease.
“Ah! if only we felt the diseases of the soul as we do those of the body, we should find plenty of bold and persevering expedients to remedy them.” (“Imitation of Christ”)
Despite this lesson most men live as if they had no soul to save. We should get rid of the spiritual paralysis which hinders us from making any progress and threatens to become incurable. Like the multitude, let us praise God who has committed to his priests the power to absolve our sins.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp400-401
Sanctifying illness
Illness, borne out of love for God, is a means of holiness, of apostolate. It is an excellent way of sharing in Christ’s redeeming Cross.
Physical suffering, everybody’s lot, can be a means that God uses to purify our faults and imperfections, to exercise and strengthen our virtues. It can be a unique opportunity to unite ourselves to Christ’s sufferings.
If sickness comes we must learn to be good patients. First of all, accept the illness.
“... to suffer patiently not only the burden of being ill, but with the particular illness God wants for us, among the people He wants us to be with, and with the discomforts he permits us to experience. I say the same of all other tribulations.” (cf St Francis de Sales, “Introduction to the Devout Life”, III, 3)
Illness, which came into the world because of sin, is also conquered by Christ. It can be turned into a much greater good, even more than physical health.
Through the Sacrament “Anointing of the Sick”, we receive untold benefits that God confers in order to sanctify grave illness. The first effect of this Sacrament is to increase sanctifying grace in the soul.
However, if a person is not in the state of grace, and it has been impossible for him to go to Confession (eg, in an accident and is unconscious) this holy Anointing blots out even mortal sin. It suffices for the sick person to make or to have previously made an act of contrition, even of imperfect contrition. Bodily health is restored if it is for the good of salvation. (cf Council of Trent, Dz 909, “Ritual of the Anointing of the Sick”)
Mother Church recommends that the sick and elderly should receive this sacrament at the opportune moment, without delay out of false reasons of compassion, etc, in the last phases of life here on earth.
Our Mother, Mary is always very close. “The presence of Mary and her motherly help at these moments (of grave illness) must not be thought of as something marginal and simply parallel to the sacrament of the Anointing. It is, rather, a presence and a help which is set in motion and transmitted by the Anointing itself.” (A Bandera, “Our Lady and the Sacraments”, Madrid)
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:193-6
Lourdes: The ninth apparition
‘Thursday.’ At five o’clock in the morning Bernadette, with her aunts, was already at Massabielle. Despite the rainy weather hundreds of onlookers were present.
She began to recite the rosary and soon fell into ecstasy. Suddenly she dropped the candle and rushed into the grotto where she bent and kissed the ground.
Then she retraced her steps, but abruptly, as if summoned, she ran back into the far left side of the grotto. She appeared to be looking for something.
In Bernadette’s words “(the Lady) told me to go and cleanse myself in the spring. I saw none and went to the Gave. She replied that it wasn’t there, and pointed at a spot below the precipice.
“I found a bit of water which looked more like mud, but there was so little I could hardly get any into my hand. I started digging and so I got more. It was so salty that I had to spit it out three times.”
The crowd watching all of these movements, grew more and more puzzled. The anti-Bernadettes had no doubts: she was evidently crazy.
Questioned later, she replied that she didn’t have the faintest idea why she had done what she did. She did what the Lady had asked of her and that was enough.
Another surprise awaited her that day. Against the mayor’s wishes, Commissioner Jacomet, who was afraid of things getting out of hand, had requested and obtained the intervention of the Imperial Procurator, M. Dutour.
Bernadette was summoned to appear before him. M. Dutour exploiting every trick of his trade again made Bernadette contradict herself.
She later recounted, “I told him the whole story which he put down in writing. Then he read the statement aloud ... he had added things I’d never said. So I told him, ‘Sir, I never said such a thing’.” The questioning went on for four hours until M. Dutour, like Jacomet before him, was forced by the angry crowd outside to release Bernadette.
Ref: G Menotti, “Lourdes”, 9-10
• Our Lady of Great Power. Quebec. 1673. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Great Power, Quebec, Canada (1673). (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Victory, at Constantinople. The city was delivered from the siege of the Saracens by the aid of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 621. — Fereolus Locrins. ( “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Victory, Constantinople (621). (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Victory. Constantinople. 621. (See also Oct. 7.) (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Victory (Constantinople). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Madonna of Nicopeia (Venice, Italy). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Mary, Queen of Peace -- Carmel of St Therese of the Child Jesus “Diamond Jubilee Calendar 2000”.
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