24 February 2013 2nd Sunday of Lent Jesus makes Himself present in the sick 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 that 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 who 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 Lourdes: The eighth apparition ‘Wednesday.’ In the presence of about three-hundred people Bernadette repeated her usual gestures. Unlike previously, her ecstasy seemed to make her suffer; her face often bore a melancholy expression. At one point, she crawled inside the grotto, bent over, nodded, started crying, then smiling. Finally, she kissed the ground. Curious, the onlookers begged Bernadette to reveal her experience. The Lady had said, “Pray for the conversion of sinners”; and requested that she kiss the ground (“if it wouldn’t bother you”) in penitence for sinners. Ref: G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p8 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. With the “Anointing of the Sick”, we receive untold benefits that God confers through the Sacrament 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 Prayers for the Sick and Dying ‘Prayer for the Sick’ “ALMIGHTY and eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of them that believe, hear us on behalf of Thy sick servant, N., for whom we implore the aid of Thy pitying mercy, that, with his/her bodily health restored, he/she may give thanks to Thee in Thy church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.” ‘Prayer for a Sick Person Near Death’ “ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, preserver of souls, Who does correct those whom Thou love and for their amendment tenderly chastise those Whom Thou receive, we call upon Thee, O Lord, to bestow Thy healing, that the soul of Thy servant, at the hour of its departure from the body, may by the hands of Thy holy angels be presented without spot unto Thee. Amen.” Ref: Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p471 Cheerfulness -- “There are many who feel unhappy, just because they have too much of everything. Christians, if they really behave as God’s children, will suffer discomfort, heat, tiredness, cold ... But they will never lack joy, because that -- all that -- is ordained or permitted by Him who is the source of true happiness.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow,” 82) THE SEVEN SUNDAYS DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH Honors the seven joys and seven sorrows of St Joseph. (Ref: “Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias [Eds], 1988, pp321-3) “What must Joseph have been, how grace must have worked through him, that he should be able to fulfill this task of the human upbringing of the Son of God. “For Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus’ realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine -- all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph. “It’s not possible to ignore this sublime mystery: Jesus who is man, who speaks with the accent of a particular district of Israel, who resembles a carpenter called Joseph, is the Son of God.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40 4. The fourth sorrow and joy of St Joseph His sorrow when he heard the prophecy of Simeon; his joy when he learned that many will be saved through the sufferings of Jesus. “As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see, this child: he is destined for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected -- and a sword will pierce your own soul too -- so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare’.” (Lk 2:34) “Joseph is surprised and astonished. God gradually reveals his plans to him and he tries to understand them. As with everyone who wishes to follow Jesus closely, he soon discovers that here is no laggard’s pace, no room for the halfhearted. God always asks more: his ways are not the ways of men. St Joseph, more than anyone else before or since, learned from Jesus to be alert to recognize God’s wonders, to have his mind and heart awake.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop”, 54 • On this day, in the year 591, St Gregory the Great having had the picture of Our Lady, which was painted by St Luke, carried in procession, the plague ceased at Rome. — Balingham on the Calendar. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Cessation of a plague in Rome through Mary's intercession (591). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Cessation of a plague in Rome in 591 after Pope St. Gregory led a procession with “Salus Populi Romani”. Rome 591. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Plague in Rome ends after Pope St. Gregory the Great leads procession with a painting by St Luke of Our Lady (591). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Pope Gregory the Great leads a procession in Rome with a painting of Mary, attributed to St Luke; and a plague ends. 591. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Verdelais (France) (http://mariedenazareth.com)