February 11th - World Day of the Sick & Month of Healing & Suffering

The Power of Prayer
for Healing

 February is the month of healing and suffering. Hearing the words suffering and healing, we often think of people who are sick and needed to be healed through prayers and medical assistance. But let us also remember that all people experience suffering though it is not through grave sickness. Emotional and psychological problems can be considered as suffering.

Pope John Paul II's constant attention to the poor is one of the characteristics of his pontificate. In his 1984 apostolic letter "Salvifici Doloris" he addressed the Christian meaning of human suffering.

February 11 is the Feast day of OUR LADY of LOURDES, the late Pope John Paul II who is very much devoted to Blessed Mother believes in the intercession of Mary. In line with this in 1992, the Holy Father instituted the World Day of the Sick, to be observed every year on Feb. 11, liturgical memorial of the Virgin of Lourdes. In 1993 he established the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

9-DAY NOVENA FOR HEALING OF THE SICK

Decree on Indulgences for World Day of the Sick

Here are some Words of our Great Pope John Paul II and a Saint in Heaven

In Lourdes, France -- John Paul II visited the French "miracle shrine" town of Lourdes where he called himself a sick man among the suffering.

"With you I share a time of life marked by physical suffering, yet not for that reason any less fruitful in God's wondrous plan," he said. "Dear brothers and sisters who are sick, how I would like to embrace each and every one of you with affection, to tell you how close I am to you and how much I support you."

"With great emotion I wish to join the millions of pilgrims who come to Lourdes each year from every part of the world, in order to entrust to the Mother of the Lord the intentions which they bear in their hearts and to ask for her help and intercession," he said.