Pope Saint John Paul II started the World Day of the Sick in 1993. It happens every year on February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes France in 1858 and since then, the place where Mary appeared, has been a pilgrimage sight where many miraculous healings have happened.
Opening Prayer
Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness,
that we, who keep the Memorial of the Immaculate Mother of God,
may, with the help of her intercession,
rise up from our iniquities.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
(collect from Proper of Saints, February 11, Our Lady of Lourdes; Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved)
Scripture Reading
John 9: 1-11 (Gospel story of healing) or Mark 8:1-10 (Gospel reading for the Day)
Catechism 2270-2275; 2292-2296 ; 2373-2379;
John Paul II Medical Research Institute
Catechesis Video
The Catholic Church teaches the message of Christ that we have a responsibility to one another. Our world is filled with suffering from illness and disease and this leads us to seek to help limit that suffering through our care to one another but also through the gift of science. The Church supports such scientific endeavors, not only in speech but also in deed. See the following video on how the Catholic Church is helping to advance medicine.
Catechesis Video Questions
7-12 grade
Faith sharing/Parishioners
Parish Leadership/Committees
Catholic Witness Video – Catholics are often portrayed as being “anti-science” and when it comes to stem cell research the Catholic approach, using adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells, results in people thinking the Church is not only anti science but also lacking compassion for those who suffer illness and disease. Jerome Lejeune, the father of modern genetics, helped pave the way for adult stem cell research through his research in genetics. His keen scientific mind coupled with his unwavering support for the respect for all life made his career difficult; losing support and funding for his research because he rejected abortion. But, as we can learn from him, to be Catholic does not require us to ignore science, nor does it lead us to be apathetic to the needs and suffering of others, but calls us to join with them in community of life and love.
Witness Video Questions
7-12 grade
Faith sharing/Parishioners
Parish Leadership/Committees
Action Steps
7-12 grade
Faith Sharing/Parishioners
Parish Leadership/Committees
Closing Prayer
“May the Blessed Virgin, “Health of the Sick” and “Mother of the Living”, be our support and our hope and, through the celebration of the Day of the Sick, increase our sensitivity and dedication to those being tested, along with the trusting expectation of the luminous day of our salvation, when every tear will be dried forever (cf. Is 25:8). May it be granted to us to enjoy the first fruits of that day from now on in the superabundant joy — though in the midst of all tribulations (cf. 2 Cor 7:4) — promised by Christ which no one can take from us (Jn 16:22). Amen.”
Pope St. John Paul II, prayer at the end of his message for the First World Day of Prayer for the Sick, From the Vatican, 21 October 1992