World Day of the Sick

Held on : 11th February

The World Day of the Sick is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church. It was instituted on May 13, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Beginning on February 12, 1993, it is celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes (mystical appearance of Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes), for all believers seeks to be "a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering". Pope John Paul II had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease as early as 1991, an illness which was only disclosed later, and it is significant that he decided to create a World Day of the Sick only one year after his diagnosis. The Pope had written a great deal on the topic of suffering and believed that it was very much a salvific and redeeming process through Christ, as he indicated in his apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris dating 13th May 1992. Thus Late Revered Pope John Paul II in his letter instituted `the World Day of the Sick’ as 11th February,

The feast of Lourdes was chosen because many pilgrims and visitors to Lourdes have reportedly be healed by intercessions of the Blessed Virgin. The pontiff was also fond of the sanctuary of Harissa in Lebanon. In 2005, the World Day of the Sick had a special significance since it was the year John Paul died from a sepsis. Many people had gathered around him as he lay dying. Every year, the NACC (National Association of Catholic Chaplains) prints prayer cards for World Day of the Sick, for use in hospitals, hospices, long-term care facilities, parishes, and anyone else interested in the spiritual needs of sick persons and caregivers

Since 1992, February 11, under the sponsorship of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, has been observed as the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. This is a good opportunity to give special attention to the needs and witness of the sick in our communities. The purpose of this day is to reminded ourselves to pray for the sick, reflect on the meaning of human suffering and honour those who serve as caregivers. On this day various programmes including reflections, prayer services, workshops for discussions to formulate action plans, visits to sick individuals, homes etc. are organised.