Pope: From Lourdes to Seoul, I entrust the world’s sick and suffering to Mary [Catholic Caucus]

Asia News ^ | 02.11.07

[Coleus]

Recalling the apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick, which this year is being celebrated in Seoul, Benedict XVI exhorted health workers and relatives of sick people to offer “human support” and “spiritual accompaniment”, especially those who are terminally ill.  Vatican City (AsiaNews) – On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, now also the World Day of the Sick, the pope did not stop at talking about miracles and healing. Thanking health workers and relatives of sick people, he called for the “development of palliative care that offers holistic support”, giving “terminally ill people the human support and spiritual accompaniment that they badly need.”

Benedict XVI recalled the “prodigious event” of “the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to St Bernadette, which took place on 11 February 1858 in the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes”. This event, continued the pope, made “the location, situated in the French slopes of the Pyrenees, a global center for pilgrimages and intense Marian spirituality. In this place, for nearly 150 years now, the call of Our Lady to prayer and repentance still reverberates powerfully, a quasi permanent echo of the invitation with which Jesus inaugurated his preaching in Galilee: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ (Mk 1:15).”

Although miracles and healings confirmed by a team of doctors often take place at Lourdes, the pope saw fit to draw attention to a more profound miracle: “Moreover, the shrine has become a destination of many sick pilgrims who, putting themselves in a position to listen to the Most Holy Mary, are encouraged to accept their sufferings and to offer them for the salvation of the world, uniting them with those of the crucified Christ.”   Bnedict XVI explained the connection between the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick: “It was precisely because of this link between Lourdes and human suffering that, 15 years ago, the beloved John Paul II wanted the World Day of the Sick to be celebrated on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This year, the focus of this feast is in the city of Seoul, capital of South Korea, where I sent Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care to represent me. I send an affectionate greeting to him and to all those gathered there.”

The pope continued: “I would like to extend my thoughts to health workers across the world, well aware of the importance of their service to sick people in our society. In particular, I want to express my spiritual closeness and my affection for our sick brothers and sisters, especially those who are afflicted by more serious and painful illnesses. On this Day, our attention is turned towards them in a special way. It is necessary to support the development of palliative care that offers holistic support and gives terminally ill people the human support and spiritual accompaniment that they badly need.”   Before the Angelus prayer, the pope reminded his audience about a Eucharistic Celebration that will be held this afternoon in St Peter’s Basilica, with many sick people and pilgrims. Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Vicar of the diocese of Rome.  Benedict XVI said: “At the end of Holy Mass, I will have the joy, like last year, of spending some time with them, reliving the spiritual climate experienced at the grotto of Massabielle. With this Angelus prayer, I would like to entrust to the maternal protection of the Immaculate Virgin all those in the world who are sick and suffering in body and spirit.”

[mockingbyrd]

ROE, thank you for altering me to this post.

Neocon, thank you for your post. You have covered a lot of the things that have bothered me here.

I am appalled by the behavior of some here on this forum. And, from what I can tell it is not for the sake of furthering the great discussion. There isn't even sanctuary in the caucus threads. I don't think a day goes by where I don't read some nasty, snarky comment or see a post that was removed, and this is on the caucus threads. I visit those more often, because time is precious to me, having two small children, and I am looking for edification and support in my faith. What do I find? Snide comments from those who wish to tear me down, on my walk with Christ. I don't know about to rest of you, but I don't wander around here looking for a fight. I am here looking to learn. And I have learned a lot about my fellow brothers in Christ.

[ArrogantBustard]

Enjoy

[Frank Sheed]

We don't believe for a nanosecond that your church was the one Jesus Christ founded...

Your church is "invisible" if I recall correctly.

[Running On Empty]

LOL!

[Titanites]

Very nice!

[Running On Empty]

Is this an ad hominem?
"Your long winded speech is nothing more than an attempt to put a gag on all but Catholics on a public forum".

Are you reading the mind of neocon?

[LiteKeeper]

Where is the Biblical authority for any of that? BTW - Protestants speak of saints...defined as all of those who have been born-again. All of those in the Kingdom of God are called saints. There is, however, no Biblical justification for a higher class of believers called "Saints"

[Titanites]

But be careful not to reveal our secret, Catholic posting techniques.

[ArrogantBustard]

Please describe to me, in your own words, without any editorial comments, what you believe to be Catholic doctrine(s) regarding Saints.

I strongly suspect that your idea of what constitutes Catholic Dogma and Doctrine is not correct; but until I know the particulars I can't help you.

And please, feel free to actually read the many threads posted by actual Catholics on this forum addressing the matter of Saints.

[Iscool]

Is this an ad hominem?

I don't read Latin...I'm American...

[Suzy Quzy]

Just curious, what Church do you believe is the One, True Church since you don't think it was the one built by Peter Petra, "Upon this Rock I will build MY CHURCH"? Please name the denomination and the person who built it up after Jesus was ascended into heaven, and who Jesus himself named to build His Church.

Thank you in advance for an HONEST, Un-SNARKY answer.

[Running On Empty]

I thought most people knew what ad hominem means.

[Frank Sheed]

2 Thessalonians 2:15: "So then, brethern, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (RSV) (see also, 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6).

"St. Thomas More expresses the Catholic perspective on apostolic Christian Tradition in a tract, Response to Luther, in 1523, where he comments on 2 Thessalonians 2:15:

'The preservation of both word and letter is equally charged by the Apostle. Extrascriptural matter was thus handed down, and on a binding, not a take-it-or-leave-it basis! What do you say to that, Luther!

[You] continue dully to insist upon the written as the only valid form of transmission, and doggedly persist in ignoring the scriptural evidence (in Dolan, 115, 117).'"

from "The Catholic Verses," by Dave Armstrong, Sophia Institute Press, 2004, pg. 38.

[DungeonMaster]

Waiting for the standard "She can't hear you" babble to start....

There's certainly no biblical reason to believe that can either hear you or do anything about it.

[Frank Sheed]

Then you speak Cherokee, perhaps?

[ArrogantBustard]

Frank, I'd really like to have Mr. LiteKeeper go on record with what he thinks he's arguing against.

It's entirely possible that the position he is opposing is NOT Catholic, but rather a figment of his imagination.

[Religion Moderator]

It is disingenuous to complain that your confession is being maligned when you are NOT using the caucus designation to protect the thread from challenges!

Do NOT post an article as an open thread and then complain when other posters malign your doctrines, traditions and religious leaders or figures.

The poster of an article is quite literally "asking for it" when he omits the caucus label. Open threads are in the “town square.” Closed threads (including caucuses) are protected, like a closed door church meeting, the assembly is not to be disturbed.

See: Religion Forum guidelines

Also, there is no comparison between the real, historical and present day suffering of Catholics and Mormons to the real, historical and present day suffering of Jews. Anti-[whatever] is not in the same league with anti-Semitism and will not treated the same on my watch.

Suzy Quzy, your post would not have been targeted for a warning if it were not personal, i.e. labeling another Freeper ignorant. If it had been worded as follows, it would not have received the warning:

Litekeeper: Roman Catholicism appears to be transforming itself into the religion of Mary, not Jesus. Where does this concept come from?

Suzy Quzy: The concept comes from ignorance of Catholic doctrine as follows ….

Flame wars usually begin when one poster redirects the discussion from the issue at hand to the poster personally. Therefore I intercede with my usual warning:

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[Frank Sheed]

Sorry, but you are right. This could prove most illuminating. It would be a first, I daresay.

[zerosix]

"Pope: From Lourdes to Seoul, I entrust the world’s sick and suffering to Mary"

Too bad he didn't mention Jesus, who did heal the sick, raise the dead, gave sight to the blind, gave the power to walk to those who never were able, finally forgave sins, then died for all, rose again and lives today. Did Mary, as worthy as she was, in the sight of God, ever do that?