World Day of the Sick
11 February 2008
The World Day of the Sick is celebrated today on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes. The Clifton Diocese Health Care Advisor, Father Cavan McElligott, writes on this important day.
A healthy body will provide a healthy mind - so the adage goes. There has never been a time when the subject of health has taken up as much time and space in government, the media and probably in general conversation as it does now. And this is no bad thing.
The health of a nation is a matter of serious concern for all - especially the government. A healthy working population means the country can be both productive and constructive in terms of finance and infrastructure, in all its forms. None of this though, will have the impact it needs to have, if it is devoid of good humanitarian principles founded on the bedrock of spiritual and moral conviction.
As Christians, we are only too aware of the healing ministry of Jesus. His words and healing touch were given freely, without any charge to pay or demands levied. The only request made, was that we turn away from sin. To be healed by Christ is to be liberated from something which holds us back as people. We do not want to be enslaved and sin does that. In freedom from disease, we seek wholeness of body and spirit. In freedom from sin, we are made whole in body and soul.
On this World Day of the Sick, we are made conscious of our Christian commitment to those who are either sick or suffering from some form of disability. We join with them in a ‘union of hospitality’ which says that the rights of the sick and the disabled are not simply to have access to facilities, but that their rights as human beings, created in the likeness of God, are essential to the wellbeing of the nation and the wider world.
This year, the Church in England and Wales will hold a major conference at St Mary's University College, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. It will focus on healthcare issues and runs from 26 to 29 June.
I am pleased to say the Clifton Diocese will be playing a significant part in this conference. The conference is very much a part of the Church’s contribution to the diamond jubilee of the NHS in Britain. Our diocese will also be playing its part in the NHS Confederation meeting for England at Manchester from 3 to 5 July.
The Church has always taken its role of caring fro the sick with great seriousness. This will never end. We pray that today we will, through God's good grace, always be responsive to Christ's healing ministry and see clearly our part within it.
The Pope’s message for the World Day of the Sick is available from the Vatican's website.
Father Cavan McElligott
Clifton Diocese Health Care Advisor
Don't miss any of our podcasts. Subscribe to Clifton Diocese podcasts with iTunes.
The World Day of the Sick is celebrated today on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes. The Clifton Diocese Health Care Advisor, Father Cavan McElligott, writes on this important day.
A healthy body will provide a healthy mind - so the adage goes. There has never been a time when the subject of health has taken up as much time and space in government, the media and probably in general conversation as it does now. And this is no bad thing.
The health of a nation is a matter of serious concern for all - especially the government. A healthy working population means the country can be both productive and constructive in terms of finance and infrastructure, in all its forms. None of this though, will have the impact it needs to have, if it is devoid of good humanitarian principles founded on the bedrock of spiritual and moral conviction.
As Christians, we are only too aware of the healing ministry of Jesus. His words and healing touch were given freely, without any charge to pay or demands levied. The only request made, was that we turn away from sin. To be healed by Christ is to be liberated from something which holds us back as people. We do not want to be enslaved and sin does that. In freedom from disease, we seek wholeness of body and spirit. In freedom from sin, we are made whole in body and soul.
On this World Day of the Sick, we are made conscious of our Christian commitment to those who are either sick or suffering from some form of disability. We join with them in a ‘union of hospitality’ which says that the rights of the sick and the disabled are not simply to have access to facilities, but that their rights as human beings, created in the likeness of God, are essential to the wellbeing of the nation and the wider world.
This year, the Church in England and Wales will hold a major conference at St Mary's University College, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. It will focus on healthcare issues and runs from 26 to 29 June.
I am pleased to say the Clifton Diocese will be playing a significant part in this conference. The conference is very much a part of the Church’s contribution to the diamond jubilee of the NHS in Britain. Our diocese will also be playing its part in the NHS Confederation meeting for England at Manchester from 3 to 5 July.
The Church has always taken its role of caring fro the sick with great seriousness. This will never end. We pray that today we will, through God's good grace, always be responsive to Christ's healing ministry and see clearly our part within it.
The Pope’s message for the World Day of the Sick is available from the Vatican's website.
Father Cavan McElligott
Clifton Diocese Health Care Advisor
Don't miss any of our podcasts. Subscribe to Clifton Diocese podcasts with iTunes.
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