(Jan. 19, 2008) “The Eucharist, Lourdes and the Pastoral Care of the Sick” is the
theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for this year’s World Day Of the Sick. The Vatican
on Saturday released the Pope’s message for the Catholic Church’s annual day observed
on Feb. 11. Instituted in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, the World Day of the Sick is
celebrated each year on 11 February, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In his message,
Pope Benedict draws attention to the Eucharist and Lourdes because of two important
events in the life of the Church this year, namely, the 150th anniversary the Marian
apparitions in Lourdes, France, and the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec,
Canada, in June. In his message the Pope says that these two events offer us a special
opportunity to examine the close link between the Eucharistic mystery, the role of
Mary in the salvific plan of God and the reality of human pain and suffering. The
Pope recalls Mary’s total abandonment to the will of God from the Annunciation to
conceiving Him in her womb right up to His death on Calvary. The Pope says, ‘one
cannot contemplate Mary without being attracted to Christ and one cannot look up to
Christ without ignoring the presence of Mary.” “We particularly realize this indelible
bond between the Mother and Son in a mysterious way in the sacrament of the Eucharist,”
the Pope says. “In this perspective,” he continues, “one can understand all the
more why at the grotto of Lourdes, besides the devotion to the Virgin Mary, there
is a strong call to Eucharistic celebrations, adoration and the blessing of the Sick.”
The presence of numerous sick pilgrims and their volunteers in Lourdes, the Pope says,
helps us to reflect on the maternal and tender concern that the Virgin has for man’s
pain and suffering.