On the occasion of Romanian Migrants’ Sunday (August 18), His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church delivered a heartfelt message emphasizing the sacred responsibility of caring for one’s health.
The Patriarch’s message, titled “Health is God’s Gift, and this gift must be guarded, cared for, and sanctified,” calls attention to the spiritual and physical well-being of individuals, particularly in a world where many find themselves distanced from their homeland and loved ones.
In his message, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the long-standing tradition within the Church of providing care for the sick as an essential aspect of the priestly ministry. He quoted the words of Jesus Christ to His disciples: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8), underscoring the divine mandate for clergy to offer both spiritual and physical healing to those in need.
Patriarch Daniel expressed concern over the challenges faced by many, particularly the elderly and those living far from home, who may experience isolation and a lack of adequate spiritual guidance. He noted that while advancements in medical care are beneficial, they must be complemented by emotional and spiritual support to truly aid in the healing process.
In his message, the Patriarch also acknowledged the sacrifices made by Romanians living abroad, thanking the clergy and faithful in the Diaspora for their steadfast commitment to Romanian identity and values. He urged all Romanians, especially those living far from their homeland, to remember that health is a divine gift that requires careful stewardship.
“With much parental love, we urge all Romanians living far from home not to forget that health is a gift from God, but this gift must be guarded, cared for, and sanctified,” Patriarch Daniel said. He encouraged those who have lost their health to seek healing with faith and hope, turning to God, the Mother of God, and the Unmercenary Saints for both spiritual and physical restoration.
The message, which resonates deeply with the experiences of Romanian migrants worldwide, reminds the Church of its role in offering comfort and care to those in physical or spiritual distress, regardless of where they may be.
As Romanian Migrants’ Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Patriarch’s words offer solace and encouragement to the faithful, emphasizing the importance of maintaining health as a sacred duty.
Please find the full text of Patriarch Daniel’s message on Romanian Migrants’ Sunday below.
Health is God’s Gift, and This Gift Must Be Guarded, Cared for, and Sanctified
Given the need for greater care for those suffering both spiritually and physically, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has declared 2024 as the “Solemn Year of Pastoral Care and Assistance of the Sick” and the “Commemorative Year of All Unmercenary Healers.”
In our world, people tend to retreat more and more into their individuality, focusing solely on themselves and their needs. However, the Church prays for all humanity, and especially for those who are suffering, for the sick, the poor, and orphans, following the command of our Saviour Jesus Christ to love our neighbour: “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
When illness becomes an integral part of life, suffering cannot be entirely eliminated, but it is our duty to care for those suffering.
Therefore, priestly ministry has always included the duty of clergy to care for the sick, fulfilling the command of the Lord Jesus Christ given to His disciples sent to preach: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
In contemporary society, pastoral care and assistance for the sick face various challenges for which we must find appropriate solutions. Old age, which is, of course, not synonymous with illness, is nonetheless a period of life where the fragility of the body exposes the elderly to physical suffering. Without proper spiritual guidance, this often leads to isolation and worsens the condition, as they fail to understand that physical suffering also encourages the search for spiritual health. Unfortunately, the increased mechanization of patient care, which is positive in itself, has led to their isolation.
On the other hand, daily life has become very complex, work rhythms have accelerated, and we no longer find time to visit the sick in the hospital or those alone and suffering at home. In addition to proper medical care, the sick need a corresponding spiritual comfort that no medical treatment can replace. Emotional support, compassion, understanding, and effective communication between the patient, their family, and medical staff are the main conditions for enhancing the healing of those suffering.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ, His Mother, and the Unmercenary Saints are the true healers of the sick, often inspiring the work of physicians who treat them.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit in the world, primarily through the Holy Mysteries, the servants of the Church continue the mission to which they were sent by Christ, healing and comforting the suffering of countless sick people.
We want this Sunday, dedicated to Romanians far from home, to be a day of gratitude and love, of fulfilment and joy alongside all loved ones, a day in which we thank the clergy and faithful in the Diaspora for their steadfastness in Romanian identity values and for their sacrificial service.
With much parental love, we urge all Romanians living far from home not to forget that health is a gift from God, but this gift must be guarded, cared for, and sanctified. And if we have lost it, we must seek it with much faith and hope, praying to God, the Mother of God, and the Unmercenary Saints to heal our souls from sins and our bodies from diseases.
With much respect and parental blessing.
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Basilica.ro Files / Mircea Florescu
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