World Day of the Sick is marked in institutions and communities from all over the world on February 11.
The observance of this day aims to raise awareness in society of the need to support the sick and their carers. One way to support them is to pray for them.
Spiritual and charitable events can be organised on this occasion in hospitals, in other care institutions or – why not? – in the homes of the sick or the disabled.
For the faithful, World Day of the Sick is another opportunity to offer prayers for those who are suffering.
“The servants of the Church are called to offer to the sick what the family and state institutions offer less today: healing of the soul, which facilitates the healing of the body”, transmits Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church in his message for this year’s World Day of the Sick.
“In a world where humans increasingly isolate themselves within their individualities, seeing only themselves and their needs, the Church prays for the whole of humanity and especially for those who suffer.”
“Concern for people’s health – both spiritual and physical – has always been a preoccupation of the Church. From the Orthodox perspective, however, maintaining physical health detached from spiritual health is not an unconditional value,” adds the Patriarch of Romania.
The year 2024 has been declared the Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of the Sick in the Romanian Patriarchate. In the context of this year, Romanian Orthodox communities carry out numerous activities to raise awareness and support for the sick
Pope John Paul II initiated the day in 1992, placing it under the patronage of the Mother of God.
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Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
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