Pope:
Hidden heroism of families caring for the sick
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the
family on Wednesday at his weekly General Audience, focusing on the issue of
sickness in the family.
Illness is an issue
that affects everyone, Pope Francis said, and when someone in our family is
sick, we feel it even more deeply. It is harder for a mother or a father to see
their child fall ill than to be sick themselves. And often it is the family
that must take the lead in caring for one another.
The Holy Father spoke
about the many times Jesus healed people in the Gospel. The Lord never passed
people by, but was always close to them. And Jesus always put healing first –
healing took priority over the law, even as important and holy a law as the
Sabbath rest.
Later, Jesus sent His
disciples to do the same works He Himself had accomplished, giving them the
power to heal – that is, the Pope said, the ability to be close to the sick,
and to care for them to end. It is our duty as Christ’s disciples to help the
sick, to console them and lift them up, and to be close to them.
The Church, too, Pope
Francis said, invites us to pray continually for those who are ill. “Prayer for
the sick must never be lacking! Rather, we must pray more, both personally and
as a community.”
Although sickness
gives rise to many difficulties, even in good families, in general it can be a
moment of grace that makes family bonds grow even stronger. Pope Francis
emphasized the importance of teaching children, even from a very young age, to
be close to those who are sick. Without this compassion and sympathy for
others, he warned, we risk becoming “anesthetized,” and unable to deal with our
own suffering. He praised the care and compassion of family members for those
who are sick. “These things are heroic, they are the heroism of the family!” he
said.
Pope Francis concluded
by noting that Christian families know they are never alone in times of
sickness. “We must give thanks to the Lord for those beautiful experiences of
fraternity in the Church that helps families to get through difficult moments
of sorrow and suffering.” This Christian closeness, he said, “from one family
to another, is a true treasure for the parish: a treasure of witness, which
helps families in difficult moments, and makes them understand better the
Kingdom of God… These are the caresses of God.”
Below,
please find the English language summary of the Pope’s catechesis during
Wednesday’s General Audience:
Today we consider one
of the conditions common to all families, namely, illness. Many times in
the Gospels Jesus meets the sick and heals them. His desire to cure
suffering is a central part of his ministry, coming even before observance of
the law. He sends his disciples to do the same, giving them the power to
heal, and to draw close to the sick, touching their deepest wounds and bringing
them peace. The illness of one person can be a severe trial for all
family members. As followers of Christ, we are called to pray without
ceasing for the sick and dying, and to support families where this is being
experienced. So too we must educate children to solidarity with the sick
so that they are not anesthetized to the sufferings of others, but rather are
capable of helping the ill and of living fully each human experience. May
we always give thanks to the Lord for the support of the Church shown to
families in times of illness, especially between families themselves.
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