Palma lauds healing ministry, urges sick people to offer illness to God

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday lauded those involved in the ministry of healing and urged those with sickness to offer their illness to the Lord.

In his homily during a Mass celebrating the World Day of the Sick at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Palma quoted Pope Francis in his pastoral letter which highlighted the noble contribution of the people in helping the sick.

“What a beautiful ministry it is when you work for the sick. It is a beautiful experience,” Palma shared.

The reality of sickness, he added, is resulted by age, heredity, lifestyle, pressure from work, and other circumstances.

“If we offer our sickness to the Lord, like the suffering of the Lord which is undeserved, it becomes a source of grace and salvation. There are holy people who prayed for suffering for the sake of others. Padre Pio, Saint Rita. They feel privileged for the benefit of others. Salvific experience. But, let us not pray for pain if we are not ready for it,” Palma explained, borrowing the teachings of the late pope and now Saint John Paull II.

Saint John Paul II declared February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in remembrance of the apparition in 1858.

“We thank Mama Mary sa iyang mga hangyo for the sick. Prayers, sacrifices, services. We also thank thousands of people who have visited the Lourdes shrine. I realized daghan tawo grateful for Lourdes. Beyond physical, there is moral and spiritual healing,” Palma said.

A solemn benediction of the Holy Eucharist was done inside the cathedral in lieu of the closing prayers. — (FREEMAN)