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Fifth Sunday of the Year
4 February 2007
Dear Friends in Christ,
Saint Camillus de Lellis was a young foot soldier in the Venetian army when an injury cut short his military career. He decided then to become a soldier for the LORD and to take care of all of the sick people he could, and he even founded a religious order, the Clerics Regular Ministers of the Sick, to care for the sick. Not everyone was enthused about his efforts, and many people tried to prevent him from ministering to the sick and dying. Camillus was so discouraged that he went into the Church of La Maddalena in Rome and poured out his fears in front of the Crucifix. Jesus actually detached himself from the Cross and hugged his young servant, saying, “Take courage, faint-hearted one. Continue the work you have begun. I will be with you because it is My work.”
Is any among you sick? Let him send for the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing them with oil in the name of the LORD (James 5.14). Next Sunday, 11 February, is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. Pope Benedict XVI, in his message for this year’s celebration, has written, “I ask ecclesial communities throughout the world, and particularly those dedicated to the service of the infirm, to continue, with the help of Mary, to bear effective witness to the loving concern of God our Father.” Next Sunday, at 3.30pm we will have in the church a celebration of prayer for the sick. You don’t have to be physically sick to come; anyone is welcome, especially those caregivers who are in need of prayer and God’s comfort. Let us surround the sick and the suffering of our parish with our most fervent prayers.
At the conclusion of the service, we will offer for those who truly need it, the anointing of the sick. In order to be validly received, however, the person requesting it must be gravely ill, preparing for surgery, or advanced in age. The clergy of St Mary’s will confer the sacrament on those persons, and request that all present pray for their health. The Mother of God is often invoked as Salus Infirmorum, Health of the Sick. Even if you can’t make it to church on Sunday afternoon, then don’t forget all of the infirm and dying in our parish family when you say your Rosary!
In Jesus and Mary,
Father Christopher