FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES - WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK..........

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes we commemorate today, is linked to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception which was infallibly proclaimed as a truth of our Catholic-Christianity in 1854, by Pope Pius IX. The visionary, St. Bernadette, who received an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France in 1858, said the Virgin proclaimed herself, "The Immaculate Conception". The teaching of the Immaculate Conception decrees their was no stain of sin involved in the birth of the child Jesus as Mary was preserved from Original Sin from the moment of her own conception. The dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are the only two Catholic teachings to be papally promulgated infallibly in the history of the Church. And the official dogma in each of the two instances was preceded by many centuries of belief and practice by the faithful in the truth of these teachings, which is called, "sensus fidelium". So as we observe the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, we not only remember the history of this commemoration and the intercession of the Blessed Mother, but we join our faith belief to that of Catholic-Christians through the ages.....Since 1992, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes has been designated by the late Pope John Paul II, as World Day of Prayer For The Sick. We are asked on this day to include, "a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church". We are encouraged to do this to remind ourselves, "to see in our sick brothers and sisters the face of Christ, who by suffering, dying, and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind". ( from the Letter Instituting World Day of the Sick, May 13, 1992) From my own struggle with health problems the past 5-8 years, I know the generosity and power of prayers offered by others for my healing and recovery. Family, friends, and fellow believers, in Sacramento and throughout the Diocese and in Ireland, have faithfully offered prayers for my surgeries, treatments, and the transplant, I have undergone since May 2002, due to my diabetes and kidney failure. The parishes where I served and lived were especially generous in their prayers and support. And in one instance, a woman began daily prayers at Mass for me eight years ago learning of my health problems from a mutual friend. She continued those prayers for four years before she met me in 2006, when I was assigned to Presentation Parish in Arden-Arcade, where she is a parishioner. Mary Hopkins is her name, and she has continued praying for and supporting me, as have so MANY others !!!!!!!!!! On this World Day of Prayer For The Sick, I thank and pray for all who have strengthened and sustained me by their prayers. Know that I think and pray for you everyday in thanksgiving for your spiritual and temporal support. Let us today and everyday share prayers and support for the sick, suffering, ill, infirm, diseased, disabled, marginalized, or alienated, who need healing, grace, strength, and sustenance. Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes, may we come to more fully experience the healing and wholeness of salvation the Immaculate Conception made possible in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus the Christ..........
Peace + Prayers in Our Healing and Loving God, Fr. Troy David Powers
Happy Birthday to Rev. Msgr. EDWARD J. KAVANAGH, who is 85 Years young today.