MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, DEC 3, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was a message by the Holy Father for the World Day of the Sick which will take place on February 11 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes where the Virgin appeared on the same day in 1858.

'This shrine was chosen,' writes the Pope in the message dated December 1st, 'because in 2004 the 150(th) anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated.'

The Pope emphasizes that with the Immaculate Conception of Mary 'began the great work of redemption, carried out with the precious blood of Christ. ' If Jesus is the font of life that conquers death, Mary is the careful mother who strives to meet the needs of her children, obtaining for them health in body and soul. This is the message that the Shrine of Lourdes constantly proposes to pilgrims and those who are devoted. This is also the meaning of the spiritual and bodily miracles that are registered in the grotto of Massabielle.'

'The miracle of the Immaculate Conception,' he continues, 'reminds believers of a fundamental truth: it is possible to be saved only by participating docilely in the plan of the Father who wanted to redeem the world through the death and resurrection of His only son. ' Although present in earthly life, illness and death, nevertheless, lose their negative sense. In the light of faith, the death of the body, overcome by Christ's death, becomes the necessary passage to the fullness of immortal life.'

After emphasizing that life 'must be accepted, respected and defended from its beginning to its natural end,' John Paul II says: 'Nowadays we talk about 'genetic engineering' when referring to the extraordinary possibilities that science today offers to intervene in the sources of life. All authentic progress in this field must be encouraged as long as the rights and dignity of the person from conception are respected. No one has the right to destroy or indiscriminately manipulate human life.'

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