Introduction: People around the world take the time to pray for the sick and for those who work very hard to alleviate the sufferings of the sick on this day. Faith organisations mark this day especially to provide the sick with medicines, food, and spiritual guidance. Pope John Paul II initiated the day in 1992 to encourage people to pray for those who suffer from illness and for their caregivers. The Pope himself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year before, in 1991, and it is considered that his own illness was impetus for his designation of the day. World Day of the Sick was first observed on February 11, 1993. February 11 is also the Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which a name is given to the Virgin Mary in honour of the apparitions that were said to have been seen in and around Lourdes, France, by a young girl called Bernadette Soubirous. The Church canonised Bernadette as a saint several years later.
Jesus Healed the Sick: Healing the sick, especially strangers as Jesus did, is a supreme at of compassion. Seeking nothing in return, you are following the example to be therapeutic. There are many forms of sickness. People suffer from emotional and psychological as well as physical illness. You can literally get sick, for example, from worry over losing a job, filing for bankruptcy or having difficulties in your marriage. These three areas of life, your career, finances and relationships, are psychological anchors. If any one of these areas is not healthy, like a disease, you can get mentally ill and physically sick. When Jesus cast out demons, for example, he was healing a psychological wound. There are many forms of demons. You don’t have to become a psychotherapist to heal emotional or psychological pain. Just being a friend, listening to and including others in your activities, is healing. When the mind is healthy, the body follows accordingly. Friendship plus time is best medicine. Healing the sick is a success secret because when you help others heal, you enrich yourself. You sow seeds of compassion and reap goodwill. Because life has its ups and downs, you may find yourself in need of healing someday. And if that day comes, God forbid, you can measure your success by the amount of friends you have.