In 1858, the Blessed Mary made a series of appearances from February to July in and around Lourdes, France. Every year, the solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes is also celebrated universally as World Day of the Sick, which was instituted by Pope John Paul II
The Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Lourdes today, on the anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a teenage peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous. In 1858, the Blessed Mary made a series of 18 appearances from February to July in and around Lourdes, France. Every year, the solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes is also celebrated universally as World Day of the Sick, which was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992 to encourage the Church to come together and pray fervently for those who are struggling with sickness and for those who work to alleviate their suffering. After being struck with Alzheimer’s disease in 1991, the Pope established the World Day of the Sick a year after he was cured of the same. It is also reported that thousands of people with serious medical conditions have been cured through pilgrimage, prayer, and drinking the water flowing from a spring at the Marian Sanctuary at Lourdes. Since 1862, from more than 6800 cases of miraculous healing, 69 cases have been declared scientifically inexplicable miracles. These testimonies prompted the Pope to set aside this day for prayers for the sick.
Catholic churches around the world celebrate a Mass of the Anointing of the Sick wherein not only those who suffer from physical sickness but also from emotional or mental illness are anointed. This also includes those who have recovered from COVID-19 illness but are still having psychological issues. Each year a theme is chosen, which usually revolves around a passage of scripture from the Bible. On the 30th edition of the World Day of the Sick in 2022, the celebration will take place in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican, and the theme is: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
The above theme follows Jesus’ revolutionary call to love every person as a brother or sister, irrespective of being a foe or friend, because we belong to one Father. This is the mercy of God that reaches out personally to every human being, with all their weaknesses. In fact, God prefers those who are marginalised and rejected. Mercy is a love that fills the heart and flows out to others, to neighbours as well as strangers, and to society around us in all circumstances. Since we are children of God, we can imitate his characteristics of love and acceptance towards the sick.
There are a few churches in Goa where the Lourdes Saibinichem fest is celebrated today. It is a celebration with pomp at Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Igreja in Valpoi. In 1887, a chapel was built which was affiliated with the Sanquelim parish. The Chapel was made into a separate parish in July 1889. From 1966 till 1973, the Valpoi parish was handled by a diocesan priest, who took the initiative to build a church in 1968; it was handed over to the Goa diocese in 1974.
The Utorda parish has a church dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Igreja which was originally a chapel built in 1892. It was elevated to a church on October 30, 1894. The patroness feast is celebrated every year on November 14. In Quepem, the feast is celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ambaulim, on January 30. It was a primitive chapel built in 1913, which was raised to the status of a church in 1956. With a growing Catholic population, the new and more spacious church dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Lourdes was erected and blessed in December 1997.
At Odxel, Taleigão, the feast is celebrated at the chapel of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes which is situated on the banks of the Zuari river. It was constructed by Fr Querobino Martins of Taleigão in November 1891. The chapel and the adjoining property have been donated to the Salesians of Don Bosco since time immemorial. People from Cacra and Taleigão participate in the novenas and the feast which is celebrated on February 11 every year. The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is also celebrated with pomp and gaiety at Cansa-Tivim, Ambelim-Assolna, Santa Inez and other villages in Goa. There are also grottos in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes built in the compound of many churches and houses. Let us invoke Our Lady of Lourdes for blessings and pray for a cure for all diseases, including SARS-CoV-2.
