Pro-life, seeing the face of Christ in the sick

The World Day of the Sick that the Church celebrates every 11th of Pro-life month, February, gives us that signal that caring for the sick is an actualization of being pro-life. It is because Christ claims to be the life, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 4:16). In promulgating the World Day of the Sick, St. Pope John Paul II had in mind “of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind” (Letter Instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992, n. 3).

In his message on the first annual day of the sick, St. Pope John Paul II has this to inspire us:

“For you, health-care workers called to the highest, most meritorious and exemplary testimony of justice and love, may this Day be a renewed spur to continue in your delicate service with generous openness to the profound values of the person, to respect for human dignity, and to defence of life, from its beginning to its natural close.”

He further says, “For you, Pastors of the Christian people, and to all the different members of the Church community, for volunteers, and particularly for those engaged in the health-care ministry, may this World Day of the Sick offer stimulus and encouragement to go forward with fresh dedication on the way of service to tried, suffering humanity.”

May our pro-life month celebration lead us and many others to see the face of Christ in the sick.