Sing4Him
September 16th, 2008, 10:26 PM
Turn to Mary for comfort, Pope tells sick
Pontiff says euthanasia, assisted suicide not an option for the suffering, their families
Peter O'Neil, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008
LOURDES, France - The dense crowds were parted yesterday to allow a procession of people in wheelchairs and on stretchers into a special mass before Pope Benedict XVI.
It was a day when severely sick and disabled people were treated like film stars on Oscar night.
Police made sure the healthy pilgrims in Lourdes, the "miracle town," were kept farther back and behind fencesPope Benedict, who has placed less emphasis on the Virgin Mary's perceived healing powers than his predecessor, John Paul II, emphasized that the pilgrimage to Lourdes is an experience that leads primarily to spiritual rather than physical healing.
He likened the world's suffering to Jesus Christ being "tortured" before dying in front of Mary's painful gaze.
"Mary loves each of her children, giving particular attention to those who, like her son at the hour of his passion, are prey to suffering," the pontiff said shortly before returning to the Vatican and ending his four-day visit to France.
The Pope used his homily to touch one of the hot-button moral issues in society, saying the desperately sick and disabled, and their families, must not consider euthanasia or assisted suicide.
"To those who suffer and to those who struggle and are tempted to turn their backs on life: turn towards Mary."
He urged the thousand ....
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=4c6ac594-3273-48ce-98e3-1ca452943357
:tsk:tsk:ohno:tsk
Pontiff says euthanasia, assisted suicide not an option for the suffering, their families
Peter O'Neil, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008
LOURDES, France - The dense crowds were parted yesterday to allow a procession of people in wheelchairs and on stretchers into a special mass before Pope Benedict XVI.
It was a day when severely sick and disabled people were treated like film stars on Oscar night.
Police made sure the healthy pilgrims in Lourdes, the "miracle town," were kept farther back and behind fencesPope Benedict, who has placed less emphasis on the Virgin Mary's perceived healing powers than his predecessor, John Paul II, emphasized that the pilgrimage to Lourdes is an experience that leads primarily to spiritual rather than physical healing.
He likened the world's suffering to Jesus Christ being "tortured" before dying in front of Mary's painful gaze.
"Mary loves each of her children, giving particular attention to those who, like her son at the hour of his passion, are prey to suffering," the pontiff said shortly before returning to the Vatican and ending his four-day visit to France.
The Pope used his homily to touch one of the hot-button moral issues in society, saying the desperately sick and disabled, and their families, must not consider euthanasia or assisted suicide.
"To those who suffer and to those who struggle and are tempted to turn their backs on life: turn towards Mary."
He urged the thousand ....
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=4c6ac594-3273-48ce-98e3-1ca452943357
:tsk:tsk:ohno:tsk