MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS

FOR THE SICK, AGING

AND HOMEBOUND



spec

My dear friends:

Sickness, suffering, and dying remain an

inescapable part of life. To those without

faith they constitute the ''problem of evil

For centuries wise men and philosophers

have tried to find some reasonable explana-

tion for evil They have yet no satisfying

answer.

Christ, our Lord, though He wrote no book,

revealed the meaning of the mystery by suf-

fering Himself, and making pain part of His

new order of salvation. In His passion and

death on the Cross Christ made plain the

significance ofsickness and sorrow to all who

believe in Him. "I was sick, and you visited

me, '' He will say to each of us on judgment

day.

Thus, the sick person is no longer a mere

sinner, someone accursed and to be avoided,

but an image and sign of Jesus Christ,

Himself. In imitation of our divine Master

we take pity on all who suffer. In serving

the sick we know we serve Christ in His

suffering members. "Bear the ills of every-

one,'' St. Ignatius of Antioch tells us.

This is why Franciscan Mission Associates

has prepared this booklet of meditations and

prayers for the sick, the aging, the disabled,

and shut-ins. All of us, whatever our condi-

2



tion in life, share in building the city of God

that is to come. In that heavenly city the leaves

of the trees along the river of life will cure us

forever of all our mortal infirmities.

So please pray oftenfor the sick and the suffer-

ing, visit them, and encourage them to walk

worthy of their special vocation. Please induce

them not to waste their pain, but to offer it to

Godfor those of us who are struggling at home

and abroad to make Christ's message of salva-

tion known.

Father Bernard, 0,F,M.

Director

ilii

The Cover: The sea resumes its shapes
,

and keeps its form after it washes sandy

shores and dashes against its rocky ,

coasts. So, too, must our life accom-

modate itself to the pain and trouble

of sickness withouFlosing its identity,

or purpose. .

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\

FOR

THOSE TAKEN SICK

Reflection: How very few of us will ever

voluntarily choose any form of sickness or

suffering! When such a trial comes, you

must try to view it as a sign of God’s special

mercy. “Whom the Lord loves, He also

chastises.” If you accept God’s favors, must

you not accept sorrow from His hands, too?

Petition: Holy Job, patient prototype of

Christ, you remained as faithful to God in

affliction as you were in prosperity. Please

come to my aid now in this necessity, and

aid me to bless His holy name, as you did.

By God’s power may I be restored to my

former state as you were.

God's Word: We prove we are servants of

God by greaLfortitude in times of suffer-

ing. 2 Cor. 6:4

Practice: With bodily activity curtailed

you should be more ready in spirit to grow

closer to Christ. So make good use of this

short time of special grace.

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FOR THE DISABLED,
CONVALESCENTS, AND SHUT-INS

Reflection: Many hurry heedlessly past

hospitals and convalescent homes, intent on

their cares and business, with hardly a thought

to those suffering within. Your impairment

and confinement offers a heaven-sent chance

to re-evaluate and become fully aware of

life’s real meaning. Now is an acceptable
time to come to terms with God. It is never

too late or too soon to love Him.

Petition: Archangel Raphael, who cured

Tobias of his blindness and guided his son on

his journey, please intercede now for me,

and help all of us who suffer. Angel of light

and love, assist us now, heal our infirmities,

and implore God’s mercy on us.

God*s Word: We bear in our body the
sufferings of the death of Jesus so that the

life of Jesus also may be seen in our body.

2 Cor. 4:10

Practice: For those who love God all
things work together for good. Study and

pray how you may turn your present
situation to best advantage before God.

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I

FOR THOSE

CONFINED TO BED

Reflection: Ho^\^ time drags on leaden feet

when you are restricted to bed whether in a

hospital or at home! Yet, you have a work^

to do for Christ and with Him even when

you cannot move about. How many of those

who are healthy are heedless of Him!

Petition: Lord, Jesus Christ, you once said,

“Come to me all you who labor and are heavily

burdened. “ In your mercy assist me to draw

close to you now so as not to waste this moment

of pain and physical confinement.

God's Word: It makes me happy to suffer

for you, as I am suffering now, and in my
own body to make up all that still has to

be undergone by Christ for the sake of His

body, the Church. Col. 1:24

Practice: Trust today in God’s ever

watchful care of you since, as He told us,
“

not a sparrow falls from heaven without

His knowing of it.

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A Special Message to
those who suffer

“The pain of grief is just as much a

part of life as the joy of love; it is,

perhaps, the price we pay for love,

the cost of commitment.”

Colin Murray Parker

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FOR THOSE

WHO CANNOT EAT

Reflection: Nearly twothirds of the people .

in the world never get enough to eat while "

the other third buys diet pills because it eats

too much. Christ, our Lord, tells us, “I

have food to eat that you know nothing
about.”

Petition: Lord, Almighty, your help has

enabled many of your servants in affliction.

Please help me to make a virtue of my present

necessity. I implore your mercy that I may

nourish myself on your word and Chrisf

s

promises.

God*s Word: it is the spirit that gives life,

the flesh has nothing to offer. The words

I have spoken to you are spirit and they

are life. Jn 6:63

Practice: Since for your body’s sake you

must now fast, make of it a prayer that

your fasting may also be spiritually effec-

tive.

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FOR THOSE

UNABLE TO SLEEP

Reflection: As bad as any bodily pain is the

tired mind unable to renew and refresh itself

by sleep.' How slowly the night hours pass
for those weary of wakefulness! The Lord,

our God, never sleeps and watches always

over you. He is close by you if you turn to

Him in faith, and forget the cares and troubles

of the day.

Petition: Heavenly Father, your servant,

Joseph, protector of the Holy Family, often had

his sleep interrupted for your work. May his ex-

ample and fidelity help me now and all those

who need quiet, repose, and restful sleep that

we may awaken refreshed in body and spirit.

God's Word: in peace I lie down, and fall

asleep at once, since you alone, God, make

my rest secure. Ps. 4:8

Practice: if He comes unexpectedly. He

must not find you asleep. And what I say

toyou, Isay to all. Stay Awake! Mk 13:37

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FOR THE

AGED AND INFIRM

Reflection: As you grow older, how much

faster time seems to fly! You wonder,

“Where have our years gone?” However old .

and infirm you may become, you can truly

remain young at heart. The Lord renews

our youth like the eagle’s.

Petition: Remain with me, Lord God, in my

old age and growing infirmity. Please comfort

me when lonely and depressed. Teach me to re-

main ever young in heart and hope that you

will restore the vigor of youth in the joy of your

kingdom.

God's Word: My soul thirsts for God, the

God of life. W^en shall I go to see the

face of God? Ps 42:2

Practice: Let us imitate each day the

example of St. Paul for whom, as he said,

“to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

While you live, God still has a work,

however humble, for you to do for Him.

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“Christ is the only master; Christ is

the only book, the book that contains

all divine wisdom. My book should be

Jesus Christ on the Cross: a book en-

tirely written with His precious blood

that is the price of my soul, and the

redemption of the world. The five

chapters of this book are the five

sacred wounds. I want to study this

one book alone, and other books only

as they comment on it."

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FOR THE *
-T

MENTALLY AFFLICTED !

Reflection: We live in troubled times, an

age of great anxiety. All of us are affected ^

subtly by the climate of our age. You must :

try to learn emotionally as well as intellect-

ually that God is truly very close to each of -

us. His peace He offers you in a way the

world never can.

Petition: You are, O God, my rock and my
fortress. Please grant me and all who are af-

flicted mentally and emotionally the peace

Christ promised. Even as you comforted Jonah

and Jeremiah, your prophets, be with us now.

In your goodness help us to put all our confi-

dence in Christ’s love and care of us.

God's Word: Why so downcast, my soul,
why do you sigh within me? Put your

hope in God. I shall praise Him yet, my
savior, my God, when my soul is down-,
cast. Ps 42:5-6

Practice: Remain always aware of the
^

presence of God in His creation, in all

whom you meet, and within yourself.

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FOR THOSE

IN GREAT PAIN

Reflection: Christ, our Lord, learned to say

the psalms at His mother’s knee in Nazareth.

As He hung in His agony on the cross for

love of us, the same prayers sprung spon-

taneously to His lips. In your moment of

pain you become one with the suffering

Christ.

Petition: Father in heaven, faith in Christ has

restored many to health. Send your Holy Spirit

to comfort me even as you strengthened your

Son, our Lord, in the garden at Gethsemane.

Help me to seek your aid in your Son’s own

prayer, “My God, why have you forsaken

me?’’

God’s From thei depths, I call’to'

you,^^God; HistenJ^^^ to my ^ry for l>
help! Listen^tco'mpassionately To fmy T
pleading:^rPsM30:

Practice:

mm

MM

Wy

God "knows how difficult it is^^
to be patient while in pain. Christ learned r

this lesson as He wasmailedTo'^His cross.

That is^.why you can be sure HeVill hear
'

younow.^’"^'

' '

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FOR DOCTORS,

NURSES, AND ALL

WHO TEND THE SICK

Reflection: We all depend on one another
^

greatly. This truth you may forget when you

are well. The vocation of doctors, nurses,

and all who care for the sick is often trying.

Remember to pray for your doctors and

nurses. Be grateful to God when you are

cured, but be sure also to thank the doctors,

too.

Petition: By your mercy, Lord of life, assist

all doctors, nurses, and all who tend the sick to
|

heal my bodily ills. May your Son, the divine I

physician, heal me spiritually as well, and assist

all in poor health.
|

God*s Word: It is not the healthy who

need the doctor, but the sick. I did not

come to call the virtuous but sinners.

Mk 2:17

Practice: The more we think of the needs

of those around us, the less time we have

to brood about ourselves. Doctors and

nurses are human enough to appreciate a

brave smile, and a kind, cheery word.

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•:i3U05H|

A TIME OF TROUBLE

At one tinne or another affliction fornns part

of everyone's life. Then, we can either make

of the moment of pain a golden opportunity,

or waste it. Three points may help us face

the challenge of suffering:

1. Since Christ our Lord suffered and died

for us voluntarily, pain still hurts but now

it is suffused with new meaning. Love trans-

forms the bitterness. So St. Peter assures us,

"If you can have some share in the suffering

of Christ, be glad."

2. To accept sickness with all its conse-

quences requires a firm act of will and God's

assisting grace. Then, we use pain as a

penance for our sins and for others.

3. When we join our cross to Christ's,

our illness takes us out of ourselves and adds

a universal value to our private trial.

May you in sorrow show Christian courage,

and cheerfully use your weakness to make

the strength of God's grace manifest.

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fS”»:“

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716-323

OSBORr

Franciscan Mission Associates

250 West Lincoln Avenue

Mount Vernon, N. Y. 10550

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