“Next best thing to Lourdes”
More than 600 people, primarily the sick and their caregivers, gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral Feb. 7 for a Mass commemorating the World Day of the Sick.
Archbishop George H. Niederauer celebrated, with former San Francisco Archbishop John R. Quinn and more than a dozen priests concelebrating.
The liturgy was sponsored by the Order of Malta, which hosted similar rites in the dioceses of Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle, Orange and Phoenix. More than 80 Knights and Dames of Malta were on hand to assist at the San Francisco Mass.
The sick and their caregivers gathered in response to Archbishop Niederauer's request to receive the Sacrament of the Sick and the blessing of the caregivers' hands. The Mass also prayed for the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.
"The looks on the faces of the sick as they receive the Sacrament of the Sick are just like the looks on the faces of the sick in Lourdes," said William Regan, president of the Western States region of the Order of Malta and a parishioner of St. Bartholomew Parish in San Mateo, recalling his 15 pilgrimages to the shrine.
Regan coordinated the event with Randy DeVoto, president of the San Francisco Malta chapter and a parishioner of St. Anselm Parish in Ross. Mary O'Brien, a Dame of Malta and a member of St. Cecilia Parish, served as event chair.
The Mass is "next best thing to Lourdes" for the sick and "Lourdes without jetlag," O'Brien said.
"Nothing can replace a trip to Lourdes," she said. "However, most people will never have the opportunity to travel to Lourdes."
The Mass, she said, is hoped "to lighten the burden of illness" and "acknowledge the special role of the caregivers."
Regan, in comments in anticipation of the day, said the Order of Malta for the last 900 years has devoted itself to serving the poor and the sick. "Last year in the West our 763 members provided more than 50,000 hours of hands-on service to the poor and sick," he said.
In the spirit of the liturgy and the day, Archbishop Niederauer stressed in his homily humanity's responsibility to help one another and to not mistreat one another.
"Jesus heals and strengthens us through the prayerful, caring and loving ministry of one another, especially our families and friends," the Archbishop exhorted, noting that as we persecute others, we must remember that we persecute Christ.
Archbishop Niederauer also encouraged taking ownership of the "Magnificat," saying it is a "dreadful mistake for us to merely label this as 'Mary's Prayer.'"
"Mary's prayer is also our prayer - your prayer and mine. Indeed, the Catholic Church puts this prayer on our lips, at evening time every day of the year. Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord, our spirits rejoice in God our Savior."
By Tom Burke
From February 13, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
