Pope Francis in Fatima: a meeting reserved for the sick

by Angelo Forti

At the end of the Mass, separated due to possible inclemency of the weather, Pope Francis wished to have a special meeting with the sick and before giving them the Eucharistic blessing, the Pope addressed the sick directly, repeating the question that Mary had asked to Jacinta and Francesco, who shortly before, during the Holy Mass, had been proclaimed saints, therefore imitable models of holiness: «Do you want to offer yourselves to God?».

The pope, looking the sick in the eyes, reminded them of what Jesus did: «He took our suffering upon himself, he knows what pain means, he understands us, consoles us and gives us strength. As he did with Francis and Jacinta, but also with the apostle Peter imprisoned in Jerusalem while the whole Church prayed for him."

The mystery of the Church is all here. «The Church – explained the Pope – asks the Lord to console the afflicted like you and He consoles you, even secretly; he consoles you in the intimacy of his heart and consoles you with fortitude."

«Jesus – continued the Pope – is hidden, but he is present in the Eucharist, just as he is hidden and present in the wounds of our sick and suffering brothers and sisters, because on the altar we adore the flesh of Jesus, and in these brothers we we find the wounds of Jesus themselves."

The Virgin's question to the shepherd children still resonates: "Do you want to offer yourselves to God?". And their response is contained in their own life, "lived with all that it had of joy and suffering, in an attitude of offering to the Lord, it is an example to imitate".

And so the Pope asks the sick to live their lives as a gift, to offer themselves to God with all their heart, avoiding feeling "only recipients of charitable solidarity, but full participants in the life and mission of the Church. Your silent presence – concluded the Pope – is more eloquent than many words, your prayer, the daily offering of your sufferings in union with those of Jesus crucified for the salvation of the world, the patient and even joyful acceptance of your condition they are a spiritual resource, a heritage for every Christian community."

For this reason, the sick must not "be ashamed of being a precious treasure of the Church, because Jesus will pass near you in the Blessed Sacrament to show you his closeness and his love".