July 17, 2026, will mark 40 years since I heard the doctor say those words which changed the trajectory of my life forever. I was diagnosed with testicular cancer late in the afternoon, admitted into the hospital, and scheduled for surgery the next morning. In a 24-hour timespan, life changed dramatically.
My experience through a lifetime of health struggles has given me a deep appreciation for the fragile nature of life. Every breath I take, and every beat of my heart is truly a gift from God. That realization has definitely impacted my approach to life.
Those who suffer have a special place in my heart. I know what it is to hurt. It is not just the pain, but it is so much more. There is a disruption to the daily routine of life. There is uncertainty about the eventual outcome. Will treatment be effective, or will the disease conquer all efforts to heal? Prolonged illness wears out the caregivers and loved ones who take on additional tasks to keep things going in the midst of the chaos. There are financial costs. On and on the list could go.
Pope Saint John Paul II declared the feast day of Our lady of Lourdes on February 11, to be World Day of the Sick. Obviously, there is a deep connection between the miraculous healings at Lourdes and the desire to pray for all the sick on this particular feast day. It has been somewhat disappointing to me to see that the World Day of the Sick has never really gained much traction.
The Catholic Health Association of the United States has some astounding statistics listed on their website. It clearly demonstrates the potential for making the World Day of the Sick an impactful annual endeavor to truly touch the hearts and lives of God’s people who are hurting by lifting them up in prayer and offering some tangible and practical help to reduce their burden even if only for a brief moment in time. There are some real opportunities to live out both the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy in caring for the needs of the sick.
It appears that every state has a Catholic hospital except for Wyoming. Urban areas have 74% of the Catholic hospitals while 26% are located in rural areas. Every day, more than 1 in 7 patients are being cared for in a Catholic hospital. The 659 Catholic hospitals employ 497,697 full-time employees and 219,808 part-time employees. There are 1,520 Continuing Care Facilities in the Catholic system as well. The CHUSA website states that there were nearly 4.5 million admissions to Catholic hospitals during a one-year period and 921,405 Medicaid discharges.
Why do I share this with you? I am asking you to “Lend A Hand” in making the World Day of the Sick more than a designation on a Catholic calendar. Let’s join together and make it an annual event that has dramatic impact on the lives of God’s hurting people from both a spiritual and corporal vantage point. Pray for the sick. Pray with the sick. Cook a meal. Cut the grass for them. Shovel the snow. Find some way to serve them. Share in the healing ministry of Christ.
February 11, 2026–Our Lady of Lourdes–World Day of the Sick
