Vietnamese Catholics celebrate the Day of the Sick at the shrine of Tapao
by Trung Tin
Over ten thousand pilgrims from around the country gather at the shrine to celebrate the Day called for by the Church. Father Jean Baptiste Hoang Van Khanh: "The Word of God helps us to cope with the disease. We'll never be alone, if we believe in the love of God. "
Phan Thiet (AsiaNews) - More than ten thousand pilgrims visited the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Tapao, in the diocese of Phan Thiet on 11 February, to celebrate with a solemn liturgy the World Day of the Sick and pray for the sick and disabled. Vietnamese Catholics have a great devotion to Mary. In the early days of the Year of the Dragon, many pilgrims from different parts of Vietnam gathered in Tapao, accompanying sick and disabled and elderly people who have gathered around the shrine of the Virgin to ask God's blessing for the new lunar year.
Ms Mai, who pushed his mother of 74 in a wheelchair, told AsiaNews: "We had wanted to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Tapao for a long time. My mother can not enter the church, but from the square we can recite the rosary and pray to the Virgin Mary. "
Mr. Phu, 67, who lives in Ca Mau said: "My wife and I have long wanted to visit the shrine, but there were no conditions to do so. However, today we participated in the Mass for the sick at the shrine of Our Lady of Tapao. We prayed to God and to Our Lady that we may be healed, spiritually and physically. " Many patients and their relatives wept as they listened to the prayers of the priest celebrating the Mass and asked Our Lady to heal and help people living in difficult circumstances.
Mr. Khuong, who lives in Ho Chi Minh city, and suffers from a tumor in his neck, confides: "I keep thinking I'm about to die. I am very afraid, but today, after receiving the anointing of the sick, I felt a great peace in my mind, to tackle the disease, and hope in divine providence. "
Mr. NQP, blind, aged 53, told AsiaNews: "For 20 years I have worked with blind children. I came to empathize with the wishes of these children. They need to live in communities that make them feel integrated. The blind are rejected and excluded from society. The social policy of the government provides some financial support each month, but only in some cases. Most blind people do not have this help. We want to go to school, we want to live, and participate in the richness of life. We want to work, and do something for society. We must guarantee the right to education for blind children, society should care for the sick. Blind children live as witnesses, and entrust themselves to God, God is always with us. "
Father Jean Baptiste Hoang Van Khanh, vicar general of the diocese of Phan Thiet, preached at the Mass: "As Pope Benedict XVI told us: 'God said to the leper: get up and go, your faith has saved you'. The Word of God helps us to cope with the disease. We'll never be alone, if we believe in the love of God. "
Ms Mai, who pushed his mother of 74 in a wheelchair, told AsiaNews: "We had wanted to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Tapao for a long time. My mother can not enter the church, but from the square we can recite the rosary and pray to the Virgin Mary. "
Mr. Phu, 67, who lives in Ca Mau said: "My wife and I have long wanted to visit the shrine, but there were no conditions to do so. However, today we participated in the Mass for the sick at the shrine of Our Lady of Tapao. We prayed to God and to Our Lady that we may be healed, spiritually and physically. " Many patients and their relatives wept as they listened to the prayers of the priest celebrating the Mass and asked Our Lady to heal and help people living in difficult circumstances.
Mr. Khuong, who lives in Ho Chi Minh city, and suffers from a tumor in his neck, confides: "I keep thinking I'm about to die. I am very afraid, but today, after receiving the anointing of the sick, I felt a great peace in my mind, to tackle the disease, and hope in divine providence. "
Mr. NQP, blind, aged 53, told AsiaNews: "For 20 years I have worked with blind children. I came to empathize with the wishes of these children. They need to live in communities that make them feel integrated. The blind are rejected and excluded from society. The social policy of the government provides some financial support each month, but only in some cases. Most blind people do not have this help. We want to go to school, we want to live, and participate in the richness of life. We want to work, and do something for society. We must guarantee the right to education for blind children, society should care for the sick. Blind children live as witnesses, and entrust themselves to God, God is always with us. "
Father Jean Baptiste Hoang Van Khanh, vicar general of the diocese of Phan Thiet, preached at the Mass: "As Pope Benedict XVI told us: 'God said to the leper: get up and go, your faith has saved you'. The Word of God helps us to cope with the disease. We'll never be alone, if we believe in the love of God. "
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See also
World Day of the Sick at the Shrine of Our Lady of Periyanayagi
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Blessing of the sick and the country in Our Lady of Lanka Basilica in Tewatte (photos)
27/08/2019 18:08
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Bangalore: Day of the sick, Jesus is our refuge
11/02/2020 18:43
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