DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE

                During the month of February, there are many days set aside for specific purposes both religious and secular. Among the days observed in February are Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day (which also happens to be Ash Wednesday this year), Presidents Day commemorating Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthdays, and Chinese New Year.

                The Church also sets aside several days focusing our attention on important aspects of the Church in the world. February 3rd and 4th is World Day for Consecrated Life. The Church designated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas Day, as an appropriate moment to thank God for the gift of consecrated life. Jesus is manifest as “light of revelation for the Gentiles’ and glory for God’s people, Israel.” Consecrated men and women reflect this light as witnesses of Jesus in a world that is often shrouded in shadow. They are the glory of God’s people. We pray for the perseverance of consecrated men and women and ask God to continue enriching the Church with their unique vocation. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day.

                February 8th is International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. The first International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking was celebrated on February 8, 2015. This is also the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave who became a Canossian nun. She was kidnapped as a child from her home in Sudan at the age of 7 and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once Josephine was freed, she became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000. The day of prayer on February 8th is intended to raise awareness of and encourage reflection on the violence and injustice that impact victims of human trafficking.

                World Marriage Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of February, this year February 11th. Marriage is an irreplaceable good for society and all people. Promoting and strengthening marriage remains a pastoral priority today.

                February 11th is also World Day of the Sick. World Day of the Sick was instituted on May 13, 1992 by St. Pope John Paul II. The Pope himself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year before and it is considered that his own illness was the impetus for his designation of the day. It was first observed on February 11, 1993 which is also the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. People around the world take time to pray for the sick and for those who work very hard to alleviate the sufferings of the sick on this day.