World Day Of The Sick Celebration
“I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame” (Job 29:15)
On this the 23rd World Day of the Sick, begun by Saint John Paul II, Pope Francis has issued a powerful message thanking those who care for the sick, adding that time spent with the ill is sacred. He also calls for Catholics to embrace wisdom of the heart – sapienta cordis.
“Wisdom of the heart means going forth from ourselves towards our brothers and sisters. Occasionally our world forgets the special value of time spent at the bedside of the sick, since we are in such a rush; caught up as we are in a frenzy of doing, of producing, we forget about giving ourselves freely, taking care of others, being responsible for others.” – Pope Francis
As this day embodies the very core of its vocation representing the highest ideal of Christian service to the sick and the poor, for this occasion, the Philippine Sovereign Military Order of Malta organized a Concelebrated Mass for our beneficiaries and health care partners who lovingly care for the malades. After three years of major renovation and reconstruction efforts, the Order of Malta Philippines once again returned to the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral to hold this annual event in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Manila.
Gathered together were over a thousand participants in a Eucharistic Mass officiated by Archbishop Emeritus Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., DD, of the Archdiocese of Novaliches. The sick were anointed with oil and prayed over during the liturgy and the clergy were assisted by the members and volunteers of the Order. This event has been jointly organized by the Order of Malta Philippines and the Archdiocese of Manila since 2006. (TH)
GRAND CROSS “PRO MERITO MELITENSI” OF THE SOVEREIGN ORDER OF MALTA
Don Pedro M. Picornell was admitted to the Order of Malta on October 15, 1971 under the rank of Knight of Magistral Grace. Since then, he lived a very fruitful life as a member of the Order. He was elevated to Grand Cross of Magistral Grace on October 14, 1992. He has also been awarded the Croce di „Ufficiale al Merito Melitense on March 15, 1979 and the Croce di Commendatore dell „Ordine al Merito Melitense on October 12, 1990. He also served as President of the Philippine Association of the Order of Malta from 1991 to 1997. Don Pedro joined his Creator on February 6, 2014 at the age of 90.
The Council of the Order of Malta Philippines recommended a posthumous award to Don Pedro Marti Picornell, for his unflagging dedication to the tradition of the Order. Despite his advanced age during the last few years, he continued being a very active and dedicated member of the Order contributing much of his time, effort and expertise especially in the preservation and validation of the archives of the Order in the Philippines, not to mention his involvement in the charitable and hospitaller activities of the Order.
On October 14, 2014, His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta during the Sovereign Council Meeting in Rome conferred on him this posthumous award that befits the late Don Pedro M. Picornell.
