Pope Francis has chosen to dedicate the Church’s universal prayer intention for the month of November to parents who have lost a child. In a message steeped in compassion and solidarity, the Holy Father addresses families going through this painful ordeal. Acknowledging the extent of their suffering, he encourages them to draw strength and comfort from their Christian community, and to turn to the Holy Spirit for peace of heart.
The death of a child is undoubtedly one of the most devastating ordeals a parent can experience, and Pope Francis fully recognises this. Aware that these losses cause pain that seems inconsolable, the Holy Father expresses his desire to see these families find loving support in those around them, particularly in their parish and Christian communities. He emphasises the importance of spiritual and human support, inviting all the faithful to pray for these parents and to wrap them in affection and empathy.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes helps families who have lost a child
In Lourdes, since the end of the Jubilee of Mercy, the Sanctuary has been offering the Way of Compassion, an original initiative offering practical help and support through listening and prayer to individuals and families faced with the loss of a child: an unborn, deceased or ‘missing’ child. This path is open to all those who have been scarred by this ordeal in their lives and who are looking for consolation. Individuals and families are guided and supported in their search for inner peace.
Au At the end of their journey, parents are invited to write their child’s name in a ‘Book of Life’, as prayer intentions that will be borne by local nuns and pilgrims.
The Way of Compassion takes place every day from 2pm to 3.30pm, by appointment.
Register at the Information Centre the day before your arrival or before 12 noon the same morning.
By telephone: +33 (0)5 62 42 20 08 (Toll-free number)
By e-mail: saccueil@lourdes-france.com
Sanctuaries must be places of consolation
During his meeting with Sanctuary rectors, Pope Francis asked that Sanctuaries be places of consolation. Lourdes offers places where pilgrims can find consolation. Anyone visiting the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes can go and meet the people trained to listen to and comfort them in the listening centre. They can also go to the Chapel of Reconciliation to cast aside their burdens and receive the Lord’s forgiveness.
There are no words for a parent who loses a child
In this prayer intention for the month of November, Pope Francis calls on the whole Church to show active compassion for those who have suffered the loss of a child. He calls on all the faithful to unite in prayer, to offer their availability, their listening and their support, in order to build truly caring communities. By creating an environment of solidarity, the Church hopes to become a refuge for these bereaved parents, helping them to overcome their grief and gradually find their way back to peace.
