31 of Saint Stanislaus Papczyński who took pity on every misery (Prayer to obtain a grace through intercession of Father Founder). This dimension of the Marian mission is a part of the service of the whole Church in which – as Pope Francis says – “closeness to the sick and their pastoral care is not only the task of certain specifically designated ministers.”3 The texts mentioned here, and many others, indicate the important place of serving the sick in the Marian apostolate. In these reflections, let us try to focus only on selected proposals for assistance which can be addressed directly to a sick person and also to their family suffering at the same time. Supporting the sick There is a need to delicately recognize the inner aspect of the sick person who is suffering in order to offer help which is adequate to the person’s experience and will. Three situations of assisting the suffering can be distinguished: ΕΕ When we notice that the sick is blaming God for the pain they suffer, it is often best to remain quiet, to just listen and be present praying quietly through the intercession of Mary, Immaculately Conceived for the grace of openness to God’s love; maybe it will be necessary to undertake a conversation about the fact of suffering itself because we may come across the sick or their families who believe that suffering is a punishment: “God has punished me for my sins”, “God’s punishment”, or to express grievances: “Why has God punished me? After all, I’ve been a good man” based on the Truths of the Faith: “God is a righteous judge who rewards the good and punishes the wicked.” ΕΕ If a sick person shows signs of accepting suffering, we may turn their attention to the enormous value of suffering on a personal path towards holiness, as well as the holiness of others. One’s own suffering can be offered for someone, e.g. for the conversion of a son, for the Holy Father, or for oneself as a compensation for the unatoned for consequences of one’s sins. We may also talk about the value of the suffering on the cross of Jesus which in God’s eyes was not a destruction, but an elevation to something more beautiful for ever – resurrection.4. The value of the suffering of Jesus presented in such a way may raise hope and give a 3 Francis, Message for XXX World Day of the Sick, 2022, No. 5. 4 John Paul II, Salvifici doloris, 1984, No. 14, 22,
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