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World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day, a time to re-dedicate ourselves to prayer and action to alleviate the great suffering cause
d by AIDS. In the spirit of hope for a more just and compassionate world, I invite you to join in prayer today for the men, women and children who have AIDS.
I also invite you to remember by name the people in your own life who have died of AIDS and now rest with the communion of saints. For me, I fondly remember Tim, a childhood friend who died of AIDS two years ago. During his life, he was dedicated to helping workers receive just wages and have decent working conditions.
Please share the names of loved ones you would like us to remember in prayer today.
Prayer for World AIDS Day
Excerpt from Catholic Relief Services, Candlelight Vigil of Hope
We indeed find hope in the light of Christ. Yet, we cannot remain complacent in this hope. We must not forget that 33 million people in the world are living with HIV and AIDS and 5,700 are dying from AIDS each day. Many of those infected are ostracized by the stigma. They live in silence and suffer alone, afraid to seek the help they need, afraid to go against their culture’s norms. HIV and AIDS affect men, women, and children of every race and economic level.
As one human family, we are all touched by HIV. And as one family, together, we can touch the lives of others, raising awareness of the pandemic and reducing the crippling stigma often associated with HIV. As Christians, we are compelled to act. Through our prayers, learning, advocacy, and giving, we can make a difference in another person’s life.
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I haven’t knowingly lost anyone to AIDS yet, but I pray for my HIV positive brother, John, and for all the friends he has lost and cared for in their last days.
We will keep John in prayer also, Marla, as well as you and other family members and his friends.
Finally getting around to posting on this subject. I’ve known several people who have died from AIDS as I was a volunteer at the All Saints Episcopal AIDS Center in Pasadena during the early days of the epidemic.
Two men that I knew best, Cary and Jay will forever remain in my memory and in my prayers. Cary was my friend before he had AIDS, and a superstar in the Beverly Hills beauty business. I couldn’t afford his prices so he cut my hair for free in his back yard, I’ve never looked so good before or since. Deserted by all his men friends at the end, he kept up a brave front.
Jay became my friend when he entered a hospice in Pasadena. When I heard he was there I paid him a visit with flowers and candy and he broke down in tears saying he didn’t want to die, and that all his friends were deserting him so I promised him I wouldn’t and I didn’t, going to Long Beach Vets Hospital when he transferred there. When he became delusional at the end we, my friend and partner and I, just prayed the Hail Mary with him which was something he remembered. On our last visit we met his mother. Shortly after that day she called with the news of his passing and the details of his funeral. She said all her friends would be there so be sure to not mention that he was gay as she had told them he had cancer. We sent flowers but didn’t attend the services.
I’d also like to include in the prayers, Ryan O’Neil the brave little boy with hemophilia that did all he could do to get the word out about AIDS before his death. And to the many who died alone and afraid. And to the families who were picketed at their children’s funerals by the “Minister” and his gang who carried the signs that said “God hates FAGS”, and worse, in front of the churches.
Thank you for the opportunity to get all this off my chest, and to remember some
gentle and lovely people.
Of course I meant Ryan White, not Ryan O’Neil!
Although I haven’t lost anyone in my life from HIV/AIDS thus far, I have an aunt and my best friend who both have the HIV virus. I pray for them and always ask God to protect them, watch over them, and express love and compassion to them as I do with others in my life and community! Perhaps the biggest gift we can give others other than love is compassion. For example, yesterday I watched “Oprah” and she did a follow-up to a story that made news in 1987 – a young gay man who had AIDS jumped into a public swimming pool in his small home time in W. VA; people responded so hurtful and without compassion to him then and it was so interesting to see how education and knowledge has helped those same people who said such hurtful things to him that day felt about the topic now – according to the show and the gay man’s sisters – he passed away 16 years ago from the disease, but the goal that their brother had was one thing and that was to educate others – perhaps during this time of reflection as well as Advent, we can all look inside our hearts and express to others (loved ones and strangers alike) the amazing gift of compassion onto others – it is what I have set forth this Advent! Thanks as always Sister Maxine / Sister Julie!!