CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on Monday urged the faithful to have a deeper faith in God instead of seeking miracles.

“We should pray before the Blessed Sacrament and seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother. We do not have to wait for miracles to happen. It is enough that we become mature in our faith, hope and love of God, Christ and the Church,” said Vidal in his homily.

“We should not dwell so much on that (miracles) but we should increase and deepen our faith,” Vidal told reporters after celebrating Mass to mark the celebration of the 16th World Day of the Sick and the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Vidal said the faithful should deepen their faith as nobody knows how God answers the prayers of the people.

“You see when the Lord heals anybody, it is because of your faith so we have to ask first (that your faith be strengthened),” he added.

The prelate also said the faithful are not advised against attending masses by priest healers like Fr. Fernando Suarez, the Canadian-based Filipino priest who recently visited several towns in northern Philippines.

“Those (priest-healers) are instruments that the Lord is giving us,” he said.

“The Lord has many ways of doing things. But we are happy that things are happening in a positive way and that's what we need,” said Vidal who added that “we are a people of hope because we have faith.”

He warned, however, that the faithful should choose which healers or pilgrimages to attend.

Priest-healers and organizers should also ask permission from the archdiocese before holding their activities.

Vidal said that by doing this, the Church guards the faithful against fake healers and fake pilgrim images.

“If you ask permission, the bishop will tell you where you can go,” he said.

For example, organizers have to ask permission first from the archdiocese before the image of the Virgin of Simala can visit other parishes in Cebu.

The pastoral care for the sick also includes health workers, caregivers and family members who look after their sick loved ones, the prelate said.

“As health workers, as workers in pastoral care in health, it is our duty to help the sick mature in their faith, and trust in the power of the Holy Eucharist,” said Vidal in his homily.

During the Mass, Vidal carried the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance and blessed the faithful.

The cathedral was filled with people, some in wheel chairs and some with crutches.

A group of children with autism and down syndrome also attended the Mass.