Darwin Day

Darwin Day is celebrated across the world on the occasion of birth anniversary of Charles Darwin. This day honors his life and contributions to science and also to promote science in general.

Who is Charles Darwin?

He was an English naturalist and geologist, born on 12th February 1805 in England and died on 19 April 1882 at the age of 73. He is famous for his theory of evolution. His immense intellectual bravery, a perpetual curiosity and a ravenous hunger for truth in an attempt to understand origins of modern life inspire us. The world was unaware of how we were formed and why are we like this now. Our secret of origin was hidden and finally, this man came to lift it up. Darwin’s remarkable impact on biology, cosmology and scientific process can’t be ignored and will be remembered for forever.

He wrote his theory of evolution in his book Origin Of Species. He depicted his theory via genetic variation and natural selection for which he is appreciated still now.

International Darwin Day

The organized movement to establish an annual International Darwin Day Celebration began with three Darwin enthusiasts:

• Dr. Robert Stephens, who motivated the Humanist Community in Silicon Valley to initiate an annual Darwin Day Celebration in 1995;
• Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, who similarly organized annual Darwin Day events at the University of Tennessee beginning in 1997; and
• Amanda Chesworth, who joined Stephens to officially incorporate the Darwin Day Program in New Mexico in 2000.

In anticipation of Darwin’s bicentennial birthday on Feb 12th, 2009, the Darwin Day Celebration paired with the American Humanist Association to support the growth of Darwin Day activities. The American Humanist Association remains the lead agency charged with amplifying the International Darwin Day Foundation’s call for celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.

Mission

Darwin day will inspire people to have intellectual bravery and immense curiosity to discover something hidden and lift up the truth. It’ll be a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for progress of science, education and human well-being.

 

Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_Day

http://darwinday.org/

Advertisement

World Day of the Sick

World day of the sick is celebrated every year on 11th February since 1993 when Pope John Paul II  disclosed publicly that he was suffering from parkinsonism disease. It was a mere coincidence that the exact same day is the commmemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

Now the question is “why the day is celebrated? ” Pope John Paul II was diagnosed with Parkinson disease on year 1991 and disclosed this one year later. He initiated this day on 1992 to encourage people to pray for the sufferers. He had written a apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris about  suffering and believed that the suffering is very much salvific and redeeming through Christ. First time, this day was observed on year 1993 since then it’s celebrated every year. 

It is for all the believers who seek time to pray for people who is suffering right now from diseases even the people who are mentally tortured by the society for their uniqueness. People tend to pray for the mankind and a hope to heal for the sufferers. 

In 2005, this day had a special importance as Pope John Paul II died that year due to sepsis. 

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI declared his resignation from Pope post during this day and cited his failing health as the reason. 

So, in the end, I would just say let’s just give one day to pray for poors and sufferers who are enduring hardships more than us. Whenever you’re in trouble, you always try to  believe that there’s somebody who is suffering more than you but still smiling. Our today’s mankind is so self-absorbed and self-centered that we just care about ourselves . Let’s give one day to pray for those people other than us. 

List of prayers by Holy Father