Last updated: 04/11/2006
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The Ministry of Healing
Introduction
The last command of Jesus to the apostles included the instruction to heal the sick. There is evidence in the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistle of James and the writings of the early Fathers that the Church did this and that it was accepted as being as important as, for example, the Eucharist,
For centuries, medicine and the Church have been closely interlinked. Hospitals had Christian origins and sponsors. Today the State has taken over responsibility for health care, but there are still a substantial number of hospitals, including our own General Hospital which can trace their origins back to Christian influence for money for their foundation.
How St Michael's fulfils our Lord's command
Here at St Michael's we try to obey Our Lord's command in several ways. We keep a list of all those we know to be ill, elderly, housebound or grieving. This is printed on our weekly pew sheet, read out during intercessions and a book containing the names is placed on the altar during the main Sunday Mass. Also we try to keep in touch with as many as possible and give Communion to those who desire it in their own homes. In addition, we have a branch of the Guild of St Raphael which meets monthly to pray for, and get the latest information about the progress of those for whom we pray. We maintain a prayer notice board in church. We send cards were possible and we plan services during which the sick and needy are especially remembered and ministered to. These services occur every few months during the main Sunday Mass and include the Laying on of Hands and Anointing.
Laying on of hands
It is hoped that after every Sunday Mass you take home the pew sheet which contains the names of the sick and that you pray for them regularly during the week. But at this service we can do that as a congregation rather than as individuals and there is some evidence to show that group prayer is more effective than individual prayer.
We are invited to come forward during the service and receive the laying on of hands, which is exactly what it says. A priest and an assistant will ask if you want prayers for yourself or someone else, for example, a member of your family, a neighbour, someone at work, a friend. You will be asked to name them and say in a few words why they need our prayers. If you wish for the laying on of hands for yourself you may state the reason why, but you will not be expected to go into detail.
If you do not wish to give a reason, no questions will be asked. However, to use a medical analogy, when you visit the doctor the treatment cannot start until your symptoms have been mentioned and the problem identified. Whilst you may not wish to give your reasons to the priest, you must face up to them, and one of the ways you can do this is by speaking about them or writing them down. On the few occasions when Jesus asked sufferers what they wanted Him to do, He knew the answer full well, but He wanted them to be aware of their problems too.
To list your problems or pains is to acknowledge that you need help. Any form of healing is more difficult without the cooperation of the patient. The priest and his assistant will then put their hands on you and after a moment of silence will say a prayer aloud, after which you will return to your seat, to continue praying in silence.
Anointing
If you specifically want help for yourself you may like to go into the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where another priest will anoint you. Ideally, he will already know you and your problem(s) because you will have given him your name previously and will have had some preparation. The priest will use Holy Oil with which to make the Sign of the Cross on your forehead and on each open palm of your hand, after which he will say a short prayer and give you a piece of cotton wool with which to wipe off any surplus oil. Again, you will then return to your seat in silence.
Why would you want to be anointed or to have the laying
on of hands?
Why do you go to a doctor? For a whole variety of problems concerning your physical and mental welfare. These can include pain, the treatment of recognisable illness, pregnancy, mental illness, stress and so on. He/she then prescribes the appropriate treatment.
When you attend a healing service, you are coming to ask God to relieve any physical or mental illness you may have, but in addition, you are coming to resolve any issues to do with guilt, your spiritual life or your relationship with others. The gifts God offers are not restricted to the alleviation of physical symptoms. God can relieve all our sickness and resolve all our personal problems. For example, we may be grieving and there may be unresolved issues around a death, such as feelings of negligence, anger, guilt, dependency, loneliness, vulnerability, inadequacy and so on. Just as we need to tell the doctor where it hurts before he can cure, so we have to ask God for help before we can expect Him to give it.
Aftercare
Just as the doctor will check from time to time that the treatment is working, so after anointing you ought to talk to a priest from time to time. This is especially important in personal issues, such as those related to wrongdoing and to the way we get on with others. Forgiveness does not work if we do nothing to bring it about. We may find it difficult to forgive someone but we can, provided that we work with God and tell Him (either directly or through a priest) what we are doing and feeling and ask for continued help.
After the service, whether you have had the Laying on of Hands or Anointing or not, think about what happened and PRAY for yourself, for those on whose behalf you acted, and for those in the congregation who were supporting you with their prayers and attendance. Pray, too, for the priests and their ministry.
Try to do this daily. (You take the doctor's medicine, sometimes more than once a day!)
~READ YOUR BIBLE daily. The Bible Reading Fellowship provide some excellent booklets each quarter.
~Attend CHURCH on a regular basis - not just when you feel like it. You probably need to go most when you DON'T feel like it.
~Receive the SACRAMENTS (especially Holy Communion) at least once a week (unless illness prevents it). We eat our food several times a day in order to maintain the health of our physical life. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, the Bread and Wine to keep our souls in good health.
Expectancy
When you visit the doctor you don't expect to come away cured. You expect to have been diagnosed and either given some treatment or referred to a consultant. Occasionally, you may get an instant cure, as for instance if the doctor is able to manipulate a joint back into position, but even then you may still be left with some soreness.
So when you come to a healing service you don't automatically expect to walk away cured. It can happen, but it is the exception. Instead, you come away feeling submerged in the love of God and of those around, and with a more positive attitude towards your illness or problem. You feel that you have tapped new resources to help you to come to terms with whatever was wrong. You have gained the benefit of God's power, and this gives you confidence and strength to overcome disabilities. Whilst your physical illness may not be improved for some time, your attitude towards it will have changed and you feel a boost to your spiritual life. This has to be maintained by doing the things mentioned above under "Aftercare". You need to examine your conscience and your way of life. You have to think about how you live your life and how you can improve its quality by paying more attention to your spiritual needs.
Then, over a period of time you realise that your illness is no longer the problem it was, you feel calmer and more able to cope. Your attitude to other people improves and you become more aware of their problems and personalities.
You may consider joining a group of others who are interested in healing. This will reinforce your resolve and help to put your problems into perspective Not only will you benefit, but so will others. God will have started to heal you. The St Michael's branch of the Guild of St Raphael meets in church on the last Wednesday of every month at 7.30prn. You would be made very welcome.