BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

In 1992, Pope St. John Paul II instituted February 11 as a day for remembering the sick and those who care for them. He designated February 11 as World Day for the Sick and an “optional memorial” feast day in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Some parishes around the world hold a memorial Mass on February 11 to bring their parish family together in Word and Eucharist in praying for grace and healing for all those suffering. If I remember correctly, Our Lady of the Cove held such a Mass this year. On May 1, Our Lady of the Ozarks will have a special Mass to pray for those who are faced with challenging medical (and spiritual) conditions.

The ministry of healing is among the central works of the Church, as it was for Jesus himself. Recalling Pope Benedict XVI’s comments from “Jesus of Nazareth”, he wrote, “Healing is an essential dimension of the apostolic mission and of Christian faith in general…. [It is] a religion of healing. When understood at a sufficiently deep level, this expresses the entire content of ‘redemption.”

A “Healing Mass” is the celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick within the Mass having two distinct forms found in two liturgical books. The first form is the “Mass for the Sick” with two options for the final blessing given in the ritual Mass “For the Conferral of the Anointing of the Sick.” The second form is found in the Pastoral Care of the Sick. This is the more commonly used Mass setting which is the one I will address.

The Mass begins with the usual greeting followed by the “Reception of the Sick,” where the purpose of the liturgy is announced: “that the sick may be restored to health by the gift of this mercy and made whole in his fullness.” The Liturgy of Anointing of the Sick follows the Liturgy of the Word and culminates in the Liturgy of the Eucharist and in the reception of the Holy Eucharist. After Communion, the faithful are invited to come forward or remain in their pew as the priest(s) and deacon pray over them. The priest may also lay his hands on those who come forward in silent prayer. This liturgy concludes with a prayer of thanksgiving, followed by the anointing of the sick for those persons whose health is seriously impaired by sickness who are proper subjects to the sacrament.

The liturgy of the Church has always prayed for the recovery of health. She recognizes the importance of healing, especially as it aligns with salvation. The ministry of healing is central to the Church’s mission, and it continues through her various forms of prayer and sacraments.

May our loving God bring healing

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn