Question:
There was a question back on 4-17-01 regarding a “healing mass”. I know that term is misleading. However, you mentioned that it probably was referring to a “healing priest” saying mass and then inviting people to come forward for laying of the hands and anointing.
A few of questions:
Is the term “healing priest” correct? Is this reserved for only a few priests with the gift of healing? I know that all priests can administer the sacrament of the anointing, but are only some considered “healing priests”?
When these anointings take place the priest may spend just a few second with some and several minutes with another. Should not the same prayer be said for all regardless of the illness? Cannot the praying for the anointing be said over the entire congregation and then all come up for the laying of the hands and anointing?
When a person is breathing their last, and a priest comes to anoint the person, or when a persons is sick and may be in need of surgery, are the prayers the same or are they different?
I know that in many of these masses, people go forward to ask for special requests; i.e. prayers for financial aid, marital situations, help in their studies, work, etc. Should these be treated different and not considered as prayers for healing?
I have seen laypersons invited to come forward also to pray and anoint people because there may be a large gathering. Is this permissible?
In all of these masses, when people go forward they start dropping like flies. They are being “slain in the spirit” and many people see it as a great manifestation of the wonders of the miraculous powers attributed to that particular priest and/or layperson. Is this for real?
The reason I am asking all these questions is to give correct information to a group of young boys in school who have questioned me regarding the people falling backwards at these masses. I advised caution in these situations and that most, if not all, of these persons are simply faking it or giving in to their emotions.
Your comments please and pardon the many questions in this “one” question.
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+
Dear Charles:
There is no "office" or official title of "healing priest"; this is just a description of a priest practicing a healing ministry.
We need to understand the distinction of the Sacrament of Anointing and the "Sacramental" of healing prayer, blessing, and use of holy oil or water.
The Sacrament of Anointing used to be called "Last Rites". This is the Sacrament perform on those who are seriously ill or are dying. The words, prayers, blessings of the Sacrament are set by the Holy See and thus are the same in all situations.
In healing ceremonies after Mass, it is usually the sacramental that is performed, not the "Sacrament" of Anointing. This is merely praying a healing prayer for the person, perhaps including specific intentions for each person, laying on of hands, and anointing with Holy Water or Oil. The anointing with Oil should really not be done by laymen in a public setting because it too closely resembles the priestly function of the Sacrament of Anointing. Laymen can, of course, pray healing prayers for people.
Sometimes, a priest may offer the actual Sacrament of Anointing during these meetings although the Sacrament should only be given to those in serious illness and not as a general practice. The priest may add to that prayers for the special intentions of the person.
The phenomenon of being "slain in the spirit" has little verifiable validity. In most cases it is an emotional and psychological event, and not a spiritual one. This is evidenced in that being "slain in the spirit" happened mostly in a public setting where the expectation of being "slain" is highly anticipated.
There is no particular harm in this experience unless one thinks they MUST have this experience or think that one is not really spiritual unless they are "slain".
There have been some gross extremes in this such as the so-called "Toronto Blessing" which involves a drunken-like "holy laughter" and sometime grunts and barking. This I believe is utter nonsense, and indignity upon the human person, and an offense to God.
God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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