Dear Lessly:

On Question One: It can be dangerous to lay hands on others for prayer. The reason is that it is possible to have a demonic transference from one person to the other. Thus, one needs to be careful.

The first rule is to ask permission of the person you are praying for before you lay hands on them.

The second rule is to pray for protection of the person being prayed over and for yourself.

The third rule is only one person, the leader of the group, actually lay on hands. 

I generally refuse to have anybody lay hands on me from the Charismatic Renewal unless I know the person very well. The reason is that there is so much malpractice, I guess one could say, in the practice of the charismatic gifts of those in the Renewal.

I have had clients who have become demonized because of the laying on of hands of those in the Charismatic Renewal.

We also must be very careful not even of here to do that which a priest does, such as in the Sacrament of Anointing. Those in the Charismatis Renewal tend to ba careless and non-thinking about how close them come to the line, of even have crossed the line of doing what is reserved to a priest. St . Paul advises, "

I personally wrote a letter to the Vatican to clarify that issue. While this letter s specifically about the use of Holy Oil, it is instructive on the general issues of Laying on of hands. This is the response:

The Bottom line is that we should not lay hands on someone too quickly, and then only with permission of the person, and after preparatory prayer or protection.

On Question Two: It is very important that anyone who believes they have an extraordinary such as healing, miracles, or private revelations be under the discernment and advice of a Spiritual Director. To not have a spiritual director is dangerous in that we may think we have a gift when do not, or if we do have a legitimate gift we may not use it properly or interpret it properly. We can never under any circumstances trust our own discernment. Such experiences need to be taken today spiritual director to validate the experiences and to receive advice.

To my knowledge is not required that a person with the gift of healing have any recognition or approbation from his Bishop. However, given the extraordinary nature of these sorts of gifts it would be prudent to discuss any apostolate that is to be conducted with the Bishop or his designee.

On Question Three: the discernment lay hands on someone prayer is a subjective one. Person must listen and seek the advice of the Holy Spirit. There is no formula for this. This is where many years of experience may benefit.

In that regard, one should not fear making a mistake. God can make lemonade out of the lemons we create. It is only through mistakes and falling down that we learn how things should be, if we allow God to teach us through those mistakes.

Here is the Vatican document on Prayer for Healing.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary