COME LET US CELEBRATE CHRIST POWER AND GRACE IN HEALING MINISTRY

Many parishes have communal celebrations of the Anointing of the Sick at which many persons receive the sacrament. These sacramental celebrations are a “source of strength amid pain and weakness, hope amid despair” and a “joyful encounter” for the entire community. The Catholic community of Holy Family will hold a healing Mass centered on the celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick this Sunday, October 11th, 3.00 PM at St. Joseph’s Church, Wayland. All are invited to take advantage of this opportunity. The anointing of the sick is a sacramental rite. A person is anointed to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an emotional or physical or psychological illness. In the sacrament we pray that the sick be healed in body, in soul and in spirit. God alone knows what kind of healing the sick need most: that a wound be healed; that a fear turns to confidence; that loneliness be embraced by the support of a praying community; that confusion in the face of all the whys—why me, why suffering, why now—turn to insight. The Sacrament of Anointing does not remove the mystery of human suffering. Yet its celebration gives us a window into the mystery of our loving God. The sacrament is an act of faith; the faith of the recipient who welcomes and believes in the healing power of God, and the faith of the church, which looks to Christ’s death and resurrection as the source of this healing power. While we believe that physical healing is a sign of God’s kingdom, we remember that spiritual healing and physical cure are not synonymous—we may be healed by God’s grace in the absence of a physical cure.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that when the sick is anointed, they should be “assisted by their pastor and the whole ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way through their prayers and fraternal attention” (1516). The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is both “a liturgical and a communal celebration.” The Sacrament of Anointing is most fully celebrated in a communal celebration in which those to be anointed are surrounded by members of the Christian community, family, and friends. They join together in songs and silence, Scripture readings and prayers, as the priest places his hands on the head of the sick person and anoints their forehead and hands with the blessed Oil of the Sick. In this sign of unity, we strengthen the bonds of love and faith among those gathered–bonds that fill us with hope and peace. As a community, we know that these sacramental bonds are more powerful than the most devastating diseases; even more powerful than death itself. We commend the sick sisters and brothers to the caring love and mercy of our God. Illness may bring a feeling of distance from loved ones, self, and God. Prayer may become more difficult or even impossible. The patient may begin to doubt the meaning of life itself. The rituals and prayers of the Rites of the Sick offer promise and hope. Again, this reminds us that as a Church, as members of the Body of Christ, each of us is called to share in the healing work of Christ. We as a parish take care for the sick because we see them as children of God and part of our Christian community. When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer (1 Cor 12:26). The suffering of one impact everyone. Thus, we are called to solidarity, which is a responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone. By our compassion, we remind those who are sick that “[parish] shares your suffering. She takes it to the Lord, who in turn associates you with his redeeming Passion” We are called to comfort, pray for and with, and be in solidarity with all who are sick or suffering. Caring for those who suffer is not a burden, but a gift. Those who care for the sick do holy and important work; they walk with Christ’s suffering people and in doing so, serve Christ himself (Mt 25:31-46). Those who minister to the sick and who work to secure decent health care for all become “the living sign of Jesus Christ and his Church in showing love towards the sick and suffering.”

The Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated for Catholics–Whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age; before surgery, if surgery is caused by serious illness; Who are elderly and have become notably weakened, even though no serious illness is present; Children who are seriously ill and have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by the sacrament; Who have been anointed if they have relapsed after recovery or if the condition becomes more serious; Who are unconscious or who have lost the use of reason if there is probability they would have asked for the sacrament were they in control of their faculties; Who are judged to have a serious mental illness and those who are alcoholic or suffers from other forms of addictions who wish to relate their conditions with Christ’s sufferings can benefit from this sacrament; who is diagnosed with a serious, chronic potentially life-threatening illness. Today many illnesses such as cancer can be put into remission or completely cured with surgery or treatment. Still, even when the prognosis is good, anyone that suffers from cancer, heart disease, etc. or chronic illnesses (such as Parkinson’s) can and should be anointed; those with serious psychological illness or depression that is potentially life-threatening may also request the sacrament. Please be generous in offering transportation, particularly to any of our seniors who would like to be present.

Peace and Hope in Jesus Christ, Fr. John

Mission Statement

To live the Great Commandment
Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  And
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22: 37-38