What exactly is a "Healing Mass"?

[Walking_Home]

The reason is that the sacramental of blessed oil is not for the purpose of simulating the Sacrament of Unction, but has its own very legitimate purposes.

The Church has clearly addressed this in the 2 documents which have been quoted. "Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or any other oil."

"in no instance" means “in no instance”
“Oil of the Sick or any other oil” means "Oil of the Sick or any other oil"

I’m not about to address what your priest decides to do, but I will quote the clear unambiguous instructions published by the Church specifically addressing this practice.

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Clear Church directives —there is really no valid reason for not understanding and following them.

 

[FrDavid96]

No oils are used during the prayers after the Mass that I described. The priest forms a team at the foot of the altar. Other teams comprised of laypersons are off to the side. We do lay hands and pray over one another. Words of encouragement or knowledge are spoken with the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
My parish does not have a Charismatic Prayer group although nearby parishes do. The group that meets on Monday nights is an intercessory prayer group that begins with praise and thanksgiving for all the blessing that have been received. After that we engage in intercessory prayer. Toward the end of the meeting the group may pray over one or two individuals.
During the annual Healing Mass, members from prayer groups throughout the city come to the one church previously mentioned. Members of the prayer teams are primarily drawn from that church’s members. Anybody may come forward for prayers after Mass. More time is set aside for this type of individual prayer than is typically available during regular prayer meetings. Likewise, individuals who generally do not attend Charismatic prayer meetings also come for the Mass and stay for the healing prayers.

DebChris,
Without addressing what’s happening at your parish, I would suggest that you and anyone else here who has an interest in this topic read the official teaching of the Church on this topic in the documents:

Instruction on Prayers for Healing (signed by then Card. Ratzinger)
adoremus.org/CDF-Healing.html

Ecclesiae de Mysterio (also signed by then Card. Ratzinger)
Especially the part entitled “Practical Provisions”
adoremus.org/Instruction-lay-ministry.html#anchor78901

Both of these were also personally approved by the late Pope John Paul II, so other than canon or liturgical law itself it doesn’t get any more authentic and authoritative than this. Likewise the documents are very clear and unambiguous in what they say.

Please take the time to read what the Church has to say on the matter (if you have not already), especially with regard to what is appropriate liturgical or non-liturgical practice.

 

[DebChris]

When the individual approaches the prayer team, he or she is asked what he/she would like prayers for. While each member of the team has experienced the Baptism of the Spirit, I do not know anybody who specifically claims to have the charism of healing. Any healing (physical, spiritual, or emotional) that does take place is the work of the Holy Spirit, who likewise guides the prayer.
As Pope John Paul II said during his homily on Pentecost 2004, “Open yourselves with docility to the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Receive with gratitude and obedience the charisms that the Spirit does not cease to offer! Do not forget that all charisms are given for the common good, that is, for the benefit of the whole Church!”
Intercessory prayer is one of the ways that we use the gifts we have received.

 

[Lepanto]

While each member of the team has experienced the Baptism of the Spirit, I do not know anybody who specifically claims to have the charism of healing.

What is “Baptism of the Spirit” ??

How does it differ from the canonical sacrament of Baptism?

 

[DebChris]

What is “Baptism of the Spirit” ??

How does it differ from the canonical sacrament of Baptism?

Each of us at Baptism has been given gifts. In many cases, these gifts have been “set on a shelf and remain unwrapped.”
The Baptism of the Spirit is not a new Sacrament. I realize the terminology can be a bit confusing. What the Baptism of the Spirit is a release of the gifts that we have already received through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. One of the most visible signs of this Baptism of the Spirit is praying in tongues just as the Apostles experienced at Pentecost. What is not so easily seen is the interior change that takes place in a person’s life. It is a humbling experience to recognize that God is aware and concerned about every part of my life. This calls for a continued Faith response. There is a fuller awareness not only when the Holy Spirit convicts of sin but also truly experiencing how much God loves us.
The best way for me to describe this experience is the answer to a question a priest asked when I was a child. He told the story of asking the question, “How big is God?” A ten year old boy answered, “God is so big that the universe cannot hold Him and so small that He can fit in our hearts.” The Baptism in the Spirit, for me, means experiencing God indwelling within my own heart. The various charisms, special graces bestowed on the individual by the Holy Spirit, are manifested within the life of the individual who has received the Baptism of the Spirit.
CCC 800. Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as well. They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms.
CCC801. It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary. No charism is exempt from being referred and submitted to the Church’s shepherds. “Their office is not indeed to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold fast to what is good,” so that all the diverse and complementary charisms work together “for the common good.”