What is this "Healing Mass" all about?

[TurboVW]

My uncle claims his knee was healed at a healing service done by a “healing priest.” I included several links in regards to his traveling ministry:

avemariaradio.net/calendar/cal_popup.php?op=view&id=1463

facebook.com/event.php?eid=167807086565755

I called the parish where this is taking place tonight, and the secretary said “It’s like anointing of the sick. He’s a ‘healing priest,’ though.” She didn’t have further details and said it wasn’t printed in the parish bulletin.

I kind of want to go, but part of me thinks it’s going to resemble an evangelical revival. My uncle even said people faint at these things when they are in line for “healing.”

Has anyone else heard of a “healing priest” before?

 

[Havard]

My understanding is that any priest can perform anointing of the sick, but that it is not to be performed on just any person with an ailment. And their ailment must be one that the person can potentially die from, although it doesn’t have to be terminal. The example that comes to mind is pneumonia, it’s potentially fatal to many elderly folks.

 

[TurboVW]

My understanding is that any priest can perform anointing of the sick, but that it is not to be performed on just any person with an ailment. And their ailment must be one that the person can potentially die from, although it doesn’t have to be terminal. The example that comes to mind is pneumonia, it’s potentially fatal to many elderly folks.

Well, I’ve seen lots of people arrive under their own power to a mass with anointing of the sick, but I can’t ask all of them exactly what is making them ill. Thus, is this “Healing Mass” invalid?

 

[centurionguard]

My uncle claims his knee was healed at a healing service done by a “healing priest.” I included several links in regards to his traveling ministry:

avemariaradio.net/calendar/cal_popup.php?op=view&id=1463

facebook.com/event.php?eid=167807086565755

I called the parish where this is taking place tonight, and the secretary said “It’s like anointing of the sick. He’s a ‘healing priest,’ though.” She didn’t have further details and said it wasn’t printed in the parish bulletin.

I kind of want to go, but part of me thinks it’s going to resemble an evangelical revival. My uncle even said people faint at these things when they are in line for “healing.”

Has anyone else heard of a “healing priest” before?

Read Here: ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur276.htm

Other than the Sacrament of the Sick, the only other Healing mass I’ve heard about are those convened under the auspices of the Charismatic Renewal.

Peace
Chris

 

[TurboVW]

Read Here: ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur276.htm

Other than the Sacrament of the Sick, the only other Healing mass I’ve heard about are those convened under the auspices of the Charismatic Renewal.

Peace
Chris

Thank you very much for this document. So, I could attend this mass and it would be a licit function. I was told it was organized by a parish “prayer group,” so it’s safe to speculate they’re possibly Charismatic.

 

[benedictgal]

Perhaps this doctrinal note written by the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger back in the year 2000 (when he was prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) might help:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20001123_istruzione_en.html

Here are some interesting statements:

II. DISCIPLINARY NORMS

Art. 1 – It is licit for every member of the faithful to pray to God for healing. When this is organized in a church or other sacred place, it is appropriate that such prayers be led by an ordained minister.

Art. 2 – Prayers for healing are considered to be liturgical if they are part of the liturgical books approved by the Church’s competent authority; otherwise, they are non-liturgical.

Art. 3 – § 1. Liturgical prayers for healing are celebrated according to the rite prescribed in the Ordo benedictionis infirmorum of the Rituale Romanum (28) and with the proper sacred vestments indicated therein.

§ 2. In conformity with what is stated in the Praenotanda, V., De aptationibus quae Conferentiae Episcoporum competunt (29) of the same Rituale Romanum, Conferences of Bishops may introduce those adaptations to the Rite of Blessings of the Sick which are held to be pastorally useful or possibly necessary, after prior review by the Apostolic See.

Art. 4 – § 1. The Diocesan Bishop has the right to issue norms for his particular Church regarding liturgical services of healing, following can. 838 § 4.

**§ 2. Those who prepare liturgical services of healing must follow these norms in the celebration of such services. **

§ 3. Permission to hold such services must be explicitly given, even if they are organized by Bishops or Cardinals, or include such as participants. Given a just and proportionate reason, the Diocesan Bishop has the right to forbid even the participation of an individual Bishop.

**Art. 5 – § 1. Non-liturgical prayers for healing are distinct from liturgical celebrations, as gatherings for prayer or for reading of the word of God; these also fall under the vigilance of the local Ordinary in accordance with can. 839 § 2.

§ 2. Confusion between such free non-liturgical prayer meetings and liturgical celebrations properly so-called is to be carefully avoided.

§ 3. Anything resembling hysteria, artificiality, theatricality or sensationalism, above all on the part of those who are in charge of such gatherings, must not take place. **

Art. 6 – The use of means of communication (in particular, television) in connection with prayers for healing, falls under the vigilance of the Diocesan Bishop in conformity with can. 823 and the norms established by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Instruction of March 30, 1992.(30)

Art. 7 – § 1. Without prejudice to what is established above in art. 3 or to the celebrations for the sick provided in the Church’s liturgical books, prayers for healing – whether liturgical or non-liturgical – must not be introduced into the celebration of the Holy Mass, the sacraments, or the Liturgy of the Hours.

§ 2. In the celebrations referred to § 1, one may include special prayer intentions for the healing of the sick in the general intercessions or prayers of the faithful, when this is permitted.

Art. 8 – § 1. The ministry of exorcism must be exercised in strict dependence on the Diocesan Bishop, and in keeping with the norm of can. 1172, the Letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of September 29, 1985,(31) and the Rituale Romanum (32).

§ 2. The prayers of exorcism contained in the Rituale Romanum must remain separate from healing services, whether liturgical or non-liturgical.

§ 3. It is absolutely forbidden to insert such prayers of exorcism into the celebration of the Holy Mass, the sacraments, or the Liturgy of the Hours.

Art. 9 – Those who direct healing services, whether liturgical or non-liturgical, are to strive to maintain a climate of peaceful devotion in the assembly and to exercise the necessary prudence if healings should take place among those present; when the celebration is over, any testimony can be collected with honesty and accuracy, and submitted to the proper ecclesiastical authority.

Art. 10 – Authoritative intervention by the Diocesan Bishop is proper and necessary when abuses are verified in liturgical or non-liturgical healing services, or when there is obvious scandal among the community of the faithful, or when there is a serious lack of observance of liturgical or disciplinary norms.

I realize this is a long post, but, I hope that this information gives the OP some perspective.

 

[TurboVW]

Perhaps this doctrinal note written by the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger back in the year 2000 (when he was prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) might help:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20001123_istruzione_en.html

Here are some interesting statements:

I realize this is a long post, but, I hope that this information gives the OP some perspective.

Thank you very much; this was actually very, very helpful.

The part about “hysteria” struck me, since my uncle said some people fainted when he went to the last healing mass given by this priest.

 

[TurboVW]

Update:

Went to the “Healing Mass,” and at the end of mass, the priest gave a long reflection. Then he invited the congregation to go up, one row at a time, to the altar and await for him to “heal.” The priest also said he has “locution.”

He warned that people would fall, so there would be “catchers” standing behind people. He just held your hands, and said something. I was very distracted by what was going on around me: people singing, praying the rosary aloud, and then people falling once they encountered the priest.

Is this considered to be the “hysteria” that was mentioned in the Vatican document? I have a feeling that some of the behaviors I saw were a psychological release. I’m not disturbed though; I prayed almost the entire time for everyone at the mass and I realize a church full of people praying for each other is the main goal of a healing mass.