tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post7485343550832899656..comments2023-04-27T05:31:50.020-06:00Comments on Is My Phylactery Showing?: Sacraments of HealingDeacon Bill Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11484509700642430451noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post-34767889239928314952010-05-22T15:26:27.681-06:002010-05-22T15:26:27.681-06:00Theocoaid, many thanks for your comments.
In the ...Theocoaid, many thanks for your comments.<br /><br />In the Healing Mass I attended there was anointing of oil on the forehead and the palms of one's hands. The priest who did the anointing expresses the words "may your sins be forgiven'. Yes, most of the attendees were elderly people. No, I wouldn't consider myself to be elderly and sick. I was a visitor and saw the church and wandered into it. Prior to the Healing Mass, I had wanted to be confessed. Not being able to do so before the Healing Mass started, I went along with it and after Mass took it up with the priest who celebrated the Mass. <br /><br />I told him that I had wanted to be confessed but could not and if I was was being sacrilegious in receiving holy communion and drinking the wine. That's when he said for me not to worry, that my sins were forgiven. He said that forgiveness of sins can be through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and through the Anointing of the Sick. That's what he said. However, when I think about it now, I don't think he is encouraging that a Catholic should skip confession and use the Healing Mass as a means of being absolved of one's sins. At the time, I had also thought that if a healing mass can absolve people who are afraid to confess their sins, then why don't these people attend healing masses as much as possible. I therefore set out to find out more about Healing Masses and if its effect is the same as the Sacrament of Penance and Reconcialiation. <br /><br />In the end, I would still use the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation route. I now know that a Healing Mass (it was a full Mass with anointing of oil) does absolve one of sins but for the sickly, infirm, elderly and dying. I was neither of these. However, in the end, I am comforted by the fact that all Holy Masses are healing.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. May God always be with you.<br /><br /><br /><br />AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post-49259722351987745032010-05-21T16:01:28.441-06:002010-05-21T16:01:28.441-06:00To my knowledge, there are two kinds of "heal...To my knowledge, there are two kinds of "healing" masses: those during which annointing of the sick takes place, and those that are simply celebrated with the intention of bringing healing on people, families, or communities. If there was annointing with oil by priests, then we can assume that the former is the case here. The latter doesn't really have anything to do with the sacrament of Annointing.<br /><br />This sacrament is for use for those who are sick or elderly, specifically, and is meant to minister specifically to the circumstances in their lives. It can take place in the context of the liturgy (CCC 1517) and can (and perhaps should) be preceded by the sacrament of Penance. I think there are two things to take away from here. If you are not gravely ill or elderly, you're not a valid recipient for this sacrament. Having a cold or mild illness doesn't qualify you for this sacrament. Having a serious chronic illness would, as would be elderly and infirm. If you are a valid recipient, then the grace of the sacrament is present, so long as your internal disposition is correct. <br /><br />Please note that the normative means for receiving absolution is through the sacrament of Penance. Even with the annointing, if someone is able to confess, the sacrament of Penance is usually administered first, followed by anointing, then the Eucharist. See Catechism sections 1514-1532 for the details.<br /><br />I don't know what grounds the priest used for declaring your sins forgiven. Was it the priest celebrating Mass? If you only had venial sins to confess (that is, if you were not aware of having committed a grave sin), then your sins are remitted when you receive communion (1416). However, if you were in a state of mortal sin and had not been absolved, and if you were capable of seeking absolution, the Sacrament of Penance would have been necessary first. For someone who could not receive absolution (for example, someone unconscious who had previously requested annointing), the sacrament of Annointing would suffice. If the priest heard your confession during the liturgy and gave general absolution (CIC 961), then that would also suffice. However, if general absolution was given during the liturgy with no direct confession, that would not be an appropriate use of the sacrament.<br /><br />Given that you approached the sacrament with the intention of receiving absolution and were instructed that you were forgiven, your culpability is not a question here. You were trying to do the right thing. Since sacrilege involves irreverence toward sacred things, I don't think your act counts as being sacrilegous. You seem to be approaching the sacraments with a great degree of care. If you've gone to confession since then, then you've already been absolved. If you haven't been to confession since then, it's never too late. Confession is not required for venial sins (only for mortal sins), but the reception of the sacrament even for venial sins is encouraged. Just bring up this issue next time if you need to ease your conscience, then let it go.Deacon Bill Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11484509700642430451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post-85357698282452388052010-05-21T13:49:58.380-06:002010-05-21T13:49:58.380-06:00I normally go for confession to confess my sins an...I normally go for confession to confess my sins and to obtain absolution of them.<br /><br />Recently, I attended a healing mass in Seattle. I wanted to be confessed first but because I was from out of town, I was not familiar with the church's schedule and Mass time. A lady I bumped into happened by and told me there was a healing Mass in a few mins and that I could attend. <br /><br />Does attending a Healing Mass rid one of their sins as if they have been confessed? I asked the priest and he advised that my sins were forgiven. <br /><br />How doess a healing mass differ from confession (sacrament of penance and reconciliation)...confessing one's sins to a priest and getting absolution of one's sins?<br /><br />If one has not confessed their sins prior to attending a healing mass, was he sacrilegious when he was anointed with oil and went on to celebrate mass and took holy communion and the drank the wine?<br /><br />Pls advise and if possible pls show where in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church does it say so.<br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com