Sacraments of Healing

The Gospel finds Jesus asking for volunteers to be with him in his ministry.  They were asked to leave their homes, their community, their way of being, their way of living all for something greater.  Their faith, their belief, their commitment is amazing….they went…immediately. 

The sacraments of healing are an act of humility and an acknowledgement that our brokenness can only be healed through God. Sacraments are an acknowledgement that we can’t bring healing; God has to. Jesus, in his message, his ministry revealed God to others. As his followers, we are to carry that message, ministry, and call forward.  

There are 2 Sacraments of healing:  Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.  Jesus says that we are the light of the world.  But sometimes we aren't always walking in the light.  Sometimes, the darkness of depression, anxiety and sadness take over. The Sacraments of Healing lift the darkness.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of reconciliation used to be called Confession - a time where we made a laundry list of our sins and asked God to forgive us for them.  Then, the Sacrament was referred to as the Sacrament of Penance.  This time, the focus was on receiving a punishment to make up for the ways we sinned.  Now the church calls this the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Reconciliation means to "Make Friends Again."  We are Reconciled in 4 ways:

1.  Reconciled with God
2.  Reconciled with Others
3.  Reconciled with Ourselves
4.  Reconciled with all of God's creation.

We are made whole again and brought into the light.

The Church asks us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice per year.  During Advent to prepare for Christmas and during Lent to prepare for Easter.

Anointing of the Sick
In the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, Catholics are reminded of God’s healing power that keeps flowing through Jesus into the Church. And they participate in the mysterious truth that—as in Jesus’ life—suffering, sickness, and even death can be part of the healing journey toward resurrected life and wholeness.
 
The Anointing of the Sick is offered on the 2nd Sunday of each month following the 10:30 Mass.  It is also offered every New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to start a wonderful healing at the beginning of a new Year.