Healing Masses

[Archaeology cat]

Two questions:

1) What is the history of them?
2) I heard of a priest offering healing Masses for family trees because of ancestral sin affecting later generations. What's the story with this?

[cappie]

 A healing Mass is a normal Mass, with a particular focus on asking God for healing.  For example, the homily or the songs may relate to healing or the activity of the Holy Spirit.  It has been tied up with the Charismatic Renewal Movement in particular although not exclusively. Pope Leo XIII prayed for the Holy Spirit to be poured out at the dawn of the 20th century. But it was in a large way during the flourishing of the CCRM that these Masses really "took off".   During these Masses Jesus the Healer, is with us in the closest way. During the Eucharist, Jesus comes to us.  He healed people in the Bible with His touch and He can do the same today, so one might say it is a Mass with a particular emphasis, in the same way that Masses for Reconciliation focus on particular moments of Reconciliation.

 

After Mass, there may be a time where people briefly speak about experiences of healing.  There may also be time for individual prayer ministry when those who desire may pray with the priest or others through whom God has healed  people before.  While waiting, people usually sing praise and worship songs. People may also prophesy and pray in tongues.  Some will rest in the Spirit by falling gently to the floor. When one rests in the Spirit, they are experiencing God's love in a powerful, direct way. Catchers accompany the prayer ministry team to catch anyone who might fall.  Resting in the Spirit is not necessary for people to receive healing, and God never forces people to do this, however it does happen and the people who rest do report it being a strong experience of being immersed in God.  This part of the evening is clearly not the Mass, but rather a time of prayer, so the format may vary from one place to another.

 

It is important to pray not only for ourselves, but for others, especially our family.  Masses are offered for healing of the family.  We can pray for disorders and diseases that follow through generations in families to be healed.

 

An article about Healing of the Family Tree with insights from Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI).http://fatherstefan.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/reflections-on-the-family-tree-from-fr-stefan-part-1/