THE PRIEST AS HEALER

WHAT CAN THE PRIEST DO AS HEALER?
By priestly commission, we can speak with power and the authority given to us by Christ; thus giving the person needing healing a contact with the fullness of God.
Our prayer over the person is an imparting of the Presence of Jesus, an assurance that

• Jesus is near
• God's Holy Spirit is within us
• We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, the praying Church.

The priest as healer needs to be a compassionate figure, reminding all most in need that the prodigal child is warmly welcomed by the Father back into the familial home.
As minister, we are called to pray over the person for complete inner healing, and may be led by God to lay hands on the person's head in the presence of his or her companions, for healing.
The grace of God is thus called on, and the work of healing belongs to Him.
It is God Who has called us out of darkness into His great Light; the minister needs to trust that God will heal either in stages, or completely, as He finds best.
And sometimes the God of Healing decides to take the person needing physical healing home to Heaven.
It is then the task of the priest to give compassionate comfort and support during grief to loved ones still here on earth.