About the Service of Healing
From CatholicWikipedia
Introduction to the Service of Healing (1919)
by Abp. Charles W. Leadbeater (1847-1934), co-founder of the Liberal Catholic Church
The purpose of the Service of Healing is twofold; first, to bring spiritual upliftment to those who are in sore need thereof; second, to give some relief, when possible, to those who are suffering. from various physical ills.
At the outset, by means of the Asperges, the thought atmosphere of the Church is purified and made ready for the coming of a healing Angel, who is immediately thereafter invoked. The Confiteor follows, and the attitude of those who join in this confession should result in an earnest desire to rise above the imperfections of their nature, and to live a higher and nobler life. Such an attitude arouses our spiritual powers to activity. The Priest then pronounces the Absolution. It must be remembered that this does not relieve a man of responsibility for the consequences of his wrong-doing, because it is only by paying each debt which he contracts that he can learn the great lessons of life. Absolution does make it easier, however, to do what is right after a mistake has been made, by clearing away the mental and emotional entanglements which blind the inner nature, and by straightening out distortions in the etheric body.
The people rise and sing a hymn which is intended to incline their hearts to the Christ, and to enable them to feel the nearness of His Presence and the wonder of His Love. The words of this hymn should be felt as well as sung by those who desire help. St. James' instructions as to the anointing of the sick are then read, and the Veni Creator, which is the traditional call for the aid of God the Holy Ghost, is sung by His kneeling worshippers. While this is sung, for eyes.that can see, the whole Church slowly fills with that glorious glow of fire which is the outward manifestation of the presence of the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity; and in the strength of that Presence the Priest sends forth the cleansing current of exorcism which is intended to clear away anything that might hinder the working of the healing force.
This next step is to follow the apostolic custom of anointing the patient with consecrated oil, invoking the mighty Leader of the Hosts of the healing Angels, the Archangel Raphael. The possibility of angelic assistance is unsuspected by the majority of people in this age, which will be comprehended more and more fully as the years roll on. Then the Priest lays his hands upon the patient's head, and pours into him with all the strength which God has given to him, the uplifting and healing power of the Lord Christ. He has been specially prepared by his ordination to be a channel for this force and for the power of God the Holy Spirit, in doing this he is but exercising one of the functions of his ministry. If a Bishop conducts the service he has the additional opportunity of helping by the imposition of his crosier, the healing power of which has long been recognized.
During the anointing and the laying-on of hands the attitude of the patient should be that of love for our Lord Christ and confidence in his mighty power. The whole nature should be opened to the downpouring spiritual influence, even as a flower opens its petals to the sun. The less the thoughts of a person are centered upon himself at this moment, the more the depths of his nature are responsive to the compassionate Presence of the Christ and the greater is the possibility of cure.
The greatest means of spiritual aid and physical healing is now given to the patient in the Holy Communion. No greater help both for body and soul can be offered than this, for with the reception of the Sacred Host the human body becomes for a few hours a veritable shrine, radiating the glowing love and power of the Christ.
It is not expected that those instantaneous cures which are commonly (though wrongly) called miraculous will often occur at these services. They may and they do happen in certain cases; but we are not yet sufficiently conversant with the method of working of these stupendous powers to be able to predict results. Many patients, especially chronic cases, feel considerable temporary improvement but gradually relapse and slip back either partially or entirely. Such patients should try again. Where there is a slight amelioration, only temporary at the first attempt, second and subsequent attempts may well carry it much further. Even Christ Himself had to apply His treatment tWice in the case of the man born blind.
If a patient is not restored to health even after repeated attempts it must not be thought that the Holy Spirit cannot heal; it may be that there are circumstances and factors, not known to us, which may prevent or hinder the desired results. The Priest will do his best to help the patient; the patient will do his best to prepare himself to be helped; what will come of it is in higher hands than ours-in the hands of Christ the Healer and the King.
