8 March 2023
Last Sunday we were fortunate to have Bishop Fitzpatrick with us for confirmations and receptions. Congratulations to Randy, Jeanie, and Kevin! This was the second time we have had Bishop Bob in recent memory for these rites, for he was just with us on All Saints’ Day this past November. May we be fortunate enough to schedule more masses with confirmations and receptions in the future.
Before the Solemn Mass, Bishop Bob met with the candidates and their sponsors to practice the rite, and he also provided catechesis on the wide and varied history of confirmation within the church. I will not go into the details, as that would require much more specificity than this column can handle, but suffice it to say, when people are confirmed and received, we witness the Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The candidates are taking the intentional time to put their faith in Christ above all things, and those of us in the congregation are also given the chance to renew our baptismal vows by participating with the candidates in the rite. These are grace-filled moments within the church, and in our current season of Lent, they help us prepare for the Risen Christ coming again this Easter.
This is just one way in which our liturgy heals us. All of us felt such joy on Sunday during the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and all of us were healed with the remedy of Holy Communion. This was made very poignant for me, as last Saturday the clergy gathered at our cathedral for the Chrism Mass with the Renewal of Ordination Vows and the Blessing of Oils. Within that mass, baptismal promises are also renewed, and on Sunday when the Bishop anointed the confirmands, the fresh oil of chrism from the day prior was used. I like to think that the oil locks in the fragrance of Christ into the candidates.
In the past St. Mark’s had a vibrant healing ministry, including the laying on of hands for healing and anointing. At such masses, the oil of the sick was given to those requesting healing in body, mind, or spirit. It is time to revive this ministry of healing, and to that end, two Lenten Vigil Masses with the Rite of Healing have been scheduled - Saturdays, March 11 and 25 at 5:00 pm. These said masses will include the Laying on of Hands for Healing and Anointing for those who desire this pastoral ministry.
The liturgy provides the best crucible for pastoral care. In this instance, one hears the scriptures, and that heals us, and then one receives pastoral ministry through anointing oil, and that also heals us, and then we receive Holy Communion, the true medicine for all our troubles, and that heals us again. We are made ready by the Word for the rites that heal us, and it is important to note, that the sharing of the bread and the wine always comes after the anointing with oil. In the Sacramental scheme of healing, the anointing with oil always leads into the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation.
Liturgy heals us and our world. For the next three Sundays in Lent, our Gospels are transformative stories of healing. This Sunday we hear about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. The next Sunday we witness Jesus healing the man born blind from birth. On the final Sunday in Lent we experience the dramatic raising of Lazarus.
With so much pain in our world today, we also receive so much grace and joy when we gather to worship. Christ the Healer is forever breaking into our lives, making us whole. May we continue to renew our faith this Lent, as we journey to the ultimate healing of Holy Week and Easter.
Father Paul Lillie +
