Fresh Oils

     We have a tradition at our parish of celebrating the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on the first Wednesday of each month immediately following the morning Mass.  This is in addition to a larger communal setting in the Fall of each year.  I adopted the idea from one of our priests, at one time a neighbor, Father Bob Washko, who used to celebrate on the first Friday of the month.

     This sacrament is one of two sacraments of Healing within the Church (the other being Reconciliation).  Through this sacrament we place ourselves within the embrace of the Church and present ourselves to the Lord for his healing touch.  We come in need but also with the confident assurance that his love brings to us.  We come expecting "miracles", with the greatest miracle being the amazing love of God offered and freely given to us.

     Today we used the "fresh oils" of the Chrism Mass, the Oil of the Sick.  Blest by Bishop Brandt, it is used for this sacrament as a sign of the strengthening and healing power of Christ's love.  As we approach, the priest lays hands on our heads, then prays as he anoints our foreheads: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit."  As he anoints the palms of each hand he says: "May the Lord, who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up."

     There were at least twenty-five who came to receive the sacrament this morning, a moment of blessing for them and the whole Church.

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Blessed John Paul - a Traveller
     As mentioned previously, the beatification of Blessed John Paul II gives us the opportunity to reflect upon some of the milestones of his papacy.  The pontificate of John Paul lasted nearly 27 years, one of the longest in the history of the Church.  During that time, although not the first to travel worldwide, he was the most traveled - He made 146 pastoral visits inside of Italy and 104 pastoral visits outside of Italy.  He literally travelled the globe and brought Christ and the Church to the world.