Oblate News

Digital Pilgrimage Day 5 – Join the Lourdes Pilgrimage in Prayer

Wednesday 18th September

Fr Paschal Dillon OMI Anointing in Lourdes

‘Blessed are the Poor; the Kingdom of God is theirs’

Wednesday 18th September 

Today during mass in Lourdes all our pilgrims will have the opportunity to be anointed with the Holy Oil of Healing. The Anointing with Oil is one of the seven sacraments of the Church.

In the letter from St. James we read; ‘If any one of you is in trouble, they should pray… if any one you are sick they should send for one of the elders and they will anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord and pray with them.’

None of us can avoid or escape the normal trials and pains of daily life. During the natural course of our lives, we all experience struggles, bereavement, setbacks and difficulties. The danger is that we believe that we can survive these without help and support from others; but as we all know, we simply can’t get through these times on our own.

We can also turn to Jesus for comfort, help and healing. He says to each of us; ‘Do not be afraid, I have called you by your name, you are mine. You are precious in my eyes and I love you.’ (Isaiah 43.1-4). Jesus wants nothing more than to reach out to touch and heal us. All we have to do is accept this gracious gift and reach our hand to touch his.

It is when we celebrate the Eucharist that we fully meet and experience the person of Jesus. It is through the Eucharist that we hear the voice of Jesus saying to each of us personally, ‘Of course I wat to heal you.’ It is through the Eucharist that we are nourished and healed. As Pope Francis tells us; The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.’ (The Joy of the Gospel: 47). This is all us, not just some of us!

Prayer Suggestion: During your personal prayer today, pray for the gift of deep inner healing for yourself. Call to mind and name someone you know who also needs the gift of healing. Pray also for all those in Lourdes who will be anointed during the celebration of mass.

You can watch the live video today’s mass on facebook by clicking the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/angloirishoblates/videos/2302672119843741/?tn-str=k*F 

=====

If you would like to receive this reflection directly to your email inbox, please sign up below: