This is an article that appeared in OSV: Our Sunday Visitor

Pentecost issue, May 30, 2004

OSV: IN FOCUS ARTICLE ON THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

“CALLING ON THE SPIRIT”

 By Thomas A. Szyszkiewicz

The Church, from her earliest days, has been noted for healing. Most of the miracles Jesus worked in His earthly ministry were healings—giving sight to the man born blind; raising Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter and the widow of Naim’s son from the dead; restoring the health of the 10 lepers and the centurion’s servant; and many more.

            Jesus called the apostles to himself “and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases” (Lk 9:1). This power and authority was demonstrated in the Acts of the Apostles, when Peter and John cured the paralytic at the Temple gate; when Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead and when the people hoped for Peter’s shadow to fall on them to the heal them.

            But what of today? Are the “power and authority” gone? Are they only to be found in the charismatic renewal or the intercession of the saints or at Lourdes? Or does the healing ministry only take place now through modern medicine?

            When you look at the various healing ministries in the Church today, the answer to these questions is clearly “no”.

AT THE WATER’S EDGE (www.atwe.org) is a case in point. The healing ministry, led by Deacon Frank O’Connell, began 11 years ago when his brother-in-law, Deacon Ken Schneider, was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. O’Connell spent two-and-a-half hours one day praying with Schneider. He helped Schneider imagine himself in the boat with Jesus’ disciples during the storm, getting out to walk on the water and going with Jesus to the shore. His brother-in-law was deeply moved by what happened during that prayer.

            There was healing—of the spiritual and emotional kind. Schneider died shortly after that (he was a survivor for over 5 years), but from a medical mistake, not the cancer.

            That experience led O’Connell to bring this type of prayer to thousands of people across the country and around the world. And through it, many people have been healed of cancers, Crohn’s disease, drug, alcohol and sex addictions, and other illnesses.

A HEALTHY SOUL

But the spiritual healings have perhaps been even more dramatic than the physical ones. One nun told O’Connell as he was praying with her that Jesus would not come near her. O’Connell told her to tell Jesus that she loved him. But she had spent many years in the convent without doing so, and she was afraid. When she did, however, she suddenly saw her long-dead father. He had never forgiven her for entering the convent. In her mind, she saw her father say he now accepted her decision

            The deacon’s ministry is an example of the charismatic and hierarchical gifts in the Church working together in harmony.

            While some may see a tension, Deacon O’Connell simply says there is more than one way to meet Jesus. “Don’t throw your rosary away,” he said.

            Ultimately, he said, healing ministry is “SIMPLY SHARING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.”

--Article written for OSV by Thomas A. Szyszkiewicz -- Minnesota.

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