Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

In the ultimate form of healing prayer, the Mass offers a sacred time for Christ, the Physician of souls and bodies, to intimately encounter His people. A "Mass with Prayers for Healing" specifically focuses on physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Father Christopher Barak explains that these Masses are the regular Sunday Masses with an emphasis on asking God to heal us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Father Barak will be celebrating a Mass with Prayers for Healing on Sunday, Feb. 25, at St. Patrick Church in McCook. The Mass will include confession, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and culminate with the Mass itself.

While healing is often associated with physical ailments, the Mass with Prayers for Healing recognizes that healing can encompass emotional, spiritual, and mental wounds as well. Attendees are invited to write their prayer petitions for healing on slips of paper, which are then brought to the altar during the Mass, symbolizing a communal offering to the Divine Physician.

Confession is an essential component for spiritual healing and is available before the Mass. Father Barak explains that through forgiveness of sins, Jesus heals wounded hearts and helps people forgive others who have offended them. Unforgiveness can be a blockage that causes health problems.

Music also plays a significant role in the Mass with Prayers for Healing. The St. Patrick choir, directed by Jo Beebe, sings the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and hymns during the Mass in both English and Spanish. Father Bernard Lorenz provides a homily in Spanish as part of the Hispanic ministry.

A unique aspect of this Mass is the blessing of sacramentals. Everyday items such as salt, water, olive oil, religious images, and statues are blessed by the priests. These sacramentals are used by people to deepen their relationship with God and the saints, providing a sense of protection, security, comfort, and healing.

After the Mass, the sacramentals are placed at the church doorways for people to freely take.

Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction also take place during the Mass with Prayers for Healing. The faithful are invited to draw near to the Blessed Sacrament, mirroring the instances in the Gospel where the sick were brought to Jesus for healing. During this time, the priest lays his hands on the heads of those kneeling at the Communion railing, silently praying for their healing. Members of the prayer team also pray silently for the people as they kneel before the Sacred Host. Gregorian chant and other spiritual music accompany this powerful prayer time.

To prepare mentally and spiritually for the Mass, Father Barak suggests participating in confession and reflecting upon the Holy Gospel according to Luke, which contains many healing miracles by Jesus. He also recommends the "Forgiveness Prayer" by Father Robert DeGrandis, as forgiveness is an important aspect of healing.

A prayer team led by Father Barak spiritually supports those attending the Mass. Everyone is invited to pray and fast, whether or not they are attending the Mass. The team encourages offering up sacrifices for an increase in faith, the grace to forgive, healing, and deliverance.

Those who have attended Masses with prayers for healing have experienced deep peace and happiness. Some have even reported physical healings. Father Barak emphasizes the importance of seeking healing and highlights the Encounter Ministries in the diocese, which offers prayer services for healing in various parishes.

Additionally, spiritual pilgrimages can be a source of healing. Father Barak suggests participating in the Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage, which gives people the opportunity to kneel before Jesus and ask for healing.

In the Mass with Prayers for Healing, attendees have the chance to encounter the Divine Physician, to seek healing for themselves and their loved ones. Through confession, music, sacramentals, and Eucharistic Adoration, the Mass offers a profound experience of healing and faith. As Father Barak says, "Pray intensely for healing in every area of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. The Lord Jesus and His disciples went out and healed the sick to show the Kingdom of God was at hand. People went to them for healings and received them."