Two days before the World Day of the Sick, Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrated a Mass with anointing on Sunday, Feb. 9 at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral.
The Columbus region for the Order of Malta has assisted with the Mass with Anointing of the Sick for the past six years. Anointing of the Sick is reserved for those with a serious illness, but others came to the Mass to accompany the sick in prayer and solidarity.
The Mass normally takes place on the second Sunday of February immediately before the World Day of the Sick, which was observed this year on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Order of Malta’s Columbus region members participated in the Mass. The lay religious order, whose members are called Knights and Dames, facilitates medical, social and humanitarian projects around the world.
The Columbus Region of the Order of Malta operates a clinic at the former Columbus Holy Rosary-St. John campus that provides medical and dental care for the poor and sick. Its members also visit prisoners and engage in other charitable works.
“The Order of Malta is a 1,000-year-old organization whose two charisms are defense of the faith and caring for the sick and the poor,” said Brian Kinney, a member of the Columbus Region. ““We would like people to know that the Order of Malta Center of Care Clinic, where we have our primary work here in the diocese, is always looking for volunteers, whether they are medical or non-medical, to assist with the help in the clinic.”
In Bishop Fernandes’ homily, he referred to St. Mark’s gospel and to Jesus calling on his apostles to go and preach, cast out demons and lay hands on the sick and cure them, anointing them with oil.
“Meanwhile, in St. James letter, he asks, “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he’s committed any sins, his sins will be forgiven.”
From the beginning, Bishop Fernandes said, the apostles and priests laid hands on the sick and anointed them with oil in the name of the Lord. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he took His disciples aside and proclaimed, ‘In my name, you will cast out demons. In my name you will heal the sick.’ And so we carry out this practice. We anoint them with oil. I will lay my hands on each of these sick person’s heads, then I will anoint them on the forehead and the palms of the hands.”
The bishop explained that Anointing of the Sick is not just for the dying but for those who are truly sick, who have grown feeble with the burden of years, have a serious illness or are facing some surgery.
“Our hope and our prayer is that these individuals here who will be anointed will receive the healing, whether spiritual or physical healing, that they need; that they will receive the forgiveness of sins; that they will be restored to their family and be able to return to their livelihood,” he said. “For if it is not God’s will that they receive physical healing, they will be closer to Him and that they will be preparing for eternity.”
He went on to say that all people have been called despite their unworthiness to collaborate in the ministry of healing, reconciliation, forgiveness and proclaiming hope.
“The sick who are here with us, they hope to get well, and even if they know that their illness may be terminal, they also hope for heaven and eternal happiness with God, and there will be no more sickness or suffering,” he said.
“And we are all pilgrims of hope, but the presence of the Church and the prayer of the Church for the sick also reminds them that they are not alone, that they are vital and valuable members of this community, that they will not be abandoned, and that Christ is always close to us, despite our unworthiness.”
Bishop Fernandes pointed out that Christ healed St. Peter and St. Paul, and that Isaiah recognized his own unworthiness and God made him great.
“And if He could do that for them, why could He not make us great? Why could He not make us holy? Why could He not make us heralds of the Good News?” the bishop asked.
“This is our mission: not to condemn but to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our God comes to heal. Our God comes to save. Our God comes to be with us and calls us to the greatness of being an apostle, and to the greatness of heaven itself.”
