THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING BY FR ERIC OLATUNJI CDA

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE. THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
 Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, man receives the new life of Christ. Now we carry this life “in earthen vessels,” and it remains “hidden with Christ in God.” We are still in our “earthly tent,” subject to suffering, illness, and death.  This new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost by sin.
 The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health,  has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
I. What is This Sacrament Called?
 It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father  from whom one has strayed by sin. 
It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.
 It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a “confession” – acknowledgment and praise – of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man. 
It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent “pardon and peace.”
It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the live of God who reconciles: “Be reconciled to God.” He who lives by God’s merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord’s call: “Go; first be reconciled to your brother.”

PRAYING TO JESUS THROUGH MARY

What do we mean when we say, we are “praying to Jesus through Mary”? It means that we do not pray to Jesus directly, rather, we pray to Jesus through Mary. The next question is, does this contradict the scriptures as recorded in Tim-1, 2:5 “For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human” why then should we pray through Mary to God if Jesus is the one mediator? What are the benefits of praying through Mary?
After the fall of man from the glory of God in Genesis chapter 3 where man consciously committed himself, a gulf was created between God and man. Mankind threw itself into a sinful situation and man can no longer go directly to God; its consequence includes deprivation of communion with God and exclusion from sharing in the eternal life. To remedy this, God became man to pay for the sin of man thereby reconciling man with God. But God did not just appear on the surface of the earth; there ‘Is’ Incarnation which took place in the womb of Mary, a union of Divine and human. Alphonsus Liguory in his book “Glories of Mary” teaches that the mother and Son are inseparable. Therefore if God came to save us through Mary, it is more pleasing to return back to God through the same channel. For this reason we communicate with God through the same channel “Mary”
WHO IS MARY
According to the teaching of the Church, Mary of Nazareth was an obscure Jewish maiden chosen from all eternity and formed to the Divine plan who from the first moment of her existence, was exempted from any stain of the original sin. She cooperates with the will of God for the salvation of Man. By this most significant fact, the Church made it clear indeed that the conception of Mary is to be venerated She was called Mary which signifies “light Giver” for she gave birth to the light of the world. Mary means “lady”, since she gave birth to the lord. She is the Mother of God thereby mother of the church. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix. Let us speak a little about this name, which is said to mean “star of the sea,” and which so well befits the Virgin Mother. Rightly is she likened to a star? As a star emits a ray without being dimmed, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury. The ray takes naught from the brightness of the star, nor the Son from His Mother’s virginal integrity. This is the noble star raised out of Jacob, whose ray illumines the whole world, whose splendor shines in the heavens, penetrates the abyss, and, traversing the whole earth, gives warmth rather to souls than to bodies, cherishing virtues, and withering vices. Mary is that bright and incomparable star, whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, shining by her merits, and giving us light by her examples.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE VIRGIN MARY FOUND IN THE HOLY QURAN
Mary, otherwise known as Maryam to Muslims, is highly revered in the Christian faith for being the Mother of Jesus. However, not many are aware of her high and noble standing in Islam. Her elevated status is in fact explicitly mentioned in the Quran and also described in the authentic narrations of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Messenger had in fact listed her as one of the four greatest women of all time who had reached perfection. I compiled a short list of important facts about Mary mentioned in the Quran for you Christians to know how important she is to God.

1. She gave birth to Jesus despite being a virgin. She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?” He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for me…” Quran 19:20-21
2. She was chosen by Allah above all women. When the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world. Quran 3: 42
3. An entire Chapter is named after her in the Quran. Her name is the centre-point of the 19th Chapter of the Quran, ‘Surat Maryam’. In fact, Mary is the only woman referred by her first name in the Quran. This is an honourable status granted by the Quran only to few, mostly to the Prophets, Messengers and Angels.
4. She experienced many miracles. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?” She said, “It is from Allah . Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.” Quran 3:37 In the interpretation of this verse, scholars say that every time Zachariah would visit her, he would miraculously find her with the fruits of summer during winter and the fruits of winter during summer. These are just a sample of some of the important qualities and features of Mary the mother of Jesus as found in the Holy Quran. Yet some Christians did not know her.
   WHY PRAY THROUGH MARY?
   We pray through Mary because she was able to turn a stable into a home for Jesus, with poor swaddling clothes and an abundance of love. She is the handmaid of the Father who sings his praises. She is the friend who is ever concerned that wine is not lacking in our lives. She is the woman whose heart was pierced by a sword and who understands all our pain…. As she did with poor souls, Mary offers [us] maternal comfort and love, and whispers in [our] ear: “Let your heart not be troubled…
   Every Mass brings us to the womb of Mary, where Christ first became present in His Body and Blood. Every Tabernacle is a copy of that first Tabernacle, which is Mary’s womb, where Christ spent the first nine months of His life. The Israelites carried a tabernacle of tablets of stones for victory yet Mary Carried the real God soul and divinity in her womb. If we want to be close to Jesus in His Body and Blood, even to hide ourselves away in the Tabernacle with Him, then we can do that through Mary, by hiding away in her womb. Jesus remains there in all His glory and might, in that first Tabernacle. Are we too big too fit in, too full of ourselves, too busy with the things of the world? Or can we let ourselves be hidden in love to find the Hidden Love who remains wrapped in love? Can we allow ourselves to be confined to God’s will, which is nothing other than the womb, than the heart of Mary, who was always freely confined to God’s will? Mary teaches us to make a home in ourselves for Jesus, a Tabernacle, a womb in our hearts for Him to remain always.
   BENEFITS OF PRAYING TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
   A story was told of a king who had a big farm-land with many workers, at the end of the planting season, each of them will present the farm produce to the king in gratitude. But there comes a year where the farm produce was so poor, the servants took the poor gift to the king but in anger he ordered them to be killed. But one of the servants took his farm produce to the mother of the king who wrapped the apple in a golden plate surrounded with beautiful flowers. The king who loved his mother so much received the apple with joy, while enjoying the apple, the queen presented the servant as the one who brought the apple, in response, the king said “what a precious apple” and he gave him more farm land.
   The same way Mary turns our rotten apples into precious gift before her Son. The bible makes it clear that the prayer of a sinner is an abomination before the throne of grace but if we pray through Mary who is ever sinless the king of glory will accept our prayer.
   There are many ways to climb a tall building. One can use lifter, stair case, ladder or rope, all of these are various means reaching the destination but the lifter is the easiest hence we you go to Jesus through Mary it is like someone who uses a lifter, its faster, easier, and safer.
   Are you aware that God gathers all the waters of the world and called it the sea, so also he gathers all his graces and called it Mary, meaning no grace comes to the earth except through her.
   St. Bernard of Clairvaux gives a detailed litany of benefits of approaching Jesus through Mary.
   While it is true that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10), God also endowed upon the name of Mary a deep spiritual power. Being the “queen mother,” Mary has a special role in salvation history and continues to come to the aid of God’s people whenever they call upon her. It is a great mystery, but countless saints have reinforced over the centuries that the closer one gets to Mary, the closer one is brought to her Son. Pope Benedict XVI similarly promoted this reality and pointed to a quote from St. Bernard of Clairvaux when visiting Heiligenkreuz Abbey in Austria. The quote is a summary of Catholic belief when it comes to Marian intercession, and reassures us that whenever we invoke the name of Mary, we will be brought closer to Jesus.
   CONCLUSION
   To pray through Mary is logical because Mary being the physical mother of Jesus, who is the head of the Church, is also the spiritual mother of the members of his mystical body, that is, the Church. Consequently, Mary is the mother of the whole Christ, both head and body. Interestingly, she is the mother of the Church as well a daughter and member of the Church. Finally, as a result of her role in the economy of salvation, she is the mother of God and the Church equally invokes her as her own mother also. By her example she encourages the other members of the Church to entrust themselves generously to the mysterious action of the Paraclete, and to live with him in constant communion of love.
   RESOURCES
   Anthony,Akinwale, Soteriology and Grace class discussion, Dominican Institute Ibadan, unpublished February 26, 2014

Cf Pius IX, Apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus (8th December, 1854), no 2

Cf Marian consecration 33- day preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, PDF file
Gambero L, Mary and the Fathers of the Church (U.S.A: Ignatius Press, 1999), p.375.

Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution of the Church Lumen Gentium, no. 62

http://www.onepathnetwork.com/6-facts-virgin-mary-in-the-quran assed on Friday 23rd October 2020 12pm.
http://www.google.com/amp/s/aleteia.org/2019/0….

The Holy Quran Diakonia
The Holy Bible
Mama Benedicta Igwebe unpublished materials from the Mary Grotto apostolate

THE EFFECT OF SILENCE

According to ancient Scholars, silence is Golden, and pivotal for a good listener. Blessed Justin Russollilo teaches that Silence makes one to have control over the self and to put the tongue under control. In fact, a Judicious silence is far better than truth said without Charity .

However, silence can make one feel really bad and terrible especially when one expects/demands a response and this response is not offered. In other words, silence can be positive and can be negative; it is an instrument of destruction and a path to Grace; it can heal and it can kill.

There is a time for everything: a time to talk and a time to be silent (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:7-8); for the quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools (Ecclesiastes 9:17). Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent (Proverbs 17:28).

POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SILENCE
S source of wisdom in conflict
I inevitable when someone is confused
L leaves room for understanding
E emphasizes empathic listening
N needed in discernment and Grace
C creative art and act in counselling
E expresses self control

NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SILENCE
S silent killer
I conflict worries
L leaves one in confusion
E exposes leader’s incompetency
N nurses hatred
C creative feeling of helplessness
E enchants anger

Remember, Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23). Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD (Zephaniah 1:7) as He speaks the Word of life to your soul (1 Samuel 3:9).

Be Blessed. Rev Fr Joyzy Pious Ogunjobi

Edited by Fr Lawrence Ogundipe Sdv

PRAYER TO PROTECT OUR PROTESTERS FROM THE WICKED KILLERS

God of Justice, as Youths asking for justice we are marked as enemies. We need protection from bullies, from misguided avengers, and killers .

Lord our God Hold our loved ones tightly, and never let them go astray.
Command Your angels, to keep us, so that no harm or disaster will come near to our youth and our lives. Our trust is not in our ability but in Your stability as our Father. Our weapons of warfare are spiritual, and we look to You for victory. Show us when to speak up, when to listen, and when to act, always aware that You are fighting our battles for us and with us.

Save us Lord
Save our country
Amen