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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  '... may the Lord in His love ... help you'

by Fr. Daniel J. Fox, OFM Cap. special to The Michigan Catholic
Published May 29, 2009

Fr. Daniel Fox

A friend of mine who is a baptized Catholic but describes himself as an agnostic asked me what I do at the Solanus Casey Center. I explained that as director of the Center it was my task to help to promote the cause of Fr. Solanus Casey, a local Capuchin healer, for canonization in the Roman Catholic Church. He smirked as he suggested, "Then you 'market' Solanus?" "In a way, but I would prefer to say that I 'market' the love of God poured out in Christ Jesus, revealed to Solanus through faith. Solanus, the healer, points to Christ Jesus, The Healer; just as Jesus points to the God of love who desires all to be whole or holy." "That's right, for you Catholics it's all about signs isn't it? What is the name they're called, sacraments, I think."

"Pretty good," I said. "The sacraments, more than anything, are gifts to help us grow into full stature, or holiness. We are taught that Christ is the sacrament or sign, of God's love, and the Church the sacrament or gift of Christ's love. The Church guarantees that when we gather as believers we can meet the living Christ! By the grace of the Holy Spirit, Jesus acts in us and through us. The Sacraments then, allow us to meet Christ in seven meaningful ways."

"Which is your favorite?" He persisted.

"It's too hard to pick just one. It would be like asking you which of your family members or children you love most. You love then all, but differently."

"All right, then, which sacrament do you do the most?"

"The Solanus Center's focus is primarily healing, so I would say that the sacrament of reconciliation and the sacrament of the anointing of the sick are sought after and conferred most.

"The Solanus Center offers confession six days a week, six hours a day on the hour. Oftentimes, people who come to confession will ask the priest friar to anoint them as well, because they are facing surgery or struggling with serious illness. We also celebrate a healing prayer service every Wednesday at 2 p.m. and if we are asked, we will offer the sacrament of the sick at that time too."

"So, you're a faith-healer then?" he snickered. "In a way," I said, "but in truth, my faith has healed me already and made me whole enough to want to share it."

I knew my friend well enough to know that he was conjuring up images of me handling a snake in a trance-like state, so I thought I had better explain more fully.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Fr. Daniel Fox, OFM Cap., uses the holy oil and anoints a man who has requested the sacrament following the healing service offered every Wednesday afternoon at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit.

"The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is the extension of the compassion of Jesus in our own time and place. Jesus suffered with and showed great concern for bodily and spiritual care of the people of His time and He commanded His followers to do the same. Thus, the Church bases the sacrament of anointing in the healing ministry of Jesus and in the injunction which is made known in the Letter of James (James 5:14-16). The sacrament is a beautiful encounter with the One who has born all our ills, Jesus, with those who are suffering here and now. Through the sacrament, Christ strengthens the faithful who are afflicted by illness, physical, mental or spiritual, providing them with the greatest and strongest support, the grace of his presence. The celebration of this sacrament consists especially in the laying on of the hands by the priests of the Church, the offering the prayer of faith, and the anointing of the sick with oil made holy by God's blessing. It is especially meaningful when it is a communal celebration involving all believers present whether at the family home, hospital or church. Those who are seriously ill need the special help of God's grace in this time of anxiety and desperation."

"Does it always work?" he asked incredulously.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Large crowds often gather each week for the healing service at the Solanus Casey Center.

"Always, "I responded. "I have never celebrated the sacrament where some profound grace wasn't given. The first gift of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the hard knocks of sickness or human frailty brought on by aging. The Holy Spirit of power renews trust and faith in the one receiving the sacrament. It is awesome to witness. Sometimes, if it is God's will, there is a physical healing and that too is wondrous to see. And still more miraculous, if the person has committed any sins they are forgiven! God is gracious! You know that one of the best experiences of my life was with this sacrament. I went into visit a woman in the hospital and just finished with the anointing when her caregivers entered the room. She was asked by the doctor and nurse how much pain she was in. She told them that on the scale of 1-10, she was 10. And then she told the nurse and the doctor that she was offering her suffering in union with Christ's so that they would know His healing love, his salvation. Everyone in the room was moved by her profound witness. She had made her suffering meaningful and powerful. It was amazing grace."

"Wow! that does sound cool. You know, my mom is elderly and sickly, can I bring her down or should I wait until she is dying to get the sacrament?"

"Many people think that they can only receive it when they are near death, what we used to call extreme unction.The Church has broadened the embrace of Christ's compassion to include all those who are seriously ill, not only those on death's doorstep. It's really important that you bring to the sacraments those who really need them. By all means, bring her down to the healing service on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Come a little earlier and stop into the confessional yourself."

"Maybe, I will."

Fr. Daniel J. Fox, OFM Cap., is the director of the Solanus Casey Center, Detroit. The friars have been offering the Wednesday healing prayer services for more than 100 years. For more information, call (313) 579-2100.