Healing Prayer Service: July 22, 2010

     Healing prayer service conducted by Jean.  She set up her altar with a hydrangea bouquet, candles, incense and the famous "Old Testament" Holy Trinity Icon of the Rublev style. (See below, first footnote under "Read More")  She led us in her usual expert way, first to develop concentration, to relax all parts of the body and center our prayerful thoughts on the heart. The group read together the following prayer from St. Bernadette Chapel, Lourdes, France. (See below, second footnote under "Read More")

     Lay your hands gently upon us,
     Let their touch render your peace,
     Let them bring your forgiveness and healing.
     Lay your hands, gently lay your hands.

     You were sent to free the broken-hearted,
     You were sent to give sight to the blind,
     You desire to heal all our illness,
      Lay your hands, gently lay your hands.

     Lord, we come to you through one another.
     Lord, we come to you in all our need.
     Lord, we come to you seeking wholeness.
     Lay your hands, gently lay your hands.


    Then we sat in guided meditation for those who needed our prayers for healing. We went around the group and pariticipants named those, either themselves, or loved ones, or friends who needed prayers for healing. Finally Jean annointed with oil  (See below, third footnote under "Read More" below) and prayed for any of those of the group who needed prayers for healing. Music was used to add beauty and soulfulness to the proceedings.  We closed with singing, and reciting the Lord's Prayer or Our Father together.
Footnote 1:  There are at least two well known Holy Trinity Icons. The one we saw on the altar area Thursday morning was the "Old Testament" Holy Trinity icon in the style of Rublev.  The original such icon was painted by Andrei Rublev around 1410. The original painting depicted three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre after which as as reward, Sarah conceived in her old age.  But this icon is often interpreted as depicting the Holy Trinity. Each of the figures wears a blue garment which is the color of the heavens but each wears something that speaks of Their own identity. . The three faces are identical.

 The figures can be enclosed in a circle as below.

People contemplating this icon often imagine the circle extending out from the flat surface to encircle the contemplator.

The central figure wears the blue of divinity but also a brown garment which significes the earth, or Jesus humanity. There is a gold strip which speaks of kingship. Therefore this figure represents Christ.

Note that this figure of the Christ rests two fingers on the table, laying onto it his divine and his human nature. Behind the figure is a tree which could be the oak tree at Mamre under which the three angelic visitors rested. The hospitality of Abraham and Sarah to these three angelic visitors was rewarded by the gift of a son. The tree may also represent the Cross -- the tree on which Christ died -- the tree of death that becomes the tree of eternal life. Note that the Christ figure in turn leans toward the figure on the left.

That figure on the left appears to be at rest within Itself. The blue garment is almost hidden by a shimmering ethereal robe. This figure represents the father, the One who is Creator and cannot be seen by his human creatures. Both of his hands are clasped onto the staff. This represents all authority in heaven and on earth belonging to God the Father. Behind the figure is a house which represents the dwelling place of God. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you."

The figure on the right wears a blue robe which again speaks of divinity and his green robe represents new life. This figure symbolizes the third component of the Holy Trinity, the Spirit.  The Spirit touches the table bringing the divine life of God to earth. You may reflect on that touch and the words of invocation -- "Lord, You are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. Let Your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy..." Behind the figure is a mountain. Mountains are often represented in scriptures as places where people have encountered God -- places where heaven and earth seem to touch. Moses met God on mountains, Jesus was transfigured while praying on a mountain. Think of this mountain, and the green robe representing new life and think of the statement in scriptures where Elijah could not find God in the earthquake-the wind- the fire on the mountain- but  Elijah found God in the gentle breeze which carried the voice of God deep into his being. The Spirit figure inclines, drawing our gaze back to the central figure representing Christ.

Footnote two: Lourdes, France. Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes began on February 11, 1858 when Bernadette Soubirous, a 14 year old peasant girl from Lourdes told her mother that she had seen a "lady" in the cave of Maasabielle about a mile out of Lourdes while she was gathering firewood. There were 17 further appearances that year.  Bernadette was forbidden by her parents from returning to the place of the visions, but she did anyway on 17 occasions. On one visit, the "Lady of Lourdes" told Bernadette to dig in the mug which revealed the spring of the grotto of Lourdes which later became associated with healings, several of which could not be explained scientifically. However some were investigated and found to be hoaxes. Eventually Bernadette was canonized as a saint and many Christians believe the appartitions were of the Virgin Mary. In 1862 Pope Pius IX authorized the veneration of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes. And in 1870 the same Pope Pius authorized the building of the Cathedral on the hill above the grotto.

Footnote three. Anointing with oil was a common Biblical practice. In the Bible, people, places and things were anointed and the practice made the object Sacred and consecrated the object's use to the Creator.  Yahweh actually instructed Moses how to prepare a Holy anointing oil for use in the Tabernacle. The main ingredient was and is olive oil, obtained from the olive tree that was very important in both Sacred and secular life. The olive tree has been a symbol of peace and prospertiy since the time of Noah when the dove returned with an olive branch. The olive tree epitomized the Spirit of the Lord and it was forbidden to cut down an olive tree in ancient times. Father Chuck explained also that the fact that the oil came from the olive, a food and sometimes from fish -- both food sources -- its use to anoint showed great regard for the person being anointed because the oil comes from a food source which is given up to provide the oil for the guest. Indeed, in the hot dry climate of Judea, a guest in the home was anointed, partly as a token of honor or esteem, and partly to moisten the skin after exposure to the elements.  Anointing with oil continues to have these meanings.


     Next week we will read Gunther Pohlman's writing: "The Nature of our Religiosity: An Array of My Thoughts". It is a meeting of the Gunther Pohlman Society.