Descent of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands

Today, at daily Mass, I meant to talk about St. Anthony Mary Claret. I always enjoy talking about the saints on their feast days, and trying to find some connection between this saint and our lives today. So, I printed up a bio of the saint from SQPN, and headed over for Mass.

Well, I think the Holy Spirit had other ideas. As I was proclaiming the Gospel, I was struck by this passage:

He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. (Luke 13:13)

At all the celebrations of the Sacraments, with the exception of Marriage, the priest or bishop lays his hands on someone or holds his hands over the matter of the Sacrament. Part of the blessing Holy Water includes the priest holding his hands over the water. At the Epiclesis (calling down of the Holy Spirit) of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest holds his hands over the bread and wine which has been offered to become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The bishop lays hands on those who are to be Confirmed (can be done by holding hands over them), and also lays hands on those who are to be ordained to Holy Orders. Part of the Rite of Anointing includes the priest silently laying his hands on those receiving the Sacrament of Anointing.

It was the Sacrament of Anointing that really caught me. I had always wondered why the rite called for the priest to lay hands on them. Yes, I knew that the Sacrament worked through the power of the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the anointing with the Oil of Infirm. Yes, I knew that laying on of hands symbolized the descent of the Holy Spirit, but I had never made the full connection until this morning. I admit, I’m not always the brightest bulb in the box. It took me until today to realize consciously that nearly every time Our Lord healed, he touched them or was touched by them.

When the priest lays hands on those receiving the Sacrament of Anointing, it is a prayer for healing by the Holy Spirit. Realize, of course, that the healing we pray for may not always be a physical healing, but any time we pray for healing, healing will occur if the recipient is open to the Holy Spirit. The healing they receive may be spiritual, with a greater openness to the spiritual benefits of the suffering they have to endure. The healing may be a preparation for the final journey into eternal life, which is why Anointing is part of the Last Rites. Any time the Sacrament of Anointing is received, healing will occur.

I truly meant to talk about St. Anthony Mary Claret this morning, but I don’t think he’ll mind that Someone else wanted to be the focus. Come, Holy Spirit!