Into all our lives comes the mystery of illness and pain.  This veiled visitor, sickness, should always be greeted with prayer.  The American Hopi Indians believed that medicine should never be given to a sick person unless prayer is also given.  They recognized the profound relationship between physical health and that of the inner person and the relationship between our human lives and the Divine Mystery.

 

Illness can come to us personally or to a member of our family or a close friend.  When sickness comes to our family, it is an occasion to join our hearts in prayer for the healing of the sick person, whether child or adult.  When we ourselves or members of our family are sick and need medicine, like the Hopi, we too should let that medicine be accompanied by our faith-filled prayer.

 

After we have recovered through prayer, medical care, and rest, we can lift up our hearts in gratitude for the gift of health.  This gesture can be not only a prayer of gratitude but also of rededication to seeking a constant condition of good health through proper diet, rest, recreation and prayerful living.

 

Often, we are asked to pray for a friend or member of the family who is sick.  This prayer allows us to encircle the sick person with the power of God as well as with our own love and affection.  By praying in times of sickness, we can become more conscious of our interdependency upon one another as well as of our intimate relationship with God. 

 

To turn, at times of illness, only to medical science, even with all of its marvelous gifts and knowledge, is to treat only half the person.  By prayer and medicine, we do indeed find what the American Indians called “good medicine,” a healing for body and soul.

 

Father Edward Hays

Prayers for the Domestic Church

 

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Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

This week I have been invited to visit and pray with many parishioners who are seriously ill and I wanted to share this passage from Father Hays with you as a reminder of how important prayer is to the healing process.  If you or a family member find yourself with serious health concerns, consider celebrating the Sacrament of the Sick.  Saint Joseph’s also has many wonderful ministries prepared to assist in a variety of ways when you find yourself in need.  Please contact the parish office for more specific information regarding receiving or offering support.   Nathan and Katherine Webber are a young Saint Joseph’s family with small children who are currently struggling with extraordinary health issues.  Nathan is coping with lymphoma and we have been praying for his health and for the well-being of his family.  Katherine has

developed a blog as an update on their family’s daily circumstances and Nathan’s health which you can access at:  http://nathanweber.talkspotblogs.com.

 

The Webbers are very grateful for the support shown by Martha’s Pantry Ministry and the continued prayerful support of the entire parish community.  May we be grateful for the blessing of good health and rely upon our faith for healing and hope every day.

 

 

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor