The Annual Healing Mass at St. Mary's is held on the Wednesday within the Octave of Easter (Easter Wednesday). See the Easter Season calendar for the actual date.
"Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14) (NAB)
When we think about it, every Eucharist is a healing celebration. In it we receive the Lord Jesus. We are transformed by Him, and we let Him meet us in our needs. In every Mass, we celebrate God's love for us. With the priest we offer ourselves in sacrifice, giving thanks to the Father, through Jesus, our great High Priest, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is He who makes us a community who worships God in Spirit and Truth.
At the Penitential Rite we are healed by the Lord of our sinfulness. We ask Him to remove our sinful inclinations. We repent and He makes us whole. When we listen to the Word of God, we seek to integrate His Word into our lives. At the prayer intercessions we ask that the sick may be made well, and that their care-takers may be strengthened for their task. At the Offertory we present ourselves to God, together with our offerings of bread and wine. In the Consecration we are awed by God's power, as our gifts of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. In praise of Him we may say, "Lord, by Your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world." The Lord hears our claim for freedom from fears, injured memories, sicknesses, and the other effects of sin.
At the Our Father we praise Him and ask that His Kingdom come, and that His Will be done. We stand on the truth that we are all God's beloved children. When we pray for forgiveness, He restores our souls, and then we experience the Lord's gift of peace. Jesus, who forgave His persecutors, now helps us to let go of our resentments, grudges, angers, and jealousies.
When we receive the Lord at Holy Communion, our response is "Amen!" In that, we express our faith in His divine presence and power. After communion, alone in silence before the Lord, we may praise and thank the Lord saying, "Lord, I know You are healing me even now of my ____________(and express your need to Him.)"