tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502171450450034535.post3569371357940791993..comments2023-10-28T07:04:25.925-04:00Comments on A Theology of Desire: The Sacrament of ConfessionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502171450450034535.post-46448006523514641692008-05-27T16:23:00.000-04:002008-05-27T16:23:00.000-04:00Apologies for the long delay! I was at the cottage...Apologies for the long delay! I was at the cottage, saddled with dial-up, and am catching up now on this and that.<BR/><BR/>To respond to your question: God can choose to heal however He wants, through whomever (whoever?) He wants. In the priesthood there is a special office of healing however. Given that I am charismatic as well as sacramental, I have a strong faith in the power which the Spirit conveys through the sacraments including those of Holy Orders. In the Catholic church (and other churches which maintain valid apostolic succession), priests receive a special power and authority through the laying on of hands which has traveled down from Christ through His bishops throughout the ages. <BR/><BR/>The sacraments bring about an ontological change within those who receive them. A spiritual change. When you are baptized, you are spiritually changed and commissioned for your new role. When you are married you are spiritually changed and commissioned for your new role. And when a priest is ordained, he is spiritually changed and commissioned for his new role.<BR/><BR/>So can others provide spiritual healing? Yes, if God chooses it. But in the priesthood there is a special office of healing, a special unction, and a special authority which Christ conveyed as He gave Peter the keys. And so when a priest administers the sacrament of confession/reconciliation, the receiver is spiritually changed through it, and commissioned (strengthened) to better fight the next time an occasion of sin arises.<BR/><BR/>Apologies again for the delay! And feel free to heckle away.Suzanne Marie DeWitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09724481265474654929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502171450450034535.post-7838987191280605642008-05-21T18:21:00.000-04:002008-05-21T18:21:00.000-04:00But wait, there's more! With the laying of the han...But wait, there's more! With the laying of the hands, does that mean that people not ordained in the Roman Catholic Church cannot heal? Is it truly the Microsoft of religion (to quote Stephen Colbert) because it has the secret code that others cannot access or replicate?? <BR/><BR/>I don't mean to be a heckler. Your writings are really intriguing to me.Pranayama mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06720061810198398947noreply@blogger.com