Laying-on of hands
27 September 2000 12:23
In a document titled ‘Some Guidance from Vassula to TLIG prayer groups’ Vassula writes:
“When people ask me if I have the gift of healing I say ‘I do not have
it.’ I do not heal although there are healings all the time. I am not
healing even the ones that were miraculously healed of cancer and from all
sorts of deadly diseases. I know that it is not I and I just cannot say
I have this gift. I always say: I did not heal and I have not the gift
of healing. If anyone gets healed it is because of their faith and the
Holy Spirit who is the giver of Life who has healed them. He is the
Healer not I, I have nothing and have done nothing and deserve nothing.”
“The one who places his hands on people should remain small and humble, effaced, knowing that this blessing is not in his power but in the Spirit’s power. The maximum humility is being nothing.”
The following is a modified version of some notes about ‘Laying-on of Hands’ published in a recent TLIG Irish Association newsletter:
The assembled members might, firstly, pray over the person(s) who will lay hands on the group of people.
A Priest if present should be invited to pray with people. Vassula lays her blessed Crucifix gently on the person’s forehead and prays. There is no pushing of the person nor any weight put on them. It is the Holy Spirit who blesses, and sometimes causes us to ‘fall in the Spirit’, a gentle, blessed relaxation. We also should leave it to The Holy Spirit. We do not let our presence intrude. And Vassula lets the ‘Catcher’ do the catching. We should not stop a person falling in The Spirit.
The Catcher stands behind the person being prayed with, within arm’s reach, but not too close, not touching. He/she should be alert and be ready to catch the person, preferably under the elbows if they ‘rest in the Spirit’. Space should be cleared for people to ‘rest’ lying down.
In small prayer groups there may not be enough space or people to pray and catch. The Lord also blesses people while sitting. It is not essential to stand.
We should respect the views of somebody who ‘fears to be prayed over’ and suggest to the person that we say a little prayer with him or whatever the Holy Spirit tells us to do. We should always respect the person, especially when it is the first time a person is taking part in a “Laying on of Hands” by lay people.
