Our beautiful residence chapel was the setting for this year’s annual May retreat. The entire house was in silence as we entered five days of quiet to rest, deepen, meditate, and pray.
Retreat is also a time of personal healing. In keeping with this reality, a poignant event of our retreat, was the celebration of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. This is an important ceremony in the life of us Sisters. As aging people, our need for healing from our ongoing illnesses, infirmities physical, psychological, and spiritual is ever-present.
As our celebrant spoke about the healing effects of anointing with holy oil, a spirit of deep reverence descended among us. When Father took his place in front of the altar with a Sister assistant on each side, I was granted an interesting vantage point. Their placement and my seat in chapel provided me with a unique view of each Sister’s face as the celebrant made the sign of the cross on her forehead and hands with the oil as he prayed, “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit”.
During the rite, I was moved to prayer for each Sister as she reverently received the blessing. In a striking new insight, I realized how deeply I am connected to each one. These are the holy, generous women with whom I have shared life in community for over 50 years. I have seen them in the joys and sorrows of life. I silently named some of the infirmities with which they have coped throughout the years, just as they know how I have coped with mine. Even under the weight of older age, they strive onward through life’s vicissitudes, still fresh, still green in love and service.
As the lilting notes of a familiar Carey Landrey hymn played softly in the background, I hummed silently:
Lay your hands gently upon us
Let your touch render your peace
Let them bring your forgiveness and healing,
Lay your hands, gently lay your hands.
At the end of the moving service, I was not the only one with handkerchief in hand.
-Sister Jean Moylan, csj