Question 235 – Can We Lay Our Hands and Pray to Other People?

Interview Organization: The Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima
Interviewer Name: Christopher Wendt
Date: November 14, 2023
Public healing could cause confusion within the Church’s hierarchy. While priests are typically the means through which healing grace is given, laypeople can also pray and help. Healing should be discreet, not public, and performed with wisdom in Jesus’ name. It is a private act, not a liturgical rite.
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Transcript:

I would not do this publicly because it could create confusion within the hierarchical structure of the Church. God has established the role of priests to lay hands in certain cases, and it is through them that the grace of healing is typically given. While God can also grant healing through laypeople, this is not a sacrament in itself but a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes, even saints have been known to heal when touched, and some people were instantly cured. As laypeople, we can pray for and help others when we feel God has given us this grace, but it should never be done publicly to avoid confusion. It should always be done discreetly.

For example, a monk or anyone who has received grace from God to intercede for others or to help those troubled by evil spirits can offer healing, but it should be done with wisdom and in the name of Jesus Christ. It should never be performed as a liturgical rite or public display. Rather, it is a private, discreet way of helping those who are suffering.