To Heal the Wounds of Christ in Poor Suffering Humanity

An Interesting discussion at the Healing Conference: Sr. Grace Frances Strauber and Sr. Kathleen Reynolds

Our June Healing Conference initiated some interesting discussions.  The one that captured my imagination was centered around Healing as our Charism.  The question is whether or not healing – just healing – was our Charism. But as Gertrude Frank communicated to Frances Schervier, “heal the wounds of Christ in poor suffering humanity” – in its entirety is really our Charism.

This statement raised interesting and strong conversation. I believe for the first time I began to comprehend that healing the wounds of Christ means bringing healing to all with whom I come into contact. As Christ is present in the world, Christ is present in each person I meet.  Since we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we are asked to see God in the beauty of every person. So many of us have many flaws, sorrows, unhealed wounds. Christ is found in those unhealed wounds. When we reach out to others, we reach out to our beautiful and wonderfully created sisters and brothers in Christ.

During the conference we heard Father Gittins tell us that God does not love in the abstract!  So we must look at the meaning of poor for us.  At Hope Community we are making the effort to speak of poor people, to make the designation real and alive. So what do I think?  Have I forgotten “Heal the Wounds of Christ in Poor Suffering Humanity?” I don’t believe so. 

The Journey of Faith as an Experience of Healing through my Parish RCIA
Healing is what I do when I walk into the room with young and older women and men who seek to find Jesus in our Church. Some have not heard of Jesus as a real person.  Some have forgotten what it means to be Christian.  And some just want to come home!  Together we talk about God’s creation, the early prophets of the Old Testament. We learn again what the Ten Commandments mean for us today – commandments of compassion.

• We begin Advent walking in the footsteps of our ancestors, longing for the coming of the Messiah, the search for the living God. Each one is given a Bible and encouraged to read through one of the Gospels. We walk through the birth of Jesus and all those early times when he lived as any other young Jewish boy.
  
  
• After Christmas we study the Liturgical Year, talk about the Sacraments as an encounter with God through Christ and what love really means. We talk much about love because God is love.
  
  
• As Spring approaches, we are encouraged to walk in our parks; to watch the awakening of the trees that seemed dead during the winter months.  We watch the awakening of nature; listen to singing of the birds – all of this is open to all, regardless of economic status.
  
  
• As we begin Lent we realize that Jesus’ teachings lead to his death and what the dying and rising means to us as we get closer to the time of our new life in Christ.
  
  
• The Resurrection is very meaningful for these new candidates. 
  

So How do I Heal?
How do I heal the wounds of Christ in poor suffering humanity?  I have the privilege of witnessing the growing awareness of the meaning of God’s love in these wonderful people – women and men who come every Tuesday evening (in rain or snow) – sit around the table and understand how very much God loves them.  Then the final evening comes when they receive the Sacraments -- they receive new life.  And what a joy to meet them at the Eucharistic Celebration with their spouses and children as the years go by. 

"Healing is what I do . . . " Sr. Grace Frances with RCIA group and catechists.
Associate Thomasina Nolan is in the top row (center).

I am very grateful for the Healing Conference, which opened anew for me the gift God gives us to heal in so many different ways. To heal the wounds of Christ in poor suffering humanity is to really be Healers following Jesus’ example in the Gospels – healing Christ’s woundedness in all women and men and all creation.

Sister Grace Frances Strauber, SFP