This summer I spent a most rewarding time at the Oratory of the Little Way in Gaylordsville, Connecticut. This is an eight-bed retreat center devoted to the Ministry of healing, directed by Nigel Mumford. The mission statement is “We listen, love and pray for all those seeking the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.” There is a healing service every Tuesday with the Eucharist, time for testimonies, and then teams of two each are stationed around the church, and those who wish prayer come to one of theses teams. There are about thirty or more who come to this. It is ecumenical, and people come from all over. On Wednesday there is a “soaking prayer” where people may come and just “hang out” with the Lord. Usually they lie on mat in silence. If they want one of us to come and pray for something specific we do but sometimes they just want to soak up love. All during the week people come by appointment for intensive prayer ministry, when about an hour and a half is given to each one for a chance to talk out their situation (but we are not counselors, and do not give advice) and they are prayed for by Nigel and/or teams of two who have had some training in healing prayer.

I have seen many miracles. One still tends to say WOW! But I don’t why because it is so common. It is never implied that prayer without medicine is adequate. They are partners. Medicine without prayer is only part of the healing, and doctors are more and more coming to realize this. A good visual symbol of this is the cross on the altar with a stethoscope wrapped around it. We know prayer always changes something. One cannot always see dramatic results, but I have seen quite a few. Cancer patients sometimes go into remission. Physical pain is often relieved, if not entirely gone.

Three women who had found a lump in their body came to the Oratory within a few days of each other. When they were on the operating table prepared for surgery, the doctor couldn’t find any tumors. Perhaps most dramatic was a man who several years ago was healed of Lou Gehrig’s disease. When I saw him this summer, he was in perfect health. Inner healing is most common — trust and peace where there was fear, a positive attitude instead of rebellion. I have never been one to see demons under every bush, but I have certainly ceased to be agnostic about them. I have seen people with some sort of oppression (not just depression) that disappeared with prayer. I could go on and on.

For dramatic stories of healing I highly recommend Nigel’s book Hand to Hand: From Combat to Healing, which is available in our bookstore. This tells the exciting story of Nigel who was a drill instructor in Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Commandos, who “taught men to kill or be killed.” He fought bloody battles in Ireland and had some of the worst horror experiences. How he came into the healing ministry, as well as many dramatic accounts of healings he has prayed for (including animals) makes his book “can’t put it down” reading.

For sometime I have felt called to an intensive intercession ministry, and I was asked by Nigel to come as part of the prayer teams, and I learned a great deal. I certainly don’t have a “gift of healing” in the sense that St. Paul means in
1 Corinthians (though Nigel does), but I have become more confident about praying with people, and not just “Oh, I’ll pray for you.”

Fr. Jeff Simmons and I are hoping to develop a real prayer ministry here at the Convent, and either he and/or I would be glad to pray for anyone who asks. We don’t push it; if you want prayer, ask us.