Instruction on Prayers for Healing
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
For nearly 500 years, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has defended the Catholic Church from internal heresy—whether by false teaching or malpractice of faith. It is the oldest of the Curia’s nine congregations, and is made up of cardinals, bishops, priests, lay theologians, and canon lawyers. According to Pope Paul VI’s 1965 Motu Proprio Integrae Servandae, “All questions which regard the doctrine on faith and morals or which touch upon the faith are within the competence of the Congregation … It examines new teachings and new opinions in whatever way they are spread, it promotes studies in this area, and encourages the Congresses of scholars; it condemns those teachings found to be contrary to the principles of the faith, after, however, having heard the view of the Bishops of those regions, if they are specifically connected with the issues.”
Top Highlights
“where sickness is understood as a means of union with Christ and of spiritual purification” (source)
“Anything resembling hysteria, artificiality, theatricality or sensationalism, above all on the part of those who are in charge of such gatherings, must not take place.” (source)
“it is not true that all suffering is a consequence of a fault and has the nature of a punishment” (source)
“special prayer meetings organized for the purpose of obtaining wondrous healings among the sick who are present” (source)
“If the celebrations do not respect liturgical law, they lack legitimacy” (source)