Catholics only , please

[annegal]

My MIL, a pretty "new" Catholic, is working on a project with other ladies in her parish. They sew pillowcases and attach a very small Holy picture(made of cloth), these are then blessed by the Priest and given to very ill parishiners .

She 's not sure but thinks this is some sort of " if you sleep on this pillowcase, you'll get better" sort of thing.

Have any Catholics out there in cyberland ever heard of this?

 

[NAB]

I'm Catholic and never heard of that. Maybe it is suppose to be for comfort or something

 

[kdibattista]

I have never heard of this before but if it is providing some comfort to the sick then I would think it's a good thing

 

[Disney Doll]

They do a similar thing at the Catholic hospital where I work, except they do it with a shawl.

They have many people who knit shawls, and pray as they knit them. Once a month, they bring all the shawls to a ceremony where they are blessed. Then, when we have a person who is really sick, dying or in need of extra comfort for some other reason, we give them one of the shawls, with a little card that explains that the shawl is full of prayers and blessings, so if they put the shawls around their shoulders, they are "wrapped in prayers and blessings".

I have to tell you, especially with our dying patients, it gives them and their families a great deal of peace and comfort to get a prayer shawl. And they can keep it once we give it to them. If the patient gets better, that's great. If they die, then the family can take it.

Similar to the pillowcase thing, which is also nice. Nighttime seems to be the hardest time for sick folks, so having something comforting like that at night is probably great.

 

[MikeB63]

I have never heard of that particular thing, but I don't find it too much different than blessing medals, crosses, rosaries or any other object. If it brings comfort and helps those who need it, then it is a blessing in itself.

 

[annegal]

Thanks everyone, especially DisneyDoll for the explanation.

 

[lclark0621]

They do a similar thing at the Catholic hospital where I work, except they do it with a shawl.

They have many people who knit shawls, and pray as they knit them. Once a month, they bring all the shawls to a ceremony where they are blessed. Then, when we have a person who is really sick, dying or in need of extra comfort for some other reason, we give them one of the shawls, with a little card that explains that the shawl is full of prayers and blessings, so if they put the shawls around their shoulders, they are "wrapped in prayers and blessings".

I have to tell you, especially with our dying patients, it gives them and their families a great deal of peace and comfort to get a prayer shawl. And they can keep it once we give it to them. If the patient gets better, that's great. If they die, then the family can take it.

Similar to the pillowcase thing, which is also nice. Nighttime seems to be the hardest time for sick folks, so having something comforting like that at night is probably great.

Wow! That is really beautiful!

I have never heard of it, but I think it is a great thing. It is always nice to bring a little comfort to anyone.

 

[swea_pea1]

I've never heard of that either, but I think it's beautiful.

A couple of years ago, my mom had heart surgery with a very bleak outlook. They told us it could be a matter of weeks, maybe months before she passed. I will never forget having the conversation with Dad about what to do when she goes. Chilling to even think about now.

After that, Mom went in and out of the hospital several times, usually once every couple of months. Mom went to Reconciliation at Christmastime and had a long talk with her priest. She told me the other day that she hasn't felt this good in years.

He didn't "heal" her, only promised to pray for her. And for her, that was enough. This past Sunday, we went to Mass where Mom and Dad received a blessing for their 50th Anniversary. The priest laid his hands on Mom, leaned down and whispered "I'm so glad you're still here to celebrate with us". She was walking on cloud nine the rest of the day.

Sometimes all it takes is for others to believe strong enough, and the folks who are sick will too.

 

[barkley]

the catholic church i was born at had a practice in december wherein christmas stockings made by members of the church and blessed by the priest were provided to the maternity ward. when a newborn was sent home they were placed in the stocking and presented to their parents along with a note about how they were recipients of a blessed gift from god.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Nope--but it sounds like a cute idea and who knows--maybe it will work.

Barkley--love the stocking idea!

 

[SandraVB79]

It doesn't seem any different to me than the blesses medal I got from my grandad before I left for the first time alone on vacation to the US. It was going to protect me during the trip

Does it help? Does it work? No clue, I don't think it does any different than people who go to Lourdes or so (I don't believe in all those things) But it brought comfort for him that I was "safe" because of that, and I am sure it brings comfort to the people who get the pillow.
It's religion, it's all believing and make-believing. :

 

[Disney Doll]

It's religion, it's all believing and make-believing. :

It was such a nice thread till this comment.

To those of us who do believe, there is no make believe about it.

Let's try and be respectful of that, shall we?

 

[SandraVB79]

Well, it wasn't to be disrespectful. It was, and is, just my opinion.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, then, your opinion is disrespectful to those of us who are people of faith and don't consider it "make-believing".

And that is my opinion.

 

[auntpolly]

I think alot of things like that look like "spellmaking" or voodoo or something to non-Catholics are just objects used to aid in prayer, something to focus on, like rosary beads or a statue. It's not like the object itself has any power, it just is used for reflection and meditation.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think it's a really nice thing to do. When I was sick I received a lot of these types of things from friends and family, and they meant a lot to me. Sometimes until you're the one in need you don't realize how important it is to have something to "hold onto".

 

[Disney Doll]

I think alot of things like that look like "spellmaking" or voodoo or something to non-Catholics are just objects used to aid in prayer, something to focus on, like rosary beads or a statue. It's not like the object itself has any power, it just is used for reflection and meditation.

I think because human beings have finite minds, so to speak, that having a tangible item makes it easier for them to latch on to worshipping whatever or whomever they prefer to worship.

 

[auntpolly]

I think because human beings have finite minds, so to speak, that having a tangible item makes it easier for them to latch on to worshipping whatever or whomever they prefer to worship.

I'm trying to think of the word -- what are the objects that are used in a contemplative prayer? It's driving me crazy.

 

[minkydog]

I think it's a really nice thing to do. When I was sick I received a lot of these types of things from friends and family, and they meant a lot to me. Sometimes until you're the one in need you don't realize how important it is to have something to "hold onto".

So true. When my dad was hospitalized for a heart cath, he went to the cath lab with his precious Orthodox cross clutched in his hand. During the procedure he "crashed" and would up in surgery with a 4-way bypass. The whole event was just terrible. But I cant tell you the sense of relief my mom was afforded when after surgery she put her hand in his hand to comfort him and found his cross. Apparently, in the rush and confusion, no one checked his jewlery and he had somehowheld onto it the whole time.

Needless to say, that cross never left him after that.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

My mom has been making prayer shawls for several years. They really do fill several purposes. For those who do believe in the power of prayer the thought that someone was praying for them while making the shawl is very uplifting and just in general the physical comfort of the shawl. She uses the most wonderful soft yarn and when the shawl is wrapped around you it is such a comforting feeling.
Believers or not what could be nicer then to be snuggled safe & warm especially when you are ill/dying.

The pillowcase idea seems to be an offshoot of the shawl ministry. God bless their efforts.

Colleen