Hey I was wondering if the catholic church has any statement on the idea that physical bodily healing is provided for in the atonement of Christ and can be claimed as a promise from God meaning its always God's will to heal because the healing action is completed in the atonement for our sin and disease. I have read all the scriptures on this and since I am catholic am wondering what the chruch athouritivly says about this. any thoughts?

-- Matt (slywakka250@yahoo.com), September 16, 2003

Answers

Hello, Matt.
You wrote: "I was wondering if ... physical bodily healing ... can be claimed ..."

This is the second time in the last few days that I have read about Christians/Catholics "claim[ing]" something. Never before in my 50+ years of life have I heard the word used.

The word "claim" means to "take as one's rightful possession." It makes me think of prospectors making "claims" of areas they think will yield gold. It is a concept foreign to Catholicism, as far as I know.

I would say that we can "claim" nothing and expect nothing, because nothing of God's is our "rightful possession." Everything instead is a gift that we can accept/receive humbly and gratefully, according to his will. Nothing is "owed" to us.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 17, 2003.