Dear Reader, the above scenario is a familiar one. Over the centuries people from all countries and thought patterns have set out in search of the Almighty.
Healing in so many areas has been needed. Naaman, the Commander of the Army of the King of Aram, was a valiant soldier - afflicted with leprosy.
Naaman went on pilgrimage to the Prophet Elisha in Israel. Naaman was healed of his grievous affliction by GOD, through the intercession of the Holy Prophet. 1
In medieval times, many pilgrims travelled as far afield as Jerusalem and Santiago. In a history of Irish peregrinatio written in the thirteenth century, we are told that 300,000 people - some of them old and debilitated - left Ireland with permission and benediction of Saint Patrick. One group set off for the Holy Land, the other for Rome.
A third group left to visit the graves of the apostles, including that of beatissimus Jacobus in Compostela. 2
Pilgrims searched for many things; among them, healing.
The greatest need in the world world for every human spirit has always been healing. Injustice, hatred, discrimination and war all have their beginning in the inner spirit.
When each human spirit is personally healed of vengeance, hatred, deceit, hypocrisy, hauteur; then injustice, violence and war will cease.
Jesus has been active for millennia in bringing about personal emotional healing. The Son of GOD paid the sin-price for humanity, in order to restore relationships.
The Prophet Isaiah had prophesied this would happen, when he wrote, 'Ours were the sufferings He bore, ours the sorrow He carried. On Him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through His wounds we are healed.' 3
Once we are healed in spirit, the Kingdom of GOD will cover the earth. Only purity, love and just relationships can flow from healed and holy spirit.
Inner healing
Inner healing is needed in so many areas; many are resistant to the truth, spiritually blind to the value and dignity of every human life, born and unborn.
Many carry deep emotional hurts, painful memories of failure, loss or unjust treatment. Many homes are broken apart and children affected by broken relationships. Homes need to be mended.
Storms of difficulty and strife flourish in many countries. Chains of despair, hatred and vengeance tie many. Derision of the weak, the oppressed and weary often occur.
What is counseling?
The weary pilgrim is the symbol of each one of us. We all have a path through life, a spiritual journey we take.
At times the road seems long, and we feel discouraged and disheartened. Sometimes the issues we face appear too difficult for us to handle alone.
Family problems cause anxiety. Faith problems may arise. Financial difficulties may severely hamper our daily lives. Divorce, bereavement, and any of a number of painful life events may throw us off balance and wound our mind.
Counseling is a support from wise others we need to avail of in order to be able to return to personal harmony, lightness of spirit and equilibrium.
Counseling is the giving of guidance by a trained counselor to another in emotional need and distress.
This expert and professional guidance helps the other to resolve personal issues.
Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers individuals, families and groups, in order to accomplish mental health, education and personal goals.
Counselors work with clients on strategies to overcome the obstacles and personal challenges the clients face.
Wounds of the mind
Many years ago a wise nurse in Africa told me; 'If you see someone with a broken leg, you will have immediate empathy and realize the sufferer is in need of urgent healing.
Yet unseen wounds of the mind can be just as debilitating as a physical ailment. Mental ailments can be just as painful - if not more - than a broken leg. The reason being, that a readily seen ailment often calls forth sympathy from others.
Wounds of the mind are unseen. At times they may fail to call forth compassion but may indeed be misunderstood by others; thus compounding the suffering.'
This wise woman's words have never left me. Mental health issues can cause much difficulty and suffering - both for the sufferer, and for their family and friends.
Counseling by the priest
Counseling by the priest is not intended to replace professional services such as psychiatry and psychology. However, there is a very definite need for pastoral and spiritual counseling.
A weary heart suffering from issues such as grief, guilt, remorse or undergoing emotional pain, can often greatly benefit from pastoral counseling.
Patience may die as the burdens of life continue to weigh heavily.
Anger nurtured in the heart may prove an obstacle to healing. Lack of forgiveness can enchain people to lovelessness and lack of serenity.
People may find themselves trapped by dark memories, hatred, anger, greed; memories of deeds done or left undone.
Lack of inner peace can tie the human spirit with bonds and lead to emotional, mental and spiritual suffering.
The process of counseling can be of invaluable assistance in the healing of old inner wounds, with reconciliation and with the restoration of broken relationships.
Sufferers often benefit from the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation.
Rabbinical Teaching
Rabbi Robert Katz reportedly wrote, 'Rabbis often feel they have to choose between taking the role of mocheach, moral judge, or the role of menachem, giver of care, consoler.
Some Rabbis avoid both, preferring the role of Talmid chacham, or disciple of the wise, objective teacher and guide - an honored role in the history of the rabbinate.'
What, therefore, is the best form of counseling a pastoral counselor can offer?
First, let it be said, there is no easy prescription for effective counseling. We may be called on to counsel close family or friends; an element of menachem may be needed, as well as objective teacher.
The pastor may be asked to assist a parishioner undergoing moral difficulty; the pastor needs mocheach, to know the relevant moral standard, and to compare the issue with the moral last.
Menachem may then be needed, as consoler, affirming to the counselee that he or she is capable of change, and to help them resolve issues of remorse. Hope for the future needs to be infused.
The Bible has dealt with human issues over the millennia; complex and often destructive situations in human families and communal life led to the history we now know as the Bible.
Yet in all the intricately woven web of relationships, One Absolute had stood unfailingly over all - GOD.
There is no relationship too dire, no tears too bitter, no worry too deep, for GOD to be able to deal with.
In fact, it is GOD who inspires so many to become pastor-counselors. It is a challenging task to take on the heartaches and difficulties of others when the pastor's own life may be undergoing personal difficulty.
Yet, in the light of the new command given by Jesus, 'Love one another as I have loved you', 4 many are called on to do just that.
Counseling is a delicate art, and ever creative. For the Christian pastor, the heart of Christian counseling is the Bible. The Gospel of the Christ, together with guidance from the Torah [Old Testament] can offer wonderful encouragement and support to those steadfastly committed to improving their lives through counselling.
A skilled counselor requires deep inner security and strength.
The counselor needs inner resources in order to properly cope with the demands counseling makes on the counselor.
It may require much energy - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual - to deal with the emotional crisis of another.
Yet the counselor is never alone; GOD is always at his or her side.
Healing
People are often broken by adverse situations and suffering. They may feel unable to deal with apparently insurmountable difficulties and crises.
At times we need a helping hand. Our personal resources become depleted, and we find ourselves in need of psychological, emotional and spiritual restoration.
This need for rejuvenation is a need for healing. Many of us have reached out over the centuries for healing, and received this gift.
The GOD WHO HEALS is always near to His human children.
GOD is present all the time, and hears the pain and distress of the sufferer.
GOD is willing and able to help; He may choose to use an intercessor.
The intercessor chosen to bring about spiritual and emotional healing is often the counselor - one who counsels, one who guides.
Guiding enables people to draw out that which lies within them.
Such knowledge on behalf of the chaplain counselor requires depths of education, compassion, knowledge, discernment and delicacy of tact in dealing with each counselee.
That is why an accredited qualification in counseling is of great assistance to the counselor.
It is important to remember that confidentiality is the bedrock of counseling. The principle of confidentiality requires that personal information revealed within a counseling relationship should not be divulged without consent from the counselee.
Any information under the seal of Confession - also known as the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation - is sacred, and cannot be divulged.
Should a priest have a Counseling Qualification?
If possible, most definitely yes. ACPE certified ministry can equip a priest with the skills needed to be an effective pastoral counselor. 5
Many priests train further. Some acquire a Masters Degree or Doctorate in Counseling. However you wish to structure your education, it is most helpful to have the knowledge a qualified academic institution affords.
Holding a recognized qualification also makes it possible for the priest to confidently minister with recognition by relevant authorities, in settings such as churches, ministries, services, hospices and hospitals.
Clinical Pastoral Education Centers are thus of inestimable value in obtaining excellent counseling qualifications.
Conclusion
And so, dear Reader, here concludes the Good Shepherd Church Seminary Doctor of Healing Ministry Course. A gratis pdf book 'Healing Ministry' encapsulating the Lessons in Book Form is to be published shortly in the blog.
May the GOD of Healing bless you all.
Reverend Catherine
Use freely for any worthy purpose
Questions for your heart and mind;
1. What is counseling?
2. Discuss a situation from the Bible in which counseling took place.
3. What is the link between healing and counseling?
4. Why is Clinical Pastoral Education so effective?
Footnotes
[1] Old Testament, 2 Kings Chapter 5
[2] The Irish Medieval Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
http:// www. historyireland. com/ medieval-history - pre-1500/ the -irish-medieval-pilgrimage -to-santiago- de-compostela/
[3] Old Testament, Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53, verses 4 to 5
[4] Gospel of St John, Chapter 13, verse 34
[5] ACPE. The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. Information for prospective students
https:// www.acpe. edu / ACPE/ _Students/ FAQ_ S.aspx
Lesson Fifteen
Disclaimer; The information on this post is meant for information only. The information is not meant to replace your Doctor or Health professional or Herbalist care
