The Prayer of Healing for the Family Tree

In this article, I would like us to reflect on the question: “Can we ‘heal our family tree’ and erase ‘ancestral sin’?” To address this question, I propose starting with the thoughts of Father Rogelio Alcántara. Father Alcántara is a Doctor of Theology and Director of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Archdiocese of Mexico. I will also draw upon the views of Father Guénolé Feugang, whose book on this subject I recommend reading. Father Guénolé is a Missionary of Mercy under Pope Francis and a Doctor of Biblical Studies.Why This Question?According to Father Miguel A. Fuentes, IVE, “in some sectors of the Catholic Church, particularly in charismatic groups, the practice of purifying the family tree involves offering prayers, saying the rosary, or celebrating Masses for ‘intergenerational healing’ or the healing of one’s family tree.” Though this practice is widespread and attracts many followers, it has faced strong criticism. Some believe that the problems they face today—psychological, moral, social, spiritual, and physical illnesses—are inherited from their ancestors. The person today is seen as the last link in a chain through which these troubles pass. Those who believe in this theory think that the blessings and painful patterns of our ancestors reside within each of us. Thus, during our lifetime, we have the opportunity to honor and transform our ancestral inheritances and change the narratives of our lives.I have chosen to base this reflection on two perspectives—one from Latin America and the other from Africa, where these practices are most common. In preparing this discussion, I realized we share similar beliefs with Jewish communities.Description of a PhenomenonThe field of intergenerational trauma healing, also known as ancestral healing, is both very recent and extremely ancient. It applies to all groups and ethnicities that have experienced major challenges such as war, discrimination, poverty, or displacement. The historical patterns of our ancestors, along with their rich cultural wisdom, intertwine within us to shape our psychological and genetic makeup. The principle of ancestral healing is that unhealed family legacies and traumas directly correlate with the social schisms rampant in our current world. When we begin to understand and heal the historical traumas in our lineages, an internal revolution takes place—our hearts and minds are freed and empowered to claim our birthright as humans and to courageously engage in transforming the world around us.According to Rabbi Tirzah, “ancestral healing is based on the understanding that the past does not simply disappear. The painful stories our ancestors endured, as well as their rich cultural wisdom, persist and intertwine within us, shaping who we are and what we become. Even when the pain of the past is unspoken or long forgotten, it is part of us and our children—a legacy both strong and wounded that shapes our lives.” When family members experience traumas like war, poverty, mental illness, addiction, suicide, or early death, painful patterns can become frozen in time and lodged in the family’s field of resonance. These patterns then act like magnets, deeply influencing our lives and those of future generations. Often, the disturbance created in the family field is most acutely felt by the descendants who are most sensitive. The Jewish perspective, shared by many believers in Africa, is that we have the power to transform family traumas into blessings and their wounds into wisdom. We can learn to release the patterns and behaviors passed down to us while reinforcing the positive and life-giving legacies.How Do We Break Free?The solution offered to believers by some priests and groups involved in healing ministries is to “heal their family tree through religious practices and specific prayers that can sever this harmful ‘inheritance’ from ancestors,” thereby achieving self-liberation and forgiveness for ancestors. For this purpose, certain rites are performed, which involve the adoption of “new concepts such as: transfer, influence, intergenerational curse, ancestral inheritance, bonding, family tree healing, etc.” According to Father Alcántara, this is “a new doctrine, an invention, which poses a grave danger for those who wish to accept divine revelation as presented by the Catholic Church.” He notes that, although this doctrine is recent, only from the 20th century, it remains widespread, as evidenced by Father Guénolé’s research showing its practice in the U.S., Europe, and India. However, Father Alcántara points out that this theory “first appeared among Protestants with a pagan inspiration. Protestant missionary Kenneth McAll gave impetus to the practice of ‘healing’ the family tree.”Although the doctrine of ancestral sin also lacks theological foundation, Father Alcántara notes that its proponents “attempt to justify their application of ‘karma’ to Christian theology by relying on psychological sciences, particularly the ideas of Carl Jung.” They also try to anchor their ideas in the Catholic doctrine of original sin, but without properly justifying this application. The idea that ancestral sins influence people’s lives appears in several passages of the Old Testament. Father Guénolé highlights biblical passages often cited by those who justify the prayer of family tree healing. For example, Exodus 20:5 says, “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” But Ezekiel 18:1 also declares: “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?'” The two theologians remind us that the correct interpretation of these texts requires reading them in context and understanding them “in a pedagogical progression of revelation, which reaches its fullness in Christ, who teaches us the authentic concept of divine punishment and mercy.”Sin as a Free and Personal ActThe influence of one generation on another is natural, caused by environmental or coexistence factors such as upbringing, human or religious education, and good or bad examples. Sin, however, is a free act, and the consequences of transgressing divine law—guilt and punishment—are personal and therefore non-transferable. If this transmission were possible, the evil should not survive the baptism we receive, which is meant to erase all our sin and renew us in Christ, as Father Guénolé explains: “Baptism is the sacrament of total liberation from all structures of iniquity, starting with the structure of original sin.” Ancestors’ sins cannot predispose descendants to sin. We can only say that “they could naturally (environmentally) influence someone, just as the example set by those close to a sinner can, but they cannot predispose anyone to sin.”ConclusionThe two priests acknowledge the existence of “curses that an ancestor may have placed on their offspring,” but stress that these curses, directed toward the devil, can only affect living descendants, as one cannot have authority over those not yet conceived. With their insights, we can assert that offering Masses and saying prayers to heal one’s family tree is foreign to Catholic doctrine and liturgy. Neither in revelation, the Church Fathers, nor in the history of Catholic theology can examples of this practice be found.Father Alcántara cautions that “the so-called prayer for the healing of the family tree leads people to seek the reasons for their suffering outside themselves. This prevents a genuine process of psychological healing that could help the individual.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, our prayer should be for God to free us from what holds us back, to open our minds and understanding to what needs to change within us.To be successful in life, we must overcome life’s obstacles. No one ever wins a race without pressure or a race to run. To be a victorious Christian in life, we must overcome life’s battles. The prayer of faith is the key to overcoming the obstacles in your life. I pray for you today, that you overcome what limits you, conquer the spirit of fear, break free from harmful habits, and surround yourself with supportive relationships. May Mary our Mother, whose prayer is powerful, accompany you, and may the Holy Trinity bless you: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Kinda Wendnguudi