American folk healing

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As a Catholic religious who has worked in the Philippines, I can say with confidence that the Catholic Church in the Philippines has come out firmly opposed to albularyos and faith healers.

In addition, prescribing herbal remedies is very dangerous. The leading cause of liver failure in the Philippines is not alcoholic cirrhosis, but poisoning through herbal remedies prescribed by non-licensed healers, including albularyos.
 
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You’ve given me a lot to think about, CRM. My basic intention is to live out what I believe what God calls me to do: To be a spiritual warrior/healer. What did the Church in the Philippines recommend to the laity there?
 
🤔 I like this option. Is there an online way to study for St Kate’s program? I’d definitely be interested to know.
 
Read Mark 16: 17-1817 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
There are ppl called by God into certain ministries. Teaching,exhorting, prophecizing, etc
Believe me, if confronted w a snake or a evil spirit involved w a child, THROUGH CHRIST, We can rise up w the Power, He gives us,and cast out evil.Thank You, Jesus.
I wasn’t going around doing exotic things here. My daughter brought a friend of hers to me speaking in the third person w guttural sounds. She had just tried to jump off a balcony. Something about hallucinating black crows. I’m a nurse. Some teens can be acting out & some things could be psychiatric, I didn’t have time to assess that. Trusting God working through me, I got my Bible, & quoted scripture. Mark 16, etc Recited prayers & more scripture. She broke away. Her friends had been holding her. We chased her down the street. They caught her. On my neighbors lawn w a few more scripture verses, she sighed, got quiet & opened up her eyes. She was back! I give all the credit to God. She was in counseling. Told her to tell her Dad.So be it!
Let it be done to her according to His Word.
Strange things happen w teens…
I did this to my 3 yo having a temper tantrum. It worked. That was funny. You’d have had to be there.
God bless us all, loving God & trying to serve Him
 
I answered a call for healing by being a nurse. There are energy healings available now. Therapeutic Touch, Quantum Touch & Reiki. The church has a stand on Reiki & it’s not approved. The NEW AGE MOVEMENT brought these around. In some Reiki, one particular, heavy meditation is done. A nurse friend was taking the course. In her meditation, she got to another dimension w some of her dead relatives.Some new ageers get SPIRIT GUIDES… Crossing the veil is not good.
Therapeutic Touch & Quantum Touch is just taught that your LOVE FOR PPL is your energy source. I’m communicating w God in prayer. I visualize Lazarus’s tomb scenario. Quoting “The Father is in me. I am in the Father. “ Asking them to help the pt. My ministry is pain relief. He doesn’t use me for healing. I’m living my life w/o blabbing. God shows me someone. I offer. Gods will be done!
Herbs are scary. One can take courses in herbal medicine I believe. I would encourage you to do that. It’s a mighty good pt that can drink those horrible teas. I read a lot of medieval History stories. I’d chose to die. Willow bark for ASA. Foxglove for rapid heart rates & weak hearts. It’s a poison! Belladonna, it’s a poison also.
How did you get interested in it. Seeing it & wanting tonhelp, doesn’t make it your calling from God.
Google Curry Blake. It’s interesting. When you find your gifts, have a priest mentor to work w you.
God bless.
Seek ye first, the kingdom of God & everything else will be added unto you.
Herbs—I checked w an oriental acupuncturist about something for a problem I had. She said,” The cost would be Four-Fifty”. I’m picturing $4.50. She laughed and said,”$450.00.”
I said, I’d keep my problem.
So, the cost of the herbs you buy will have a price. Just saying… .
There will be legal issues. Even for massage therapists.
God guide your path
 
Thank you tweedle. As for the calling; it wasn’t a one day, I was interested in it kind of thing. It was a sudden realization that I have a gift for prayer, especially healing prayer. I’ve always been interested in helping people. That’s what I want to do with my life is to help people.

As for the healing aspect: I was always good at healing prayer. God listens to me when I pray.

One example is how I prayed over my ex girlfriend for her fibromyalgia. I had her lay down and took out my Blessed rosary. I touched the crucifix to her head, throat, body and feet; based on the idea that Jesus’ power flows through a sacramental. Invoking God all the way. It worked.

At least for several days. I rack that up to that, as a non practicing Jew; she didn’t believe in Jesus’ healing power.
 
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tweedlealice said:
Believe me, if confronted w a snake or a evil spirit involved w a child, THROUGH CHRIST, We can rise up w the Power, He gives us,and cast out evil.Thank You, Jesus.
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It is Church teaching that only priests can exorcise (technically bishops are the ordinary ministers for exorcising demons, but they can admit priests as exorcists to do so). We as lay people cannot exorcise. We can pray over here, but it is better to leave it to the people who have the authority to do so, both from the bishop (or the bishop himself) and due to their Holy Orders. Also, from Acts:
“19:13 Now some also of the Jewish exorcists, who went about, attempted to invoke over them that had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.
19:14 And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.
19:15 But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know: and Paul I know. But who are you?
19:16 And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
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In place of the faith healers, the Church has advocated different programs revolving around prayer, various settings to be a ‘spiritual warrior’. Among these programs are healing prayer groups, usually under the patronage of St. Padre Pio, which take up specific health cases entrusted to them (usually of the sick of the parish or the town) and rigorously pray for their healing.

I personally know one doctor who is part of these prayer groups. When an infant was born dead and the time of death had already been called by another doctor, she along with one of the nurses continued the prayers of her prayer group over the child, begging for the intercession of St. Theresa of Calcutta. Twenty-five minutes after birth, the dead child was brought back to life through Mother Theresa’s intercession. The miracle is currently being officially documented.

These prayer groups are directly overseen by the Church, even when they pray over the ill person. Those prayers are never done personally; always within a group.

Also, the Philippine Church allows participation as a prayer warrior for the diocesan exorcist. The training and preparation is somewhat intense and it is on a person-to-person basis depending solely upon the decision of the exorcist. For many Philippine dioceses, the names of these exorcists are public record. In most other countries however, the identity of the diocesan exorcist is a secret. As such, status as a prayer warrior is also kept secret. Becoming a prayer warrior is linked to the alternatives to albularyos and faith healers because interaction with a faith healer is actually one of the most common causes for demonic obsession (physical or spiritual attack) or possession in the Philippines, second only to pagan and elementalist worship. I have personally come into contact with two cases of demonic obsession stemming from albularyos sessions.

God Bless,
Br. Ben, CRM
 
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Michael16 said:
The way I see it is: If I’m doing God’s Will, then He’ll cover me
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Okay. No.

If you haven’t been trained, you might hurt somebody.
If you hurt somebody you might get sued.
Or somebody could die.

Health care professionals carry malpractice insurance because even with training, lisencing, continuing education and experience, sometimes things go Horribly Wrong.
 
Thank you again, CRM. I don’t want others to suffer from my well intentioned attempts to deliver people.

That brings me to my first case in my Practice.

I’ve been trying to help a co worker heal and deliver her from a demon.

She’s a twenty something energy healer,; an unbaptized pagan who’s into Reiki and chakra healing. I offered to pray over her when she told me of her spiritual and physical ailments.

When I was planning out what Prayers to say over her, I became locked in battle with what I believe is a demon. Which led me to believe she’s the subject of demonic oppression.

I’ve been the subject before of such oppression, so my heart goes out to her and I want to help her. So, I’m planning to pray over her like I prayed over my ex girlfriend; saying deliverance prayers that ask Jesus to bind and cast away the demon and then say healing prayers over her.

She has no funds to see a doctor and she’s an unbaptized pagan, so I believe a priest might not help her. All I’m trying to do is to clear off the demon by invoking Jesus. Not addressing the demon, nor trying to suss out its name.

Any and all prayer, Mass and Rosary intentions are welcome.

Any advice?
 
I’ve been trying to help a coworker heal and deliver her from a demon

At this point you need to contact a local priest and forgo any advice from the internet…

You are delving into realms you have no business, and even with good intentions or naiveté you are in the enemies territory and you are not equipped to be…your gonna hurt yourself or someone else.

Good luck…and as we used to say on the street…let the professionals handle it…

M
 
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I will definitely pray for both you and her.

As to the co-worker, I would recommend the case to a priest. If your parish priest doesn’t feel equipped to handle the case due to her religious leanings, I would contact the diocese to try to find someone to help her. You would be surprised at how many non-Catholics are recommended to the Catholic Church for deliverance from demons: Protestants, Jews, Atheists, Buddhists, Pagans, etc. It is almost universally recognized that the Catholic Church is the experts on demonology, no matter one’s faith. You never know, maybe the experience will prompt her conversion.

As to some specific suggestions:
  1. Invocation of Christ - In personal experience, the invocation of aspects of the Passion are very powerful in driving out demonic influence. “By the Cross of Christ, be driven out…” “With the Blood and Water of our Lord’s pierced Heart, be washed clean…” “O glorious Crown of Thorns of our Lord, gird her heart against the evil one…” etc. Always be mindful to never be the one invoking the action, such as: “In the name of Christ, I drive you out!/wash you clean!/gird your heart!” Only through the priestly ministry (or certain instances of the mystical authority of some saints) in conjunction with personal sanctity can demons be personally commanded. Even if someone only fulfills one of these two requirements, it almost never is successful (the only exemptions being those saints mentioned before).
  2. Invocation of St. Michael the Archangel: Do not only invoke St. Michael as warrior and protector against demons, but also as a healer. In the early Church, St. Michael was primarily invoked in times of healing (generally during plagues or epidemics). So too, is his invocation with regards to healing the troubled soul of it’s demonic influence.
  3. Bring her to witness a Mass: Demons cannot stand the consecration of the Eucharist. If it is a demonic obsession, there is a good chance it may flee in the presence of the consecration and she may experience a period of relief. If it is, in fact, a full-blown possession with physical manifestations, then there will most likely be a physical reaction: yelling, trembling, violent fits, etc. If this is the case, CONTACT A PRIEST IMMEDIATELY! If he doesn’t take the case seriously (believe it or not, even some priests don’t believe in demons) then contact the diocese for help and include your observations of the phenomena of possession in an objective manner. Sometimes possession lays dormant for long periods of time and only manifests itself sporadically. Many times the possessed person doesn’t realize that they are possessed.
If she balks at involving the Church, you can remind her that the service is totally free and the Church has had two thousand years of experience in these matters.

I’ll be praying!

God Bless,
Br. Ben, CRM
 
As a personal note, if you are in contact with a case of demonic obsession or possession, you most likely should make sure that you make regular confessions (weekly if possible) and receive the Eucharist regularly (daily if possible). The graces offered through these Sacraments help to shield us from the deception of the evil one and are a source of strength and resolution in the face of demonic challenge. Always try to be in a state of grace when addressing the demonic influence. The enemy can use any of our sins against us. It is better to approach the issue with a clean soul.

Indulgences, said for both yourself and for the victim, are also very good tools when fighting demonic influence.
 
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I stated, I did not go looking for this. It came to me. It was nothing that could be controlled to get further care.
The churchbhas formal trained priests for exorcisms. The goal is 1 for per diocese(?).
BUT, we have power through Gods WORD!
MARK 16: 17-18.
It is not disobedient to believe & enact these verses when confronted w snakes, poisons & Evil. The Holy Spirit is the power. It has nothing to do w us x as children of the MOST HIGH KING.
Thank You, Jesus for being w me.
 
Father God, help your son here, on figuring his path to help this co-worker. He has a good heart & wants to serve You. He is in dangerous waters. Reiki opens other dimensions on the other side. Invitations were given, when she started that path. The WORD OF GOD IS A SWORD THAT CUTS THROUGH EVIL. MARK 16: 17-18. Put on the whole armpit of God. The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Where two or meet together in the name of Jesus, He is also present.
In Jesus name
Amen
 
My friend, I would say the best thing for you to do is to talk to a priest. See what he says about your healing. You can also practice to be an acupuncturist while being a mental health therapist. Acupuncturists practice herbs as well.
Also, as this is a spiritual matter, I suggest you to read a spiritual book that St. Hildegard of Bingen wrote called the Physica. She writes about natural healing in God’s way. I read her book and found myself amazed. Please know, though, that this is not scientifically proven and it will not work until God intervenes.

The ultimate suggestion I can offer you is to see a priest- as I am not really open in this field. I will be praying for you.

Pax Christi!
 
Thank you so much, CRM. You’ve been a great help and God bless you.

An update: I spoke with my priest about my ideas of being a spiritual warrior/healer in my fiancé’s massage therapy business and he gave me his blessing. I’m limiting my Practice to praying over people in my office there. He also approved my idea of how to pray over my co worker.

As I was practicing my prayer for this Friday, the ice kept falling around me as I was doing it outside of my father’s house. I’m taking that as a sign that the demon isn’t happy with me and was trying to dissuade me.

The structure of the prayer is as follows:

Open with giving thanks to God and asking Him to forgive us our sins. Fatima Prayer.

Sub Tuum Praesidium

Asking Jesus to pour out His Precious Blood, from His Most Sacred Heart; upon us, shed for us at His Cross. Protect us from the demon’s retaliation and bind and cast away the demon to the foot of His Cross to dispose of according to His Divine Will. Please, Lord Jesus make the demon depart quietly, quickly and with out disturbance to the foot of Your Cross to judge as You see fit.

Hail Marys; as many as are needed.

Healing prayers; invoking Jesus as Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on us. Alongside asking Our Lady and Saint Michael the Archangel for their intercession.

Close with thanksgiving and Glory Be.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. If any of you need my prayers, I’ll be happy to do so.
 
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