I have read everything written in the posts and I still can’t get a clear answer about whether or not generational healing or healing of the family tree Masses are sanctioned by the Church.
The trusted Priest that does these Masses says the Catholic Church has always recommended praying for the dead, to relieve them of the temporal punishments due to sin(CCC 1030-1032). If we have the recognition of the fact that sin has consequences and that it takes prayers and offerings to help overcome those consequences-within the providential plan of God. If we look at Romans 5:12-19, where St.Paul talks about original sin and its consequences, we have here the foundation for both acknowledging the consequences of sin but also the sure hope that grace through Christ is greater than sin so that we can with confidence turn to Him and call upon Him to be saved.This is the simple foundation for acknowledging the nature of sin and its consequences, the call to pray for the dead and also to call upon the saving grace of Christ to work for both the living and the dead.It is in this context that the Priest does these Masses and says it is simply the Mass for the Dead.He says to look at CCC#953and #817 which the speaks of acts of charity and sinful acts affect the whole body, that is the communion of saints and wounds to the unity of the Church due to sin. From this he concludes that the Lord might want us to pray for the harmful effects of sin to be overcome by grace.So this particular Priest sees no problem with these Masses. Another Priest told me that they are not sanctioned by the Church and they are a strange new phenomena and that he wouldn’t go there because it is not Catholic. These are two Priests from the same Diocese.Who is correct?Culpable ignorance or denial?What does Pope say?Depending on who you speak to you get different answers from trusted Priests.
These are the facts, not personal opinions:
Generational healing masses differ substantially from the normal healing Masses that we have had around for years. In essence the people who advocate these type of masses say that your ancestors sins can and do affect you and you family today. Something along the lines of a generational curse. One of your great great great ancestors did something and you still carry the stain from it. So, individuals and families who are often and maybe repeatedly assailed by depression, illness, financial worries, accidents, bad relationships etc etc. could find that they are not the victims of happenstance or sheer bad luck.
NO, the cause can be and often is a curse :bigyikes: which may have originated in a previous generation.
Now knowing that aspect of the equation, you can pretty clearly see that the intent behind the generational or family tree Mass as it is sometimes called, conflicts with Catholic theology totally.
In the Catholic faith the Sacrament of Baptism washes away the stain of original sin, which is handed down to all of us. It also forgives all sins that we have committed up to that point in our lives. Also just for good measure the Catholic Church has never taught that a persons sins could be passed down to their ancestors or that those sins could cause any objective harm to those who did not in fact commit them.
Now there are religions that believe that the sins of the parent **ARE **passed on to the child
AND BEYOND. In fact the book of Exodus actually says so in certain cases, so at at least some point in history the Jews believed it. There are others who believe that Baptism
DOES NOT forgive anything at all and is not sacramental in nature. Most protestants fall into that category…
NEITHER IS A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES TEACHING.
Since adhering to one or the other of these two beliefs is essential for one to accept what the generational healing Masses purport to be for it it is reasonable to assume that the believers have drifted off into some non Catholic practices and beliefs,
They are often compared with Masses offered for the dead. But these Masses are offered for the dead,
NOT for us and to solve
OURdifficulties.
Some Bishops have outlawed these events altogether in their dioceses. Others have a kind of indifference to them and a few allegedly support them, although I could find no hard evidence for that. The Vatican as it often does stands mute on the subject at this time, although, I would imagine they hope the practice will just die off on its own.
note: The last line is a personal opinion.
I would think that staying away from them would not be a really bad idea.
So, let’s say I’ve investigated it to it’s logical end.