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kbfsc
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Hi all, chiming in late, but I thought I could add a few thoughts.
I have friends that have read Fr. Yozufe's book and LOVED it. They feel like their lives and families have been changed dramatically for the good. However, I haven't read it and can't comment directly.
I can recommend another resource, however, written by a friend and member of my parish. This book, Be Healed by Dr. Bob Schuchts is the fruit of 30+ years of marriage and family counseling, and has an impramatur. The author was interviewed on Ave Maria radio and you can listen here if you have interest in hearing more. (You'll have to scroll down to "June 26, 2014, hour 2" and click on the segments for "Be Healed". Sorry I couldn't link directly!)
So, just in case folks are looking for some answers to these issues of the heart and healing, and would like something with an impramatur, Dr. Schuchts' book is worth looking at.
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VanessaVH
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Thank you so much for this thread!
My mom went to a service and has really been promoting it to me, I have read most of the book, and some of it seems so good, but I also had the red flag "itchy" feel too... I guess I still feel confused  Maybe it is just "too good to be true" in a way. I mean, I would love to say some prayers and have all my life issues resolve!
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JennGM
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Fr. Yozefu’s Book Under Review.
Interesting...so with people who are interested in this book, you could steer them to wait until the Church has made an official judgement...there is no imprimatur or nihil obstat at this time.
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Betsy
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kbfsc wrote:
Hi all, chiming in late, but I thought I could add a few thoughts.
I have friends that have read Fr. Yozufe's book and LOVED it. They feel like their lives and families have been changed dramatically for the good. However, I haven't read it and can't comment directly.
I can recommend another resource, however, written by a friend and member of my parish. This book, Be Healed by Dr. Bob Schuchts is the fruit of 30+ years of marriage and family counseling, and has an impramatur. The author was interviewed on Ave Maria radio and you can listen here if you have interest in hearing more. (You'll have to scroll down to "June 26, 2014, hour 2" and click on the segments for "Be Healed". Sorry I couldn't link directly!)
So, just in case folks are looking for some answers to these issues of the heart and healing, and would like something with an impramatur, Dr. Schuchts' book is worth looking at. |
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JennGM, thanks for the link above. Very interesting. I am looking forward to have more of the Church's guidance on this book.
Also, per Kiera's recommendation above, I ordered and read Be Healed. I highly recommend this book to everyone. In fact I will be purchasing many copies to give to friend and family that are looking for healing and hope!!!
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SallyT
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Yes, thank you for this alternative suggestion. I'm going to check it out.
Our parish has jumped on the Healing of Families bandwagon, which I find disturbing -- there was a big healiing "para-liturgy" yesterday between Masses. A family in our parish are very involved in this ministry and have made it something of a family apostolate, which in and of itself is okay, I guess, but I'm unsettled by the level of influence they have as quasi-spiritual directors in the parish. I'm disturbed that our pastor is allowing this to happen, rather uncritically. Again, many people have read this book and felt that it changed their lives, so I hesitate to rush to judgment, but the whole thing bothers me. As my husband says, Catholicism is a big tent with lots of room, but still . . .
And I am grateful for you all, and for this conversation. I have felt very alone in having reservations about this -- as if I were the lone unholy person, or we were the lone unholy family, in our parish, because we don't subscribe to this spirituality. And it's not that we don't need healing, because we sure do. This has been a very difficult year. I'm just not persuaded that the healing we need is this, exactly.
Anyway, I'm really glad to have an alternative to pursue. Thank you.
Sally
PS: In reading around, I happened upon this very thorough and charitable critique, which follows a statement from Fr. Yosefu's diocesan Bishop. More and more I am concerned about my parish's involvement and my pastor's approval of it.
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JennGM
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Sally, I'm so sorry to hear this.
Two thoughts I have:
1) The fact that the diocese is reviewing his book should be brought attention to the pastor. The book should not be promoted until it clears approval. That's the same way they treat apparitions and private revelations.
2) I can't remember which book (might be Still Small Voice?) by Father Groeschel, but it was one on discerning private revelation, not exactly the same, but in similar need for obedience and discernment. He was saying that even if 99% has good fruits and just less than 1% bad fruits from the devil, it is not a true gift from God. This has been the argument for years for people following different apparitions, saying they received so much fruit and grace. Perhaps yes, but not everything is uncovered yet.
Praying for you.
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JennGM
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I'm wondering if what I read in a discussion the other day was actually from this book. It just didn't sound Catholic, but everyone was jumping on the bandwagon. People were saying that the devil can enter in just little things, and we may not be aware. The possession is different, but we need to be exorcised in a way.
Is that thought process from that book? If so, I think too many people around here must be reading it.
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SallyT
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Yes, I think that's the idea -- that you can have invited Satan into your life *without realizing it,* or that he can have entered your life via some prior person's action. The critique I linked in the update to my previous post spends a lot of time on the Church's theology of Baptism and the ways that this "generational bondage" idea contradicts that theology.
Sally
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JennGM
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SallyT wrote:
Yes, I think that's the idea -- that you can have invited Satan into your life *without realizing it,* or that he can have entered your life via some prior person's action. The critique I linked in the update to my previous post spends a lot of time on the Church's theology of Baptism and the ways that this "generational bondage" idea contradicts that theology.
Sally |
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Yes, that is exactly what they were saying. I will have to read your ink. Is Unbound connected in some to this?
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SallyT
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I cannot tell you how much relief it brings me to have a sensible conversation about this. I've been at several gatherings lately where everyone I knew was preparing for this healing thing and talking about it in the most reverent tones, and especially emphasizing how Satan was going to attack all the families preparing -- and what do you say? I was totally tongue-tied. I wish I'd read that linked critique earlier.
I have to say that all of this has been very damaging for one of my children, who now just thinks that all Catholics are nuts. He's one of those kids articles about people turned off by youth ministry are talking about -- too smart for his own good, really, at this point. He might have tended in this direction anyway, but the fact that our entire parish really has gone nuts doesn't help. In general I love our parish -- it's small, welcoming, orthodox (except for stuff like this), liturgically excellent, everything most of Catholic America wishes their parish would be. So I don't see leaving any time soon. But this particular son could use some serious prayer. St. Monica has been my best friend for quite a while now.
Sally
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SallyT
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I don't know about Unbound. Will have to research. I'm beginning to bore myself with my obsession about all this . . .
Sally
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JennGM
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Well, I'm relieved, too, Sally. This FB discussion had all sorts of solid Catholics and everything they were saying just felt like a foreign language. It just didn't sounded Catholic at all.
And it's been bothering me since November 24... They didn't refer to the book, but the language is exactly that, so now I know how to arm myself to have some fraternal correction discussions.
I will pray for your son.
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SallyT
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Thank you! I'll pray for your conversations as well.
Sally
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Jenn and Sally,
I am surprised i missed your conversation of this. Sally I will keep you in my prayers and your parish!
I just spent a weekned with the author of the book that Kiera linked above, Be Healed .
I can personally offer this as an alternative to true healing. And, more specifically the weekends and conferences he puts on.
Without sharing too many personal details of my situation and struggles I can that the solid Catholic principals in healing presented in this book work and are grounded in the real Faith. They are grounded in scripture, the Holy Spirit, Mary and Jesus Christ. They talk about generational healing, but ONLY in the aspect that we are genetically made from our parents. We live with them and learn from them through the lens of their hurts and what they learned from their parents, etc. NOT, some sin that was given to us without our asking for it. There is never a 'devil lurking around every corner' mentality.
Also, as a follow up to our work with Bob my dh went to confession with a very, very holy Passionist Priest. Again limited details, but the idea of cooperation with the devil and generational aspects came up. This priest did take both seriously (although confirmed that the generational aspects don't come to us without our cooperation) and worked through a special renunciation prayer that basically renounced everything that you did and didn't remember. To cut to the chase, my dh went back to confession a week later to the same Priest because he remembered more and still felt uneasy with things. The Priest basically pastorally yelled at him saying we covered all this last confession and admonished him to NOT give the devil more power than he deserves. Stay in the moment, fight temptations, go to Jesus and the Cross! That is. That's all we need to do every day, right? LOL!
So, in conclusion. I DO NOT like the book by Fr. Josufs's book. Be Healed is a much better approach to healing that stays true to the Catholic Church. Generational healing is real, I have seen amazing proof of that, but it's NOT some boogie man waiting in the closet to get you without your cooperation. Staying close to the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession are absolutely necessary. Healing, which we all need because we are sinful people is a daily battle that we need to fight with the tools that they Church gives us...not some one off prayer.
Okay, I have probably said too much...but I just got on a role here. I am willing to talk to anyone that wants to more about my experiences.
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SallyT
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Wow, no, you haven't said too much. Not for me, anyway! Thank you for your testimony. I have ordered Be Healed, because I do think that I have things to work on -- to prepare for a good Confession in the future (not that I haven't been to Confession, or have made "bad" ones -- I hope you know what I mean!), and to work toward uprooting some very deep-seated things in my life.
I think the distinction you make is important -- of receiving things from our families in the way of genetics and/or learned behaviors that get passed down, rather than inheriting our own special brands of original sin that baptism somehow isn't enough to wash away.
I was able to read part of the first chapter of Be Healed online and immediately warmed to the author's approach. Now I'm really looking forward to receiving the actual book and reading the rest. Recent events in my own life, of having a person close to me seek answers from non-Catholic sources, which have led to some difficult consequences, have made me especially leery of anything that's not just really straight-arrow, Church-approved Catholic teaching.
Again, thank you for this conversation.
Sally
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MaryM
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JennGM wrote:
| Is Unbound connected in some to this? |
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No, Unbound and Healing of Families are not connected, in so much as they are separate ministries, run by different folks and actually emphasizing different aspects. But, many people who are focusing on healing or who are promoting healing ministry in parishes are using them together. At least where we are that is the case, so I assume it is elsewhere.
Found this response by the folks at Johnnette Bencovik's "Women of Grace" page to a question about both of these books/ministries posed to them:
Are Neal Lozano and Father Yozefu Okay for Catholics?
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In regards to the topic, I would exercise caution regarding any writings by Fr. Yozefu, given the statement his Bishop released recently about his writings needing to be under review. There was no condemnation--but for me--I like full Church approval--especially in this area of theology.
I will heartily recommend Be Healed by Dr. Bob. His theology is spot on. He has the full approval of his bishop--and ironically, he and Fr. Y are in the same diocese.
My husband and I have done two, weekend retreats with Dr. Bob. In addition, we have numerous friends, acquaintances, and religious who have worked very closely with him over the years. All have glowing reviews. Before we went on retreat, we were scrupulous about making sure his theology was something on par with the church. We asked hard questions of many sources, and I was even upfront about this with Dr. Bob himself, and all highly recommend his work. He is highly sought after, and yet--is one of the most humble, unassuming quiet people I have ever met. For me, humility is a huge litmus test.
In addition, he highly recommends Unbound by Neal Lozano.
I have it on my shelf. I gave a copy to my spiritual director as a gift...and have yet to hear a review from him. My SD is, well, as far away from charistmatic as you can get.  But even he has expressed the reality of generational sin...but it is a tricky subject because of free will, grace, sacraments, etc. etc.
Neal Lozano is also highly recommended by a religious order we are very close with. One of our best friends from college joined this order--and they are wonderfully orthodox--and they highly recommend Lozano's book, too.
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SallyT
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I'm reading Be Healed right now. Liking it very much so far.
Sally
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Do all of these imply that everyone needs healing? Or is this for people who are searching and hurting?
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SallyT
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The latter, Jenn. Be Healed is addressed to people experiencing some kind of significant spiritual "block" -- like being stuck in the same sin-rut, or even general psychological rut, unable to move forward, beyond just the normal level of stuff you bring to confession again and again.
The premise isn't that *everyone* has some kind of secret trauma in their past, or that *everyone* is experiencing this kind of blockage now, maybe even without their knowledge. It's that some people do, and the book is written for their benefit.
It's more a case of a person's coming up against a wall, or hitting a major spiritual crisis, and sensing that it does come from some past trauma or wound (in the person's own life, not in some ancestor's). I haven't read the whole book yet, and right now I'm kind of speed-reading through, to get a sense of the big picture, before I go back and read more slowly, but thus far all of this seems sound to me.
The book definitely does NOT seem to be pushing healing down anyone's throat -- as in, you need this, and if you doubt that you need it, then you REALLY need it. It does come out of the charismatic tradition -- there's reference to speaking in tongues and miraculous physical healing, but thus far no suggestion that if you don't experience these things then you don't have the Holy Spirit (which made me really uncomfortable in the charismatic non-denom church I attended for a while in college).
So it seems good thus far. I'm not normally a fan of self-help books, but I was looking for something like this precisely because I have experienced the kind of "block" in my spiritual life described above, and because I wanted help in learning to forgive people I need to forgive -- unforgiveness is a major theme in the book.
But again, the book doesn't seem to imply that EVERYONE is suffering in this way, even if they don't know it. That on the front end makes it feel more trustworthy to me.
Sally
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Generational Healing/Healing of Families?
