What do you think?
Rate this book
Healing the Family Tree
The author explains how through his medical and religious experiences he has discovered another method of healing. He believes that many supposedly "incurable" patients are the victims of ancestral control. He therefore seeks to liberate them from this control. By drawing up a family tree he can identify the ancestor who is causing his patient harm. He then cuts the bond between the ancestor and the patient by celebrating, with a clergyman, a service of Holy Communion in which he delivers the tormented ancestor to God.
138 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1989
49 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 3, 2015
Good Guide to Praying for the Dead
As Catholics, we are called to pray for the dead. This book opened my eyes to not only pray specifically for those I have known, or generally for all souls in Purgatory, but also specifically for my ancestors. I now ask God for His forgiveness for their sins, especially those passed on to my generation. I also beg of God to release the generations of the bondage created by sins of family who went before us. A new prayer offering is always good!
As Catholics, we are called to pray for the dead. This book opened my eyes to not only pray specifically for those I have known, or generally for all souls in Purgatory, but also specifically for my ancestors. I now ask God for His forgiveness for their sins, especially those passed on to my generation. I also beg of God to release the generations of the bondage created by sins of family who went before us. A new prayer offering is always good!
July 24, 2023
Dr McAll succinctly relates a series of stories of his work in prayer healing for those suffering from oppression from dead relatives who's souls have not been laid to rest.
Drawing heavily from his rich and varied experience, he dedicates each chapter to various ways in which persons can suffer not just from sin, but even mental illnesses can have, though by no means necessarily so, its origin from their ancestors who have yet to be prayed for. He relates his experiences of how through pray, the celebration of the Eucharist, or having a communion of remembrance can lay their souls to rest, and how all manners of psychological issues have been healed. He retells stories of those who suffered from relatives who were aborted, those who committed suicide, those who engaged in occult practices, who never received a proper burial nor prayers after their repose.
I would highly recommend it for those who are concerned about the current state of mental health, to understand a traditional Christian view of the crisis. I would also recommend it for those Christians who do not practice, or perhaps do not even believe, in praying for the dead.
I leave it at 4-stars (I wish it could be 4 1/2) for the sole reason that Dr McAll leaves wanting much in the way of theological or scriptural support. Whilst he does touch on these, I felt that he could have said much more about it, though I appreciate this was largely a relation of his own experiences, an empirical and practical verification of the practice of praying for the dead, rather than a theological treatise on the topic.
Overall, I would consider it to be incredibly important material in the modern day, not only considering how prevalent mental health issues have become, but also the prevalence of the occult which may be disturbing those around us in ways we cannot understand.
Drawing heavily from his rich and varied experience, he dedicates each chapter to various ways in which persons can suffer not just from sin, but even mental illnesses can have, though by no means necessarily so, its origin from their ancestors who have yet to be prayed for. He relates his experiences of how through pray, the celebration of the Eucharist, or having a communion of remembrance can lay their souls to rest, and how all manners of psychological issues have been healed. He retells stories of those who suffered from relatives who were aborted, those who committed suicide, those who engaged in occult practices, who never received a proper burial nor prayers after their repose.
I would highly recommend it for those who are concerned about the current state of mental health, to understand a traditional Christian view of the crisis. I would also recommend it for those Christians who do not practice, or perhaps do not even believe, in praying for the dead.
I leave it at 4-stars (I wish it could be 4 1/2) for the sole reason that Dr McAll leaves wanting much in the way of theological or scriptural support. Whilst he does touch on these, I felt that he could have said much more about it, though I appreciate this was largely a relation of his own experiences, an empirical and practical verification of the practice of praying for the dead, rather than a theological treatise on the topic.
Overall, I would consider it to be incredibly important material in the modern day, not only considering how prevalent mental health issues have become, but also the prevalence of the occult which may be disturbing those around us in ways we cannot understand.
April 25, 2019
I never once met my great-grandfather, but to read this book gave me a insight of how wonderful he is. I am in awe and I aspire to be like him one day.
January 25, 2018
The subject matter in this book is pretty unconventional. And that is an understatement. Some might even consider it downright creepy. Praying for the dead? Using the Eucharist to bring closure to the living still tormented by those who have died? Definitely not a typical Christian book...
Nevertheless, Kenneth Mcall provides observations of his cases and experiences in as clinical and objective a manner as possible, at least as possible as it can get for such an unusual topic. The author is a Christian psychiatrist, who uses prayer and the sacrament of Christian communion to bring relief to individuals suffering from unexplained medical symptoms, where these patients are regularly in either pain or misery or both.
Throughout the book, while the strangeness of the individual accounts and descriptions of the examples can challenge even the most open of sane minds within the context of our contemporary world, the author's scientific reporting style makes this one reader consider the possibilities of surgically targeted prayer as an option when no other psychiatric solutions appear to work.
Nevertheless, Kenneth Mcall provides observations of his cases and experiences in as clinical and objective a manner as possible, at least as possible as it can get for such an unusual topic. The author is a Christian psychiatrist, who uses prayer and the sacrament of Christian communion to bring relief to individuals suffering from unexplained medical symptoms, where these patients are regularly in either pain or misery or both.
Throughout the book, while the strangeness of the individual accounts and descriptions of the examples can challenge even the most open of sane minds within the context of our contemporary world, the author's scientific reporting style makes this one reader consider the possibilities of surgically targeted prayer as an option when no other psychiatric solutions appear to work.
Read
July 19, 2021I guess this is not for everyone! It is a Christian book, and about the workings of the supernatural.
But, even some Christians who would say the believe in the supernatural will struggle with it.
I love it, and pray it continues to change my life!!
One needs information about a persons family, so the specific use can be limited, but the fact of our ancesters being able to impact our life experience is clearly shown.
Ken was a friend and fellow student with Eric Liddell. They worked together in China prior to WW2.
But, even some Christians who would say the believe in the supernatural will struggle with it.
I love it, and pray it continues to change my life!!
One needs information about a persons family, so the specific use can be limited, but the fact of our ancesters being able to impact our life experience is clearly shown.
Ken was a friend and fellow student with Eric Liddell. They worked together in China prior to WW2.
November 14, 2018
A really interesting and unconventional read. From a religious stand point it makes perfect sense. The practice of prayer within faith upholds Christianity's theory. If your interested in different schools of thought or understanding a religious or cultural perspective in understanding certain ailments then it's the book for you.
September 18, 2024
McAll is such an interesting character. While I hesitate to take all of his anecdotes at face value, I think there really is some power in the way he conducted his unique ministry of offering the Eucharist to heal the traumas of the living (and the dead!)
May 31, 2017
Was recommended to read this book and have quite a few reservations with it.
January 30, 2026
I read this book in Korean and I will write in Korean. (예수 그리스도의 치유)
This time, Korean translated title, Healing of Jesus Christ, sounds better.
영적 세계의 이야기인데 너무 많은 이야기가 잠깐 잠깐 등장하는 것이 따라가기가 힘들 정도이다. 조금 적은 에페소드를 다루더라도 깊이 들었갔으면 싶다.
현재 아픈 사람이 특히 마음이 아픈 사람이 아픈 것이 단순히 순순히 육체적인 원인일 때도 있지만 조상이 사랑받지 못하고 죽어서 교회에서 기도로 위로 받지 못해서 한이 맺혀서일 때도 있고 죄로 지은 얼룩들이 후대에 나타나는 수가 있느니만큼 죽은 이들을 위한 기도가 특히 성체성사가 절실히 요구된다. 이는 죽은 사람 뿐이 아니라 산 사람들을 위해서도 가계를 살펴보고 조상에 대한 기도를 바치고, 성체성사에 참여할 필요가 있다. 얼마나 오래 지속해서 그렇게 해야하는지는 경우마다 다르다. 집안의 가족들도 살펴서 기도로 치료를 해줄 일이다.
가장 마음에 드는 부분은 현상의 어두운 부분에 초점을 맞추기보다는 예수님의 용서와 자비심에 또 그분의 간절한 사랑에 우리의 시선을 고정시켜야한다는 부분이다. 미신과 마약, 마술 모두 마귀의 힘을 발휘한다.
그 다음 좋은 부분은 지옥에 갔다고 여겨지는 자살자들이나 그 외의 죄인에 대해서도 우리는 판단할 자격이 없다는 부분이다. 영혼의 정확한 상태, 죽을 때의 정확한 상태는 아무도 모르는 일이다. 어쩔 수 없이 강한 마귀의 힘에 끌려 자신의 의지와 관계없이 나쁜 행동을 했다면 전적으로 잘못을 저지른 이의 책임은 아닐 수 있기 때문이다. 그러므로 우리는 예수님의 무한하신 자비에 죽은 사람이나 산사람을 맡기고 여하한 경우에도 기도를 바춰주어야한다는 조언이 마음에 들었다.
This time, Korean translated title, Healing of Jesus Christ, sounds better.
영적 세계의 이야기인데 너무 많은 이야기가 잠깐 잠깐 등장하는 것이 따라가기가 힘들 정도이다. 조금 적은 에페소드를 다루더라도 깊이 들었갔으면 싶다.
현재 아픈 사람이 특히 마음이 아픈 사람이 아픈 것이 단순히 순순히 육체적인 원인일 때도 있지만 조상이 사랑받지 못하고 죽어서 교회에서 기도로 위로 받지 못해서 한이 맺혀서일 때도 있고 죄로 지은 얼룩들이 후대에 나타나는 수가 있느니만큼 죽은 이들을 위한 기도가 특히 성체성사가 절실히 요구된다. 이는 죽은 사람 뿐이 아니라 산 사람들을 위해서도 가계를 살펴보고 조상에 대한 기도를 바치고, 성체성사에 참여할 필요가 있다. 얼마나 오래 지속해서 그렇게 해야하는지는 경우마다 다르다. 집안의 가족들도 살펴서 기도로 치료를 해줄 일이다.
가장 마음에 드는 부분은 현상의 어두운 부분에 초점을 맞추기보다는 예수님의 용서와 자비심에 또 그분의 간절한 사랑에 우리의 시선을 고정시켜야한다는 부분이다. 미신과 마약, 마술 모두 마귀의 힘을 발휘한다.
그 다음 좋은 부분은 지옥에 갔다고 여겨지는 자살자들이나 그 외의 죄인에 대해서도 우리는 판단할 자격이 없다는 부분이다. 영혼의 정확한 상태, 죽을 때의 정확한 상태는 아무도 모르는 일이다. 어쩔 수 없이 강한 마귀의 힘에 끌려 자신의 의지와 관계없이 나쁜 행동을 했다면 전적으로 잘못을 저지른 이의 책임은 아닐 수 있기 때문이다. 그러므로 우리는 예수님의 무한하신 자비에 죽은 사람이나 산사람을 맡기고 여하한 경우에도 기도를 바춰주어야한다는 조언이 마음에 들었다.
April 3, 2008
This book has a great many stories, and it made me understand the importance of praying for the dead. The importance of committing them to God, and praying that they will be enveloped in his love.
There are a number of very strange stories in this book. Some of them have to do with ancestors who were never properly buried, mourned, or committed to God.
One of the most interesting things that Dr. Kenneth McCall said (I don't remember if it was in this book) is that 95% of the girls with anorexia, that he had dealt with, had mothers who had had abortions. It's kind of interesting how far that can go.
There are a number of very strange stories in this book. Some of them have to do with ancestors who were never properly buried, mourned, or committed to God.
One of the most interesting things that Dr. Kenneth McCall said (I don't remember if it was in this book) is that 95% of the girls with anorexia, that he had dealt with, had mothers who had had abortions. It's kind of interesting how far that can go.
September 19, 2015
I challenge you to find a more original and unique book than this one! Talk about thinking outside the box!! This book will take you places you didn't think were possible--places of collective spiritual injury and collective spiritual healing. And for me there is no question of the author's integrity and authenticity.
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
August 11, 2016
Such a good book on healing the family tree. Although I couldn't get into it at first I'm glad I stuck with it. A lot of value in this book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews