Intergenerational Mass – Celebrant Fr. John Esper
St. Vincent Ferrer Church 28353 Herbert, Madison Heights, MIWhat is inter-generational healing? We all understand the concept of material inheritance. After people die, they often leave money, property, and possessions to members of their family. We are also aware of a physical inheritance. Doctors always ask for the family medical history of a new patient. There is also a spiritual inheritance. We can thank God and family for the benefit from our virtuous ancestors going back a thousand generations (see Sirach 44:10-12). We are also adversely affected by the sins of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and by the sins of the ancestors who adversely affected them. With consequences that may extend to what is inherited materially, emotionally, and physically. In his book entitled Inter-generational Healing, Fr. Robert DeGrandis writes: “inter-generational healing is, for the Christian, an opportunity to recognize and bring healing to family influences from the past, with implications for the future. Inter-generational healing suggests the possibility that negative acts and deeds of our ancestors can somehow enter our “bloodstream” and take a toll on future generations. Transforming the connection with these troublesome roots is what inter-generational healing is all about. It’s an exciting, fascinating area of the healing ministry.