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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re Theophostic prayer	Amanda	Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Question: Hello Brother Ignatius Hope you are keeping well. Although I am not personally catholic I find your site really helpful. I noticed a question posted by Lisa regarding theophostic prayer. I didn't have a clue at first until I read the exerpt you included from the "coming home" page. I had some deliverance ministry about a year ago and this was the technique used. I remember finding it very painful and I stopped when after one session I felt suicidal. I have struggled through for a while now with one thing or another and followed earler advice from you about moving to an established Church, which helped. But I agree I wouldn't recommend it.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Amanda: I praise God that you find our website helpful. That is what we are here for. Thank you for your testimony about your experience with Theophostic prayer techniques. Your experience is exactly the kind of danger that can happen with this alleged therapeutic technique. There are oftentimes good reasons why memories should remain unremembered. And if a painful memory for some reason needs to be recalled and dealt with it needs to be in a therapeutic setting with people who are qualified to provide professional counseling. Without that professional support the emotions that are evoked by remembering some memories can cause great angst and even psychological trauma. From a psychological point-of-view, as I mentioned before, I do not believe it is necessary to remember every painful memory of the past in order to resolve current issues. The majority of problems that people wish to change about themselves can be accomplished without dredging up the past. If issues that a person wishes to change about themselves can be accomplished through other means, then why risk the psychological trauma. This is one reason why I recommend a Christian approach to a "healing of memories." This approach, properly done, seeks to remember only those memories that God chooses to have us remember, and to ask Him to heal the effects of past traumas regardless of whether or not the memories are remembered. In other words, we help the person to heal by helping him give his memory into the safe-keeping of God. Even then, this approach is reserved only to certain situations. The primary and ultimate healing of memories is through forgiveness. We are commanded to forgive all our enemies, abusers, family, friends, others, and ourselves. Once people understand the true nature of forgiveness as a decision of will, it is easier for them to forgive. Once a person forgives then the hurts of the past begin to heal. For information on the true nature of forgiveness, see our pamphlet, Dealing with Bitterness and Unforgiveness. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Re Theophostic prayer

Amanda

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Question:

Hello Brother Ignatius

Hope you are keeping well. Although I am not personally catholic I find your site really helpful.

I noticed a question posted by Lisa regarding theophostic prayer. I didn't have a clue at first until I read the exerpt you included from the "coming home" page. I had some deliverance ministry about a year ago and this was the technique used. I remember finding it very painful and I stopped when after one session I felt suicidal.

I have struggled through for a while now with one thing or another and followed earler advice from you about moving to an established Church, which helped. But I agree I wouldn't recommend it.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Amanda:

I praise God that you find our website helpful. That is what we are here for.

Thank you for your testimony about your experience with Theophostic prayer techniques. Your experience is exactly the kind of danger that can happen with this alleged therapeutic technique.

There are oftentimes good reasons why memories should remain unremembered. And if a painful memory for some reason needs to be recalled and dealt with it needs to be in a therapeutic setting with people who are qualified to provide professional counseling. Without that professional support the emotions that are evoked by remembering some memories can cause great angst and even psychological trauma.

From a psychological point-of-view, as I mentioned before, I do not believe it is necessary to remember every painful memory of the past in order to resolve current issues. The majority of problems that people wish to change about themselves can be accomplished without dredging up the past. If issues that a person wishes to change about themselves can be accomplished through other means, then why risk the psychological trauma.

This is one reason why I recommend a Christian approach to a "healing of memories." This approach, properly done, seeks to remember only those memories that God chooses to have us remember, and to ask Him to heal the effects of past traumas regardless of whether or not the memories are remembered. In other words, we help the person to heal by helping him give his memory into the safe-keeping of God. Even then, this approach is reserved only to certain situations.

The primary and ultimate healing of memories is through forgiveness. We are commanded to forgive all our enemies, abusers, family, friends, others, and ourselves. Once people understand the true nature of forgiveness as a decision of will, it is easier for them to forgive. Once a person forgives then the hurts of the past begin to heal.

For information on the true nature of forgiveness, see our pamphlet, Dealing with Bitterness and Unforgiveness.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.