Generational Spirits – Fact or Fiction?

Several priests have written books on the phenomenon known as generational spirits and the “Healing of the Family Tree,” which is a process to eliminate the effects of ancestral sins on the present generation. While this is NOT “official” Catholic teaching, it is worthy of a healthy discussion.

Ancestral Positive and Negative Effects

Many Catholics through the ages have attained holiness through the spiritual acts of the saints. Their suffering for Christ goes into the spiritual bank of indulgences. Indulgences are like a storehouse of spiritual benefits that we today can use to reduce the temporal suffering due to our sins. This shows that the positive spiritual effects of the martyrs last through many generations.

Similarly, exorcists and charismatic priests both attest to the fact that there also negative effects through the ages caused by the sins of our fathers. And while original sin is the ONLY sin inherited by us all, they claim that the effects (contamination of the family tree) of serious sin (not the guilt of the sin itself) of our ancestors can also affect us today.  We all know that if a  father was an alcoholic and abused his wife, then the children would also suffer tremendously for a sin that they had nothing to do with.  If a mother cheats on her husband, and a divorce ensues, the children would suffer tremendously for the sins of their mother. Studies have shown that most prostitutes had a horrible relationship with their parents, and often felt abandoned by them. And when these prostitutes have children, they in-turn tend to abandon them, repeating the whole process to another generation. What the “Healing of the Family Tree” ministry says is that there is also a generational spiritual component to sinfulness, dealing with demons who attach themselves to families caused by the sins of our ancestors. These demons are known as “familial spirits.”

The bad effects caused by the sins of our ancestors have nothing to do with being punished by God for the sins of previous generations (Ezekiel 18:19-20). In other words, this trauma is caused by our own sins and is not a “punishment“ from God.

Father John Hampsch, Claretian Priest

Father Hampsch was a charismatic Claretian Priest who participated in exorcisms.  He recently died in November of 2020. He wrote many books on Catholic teachings and has recorded many, many talks as well, available here.

He dealt with a lot of people who had certain sinful tendencies. He stated over and over again that original sin is the ONLY sin that we humans inherit through birth. The distinction that so many people confuse with the “Healing of the Family Tree” program deals with the EFFECTS of ancestral sin, and not the guilt of the sin itself. He claimed that we can inherit spiritual abnormalities, just as people can inherit physical defects such as arthritis, cancer, heart problems, etc.

All of this is done, of course, by demons who attach themselves to families through sins such as Freemasonry, occultism, pornography, etc.  What they normally do is to cause subsequent generations to have a tendency toward the same sins as their ancestors, or else to suffer from the effects of those sins.

These demons are known as “familial spirits,” who specialize in causing alcoholism, lust, greed, and other sins.  He claimed to have cured many people of the effects of these sins, through the Eucharist, the Mass, and through prayer, by specifically naming these people’s sins (if known) and asking God for healing through the Eucharist. He also states that not all suffering is the cause of our ancestral sin as Jesus says in John 9:3.

Father Ripperger, Exorcist

Father Ripperger is an exorcist priest in Denver. He says that generational demons can attach themselves to families (if God permits it), through the sins of family members (especially through the authority figures in the family, like the father), and through curses, especially through the Freemason curse or through a satanic curse, even to a child in the womb. He says the effects of the Freemason curse manifest as alcoholism, respiratory problems, or sexual molestation.

He states that if the father of a family watches pornography in the home, he is not only inviting the demon to attach itself to him, he is also giving the demon the power to cause problems for the entire household, because of the authority that the father has over his own family. Then the demon can attach itself to the sons and daughters of the family, and then to subsequent generations of that family. Priests usually say that the number one sin they hear in the confessional is viewing pornography, so is it any wonder the family structure is under attack in America?

Father Ripperger also talks about Mark chapter 9, where Jesus exorcises a demon from a man’s son, who has been possessed from infancy.  That means that either the son was cursed in the womb, or else is the victim of a generational spirit. In other words, the young man did nothing himself to cause the possession; it either came about through the sins of an ancestor or through a curse.

Sometimes the generational spirit will manifest itself as one of the seven deadly sins, like pride.  In these cases, the family should strive to do just the opposite of it, in this case, humility. If it is greed, then the family should practice generosity through almsgiving.

The Cure

So how does one eliminate these generational demons?  First, by not committing any more mortal sins, which invite the demons into your family tree. Second, if they entered through a satanic curse, true repentance, the Eucharist, and the Mass are the best ways to eliminate them, combined with forgiving the person who cursed you. Naming the persons in your family tree who you know have committed specific sins, and praying for forgiveness for those sins during a mass offered for them cleanses the family tree.

Other Priests

There are other priests who practice “Healing the Family Tree,” like Father Lou Cerulli and Father Robert DeGrandis. Along with Father Hampsch and Father Ripperger, they have seen great results from this program. To learn more about it, click here.

Bible Verses

So what does sacred Scripture have to say about this?

Exodus 20:5: “you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Leviticus 26:40: “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery which they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me,

2 Samuel 12:13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die.”

1 Kings 11:11-12: Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

Lamentations 5: 7: “Our forefathers have sinned and are now dead, and we bear their punishment.”

Wisdom 3:16: But children of adulterers will not come to maturity, and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish.

Matthew 23: 35:” that upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechari′ah the son of Barachi′ah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.36Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation.”

Summary

Most Catholics have never heard of generational spirits (familial) or Healing of the Family Tree. It is something that exorcists have discovered through dealing with the demonic.  It is NOT official Catholic doctrine found in the Catechism. But that doesn’t mean it’s not real. Catholics have had masses said for their dead relatives for centuries, but this new ministry not only cleanses the dead from the effects of their sins, but it also cleanses us of the residue left over here on earth from their sins.

Saying the prayer below, combined with the infinite power of the Eucharist and specifically naming them and their sins (if known), will produce a wonderful effect in you and your family now, and in the years to come.

Please note that fathers should never say “GD you” to anyone in their family because then they are placing a curse on their own family. The demons hear that and then attach themselves to the family.

A Prayer to Heal Your Family Tree

Heavenly Father, I come before You as Your child, in great need of Your help; I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own fault, failure, neglect, and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg Your Forgiveness. But Father, I also ask You to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns and defects in body, mind and spirit. Heal me, O Lord, of all these disorders. Amen.

Heavenly Father, with Your help, I sincerely forgive everyone, especially living or dead members of my family tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the Name of Your Son Jesus, and by the Power of His Holy Spirit, I ask You, Eternal Father, to deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the Devil. Free all living and dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every contaminating form of bondage. By Your loving concern for us, Eternal Father, and by the Most Precious Blood of Your Son Jesus, I beg You to extend Your Blessing to me and to all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative effects in future generations of my family tree. Amen.

Heavenly Father, I symbolically place the Cross of Our Lord Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation; I ask You to let the cleansing Blood of Jesus purify the bloodlines in my family lineage. Set Your protective angels to encamp around us, and permit Archangel Raphael, the patron of healing, to administer Your Divine Healing Power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special Power to our family members’ guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let Your Healing Power be released at this very moment, and let it continue as long as Your Sovereignty permits. Amen.

Heavenly Father, in our family tree, O Lord, replace all bondage with a Holy bonding in family love. And let there be an ever-deeper bonding with You, Eternal Father, by the Holy Spirit, to Your Son Jesus. Let the Family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with Its tender, warm, Loving Presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest That Love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen.  St. Joseph, Patron of family life, pray for us.“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”  —Rev. John H. Hampsch, CMF