The Practice of Healing Prayer: A How-to Guide for Catholics

This succinct book is just what the title states: A how-to guidebook for healing prayer--especially the laying-on-of-hands sort. It deals specifically with healing in a Catholic context, but it would be useful to ANYONE who wants to learn to pray more effectively for healing within a Protestant Christian context, too. The book traces changing attitudes toward healing prayer over the centuries within the Catholic church. It deals with mental blocks that some Catholics (or other Christians) experience towards performing faith-healing, such as the idea that only very saintly persons or specially "called" healers can heal, or the fear that one's faith is not great enough to accomplish "faith"-healing. According to the author, any Christian can have success doing healing prayer, and he offers lots of real evidence and encouragement for this. He gives practical, simple, down-to-earth instructions about how to proceed and what to expect. The book deals with inner healing of memories and emotions as well as physical healing. It deals with obstacles to healing. It makes the important point that healing prayer often requires perseverence over a period of time, and the book tells how to proceed over an extended period of prayer. There are also tips here pertaining to demonic deliverance. Especially interesting is a section about the effective role of sacramentals in healing and deliverance--blessed oil, blessed salt, and blessed "holy" water. Since the 1960s, the author has been especially devoted to healing ministry so has a great deal of experience to draw upon. In this and other books, MacNutt's passion is to help create a restoration of the kind of healing practice that was once common among all Christians in the early Christian churchs. This book is useful, informative, and well worth studying as a Christian healing resource.

Francis MacNutt and his wife Judith are leaders in the healing prayer ministry; they are gifted ministers and have a vast experience with healing prayers. In the book, Francis writes specifically to Roman Catholics to educate and introduce them to the concept of healing prayer. He offers basic concepts, Biblical background, instructions and counsel. This book is by no means only for the novice. I found it very refreshing and useful, especially because Dr. MacNutt is so honest and transparent about healing prayers. He is certainly a qualified expert on the subject who admits that often he seems to lack convincing faith and/or the answers to so many of the questions about healing prayers and how God answers them. I think his humility is a sign of his spiritual maturity and experience with the topic.I appreciated this book, and I am an Anglican priest and pastor not a Roman Catholic. I suggest that any readers interested in the topic should not be turned off by the fact that the target audience is Roman Catholic. MacNutt does include nuances that are strictly Roman Catholic such as praying to Mary for help or intercession, but I was not turned off by this. I just recognize that it is not my tradition, and I respect it and consider how I might learn from it.I think this would be a great book to use for training lay people in the church to be prayer ministers for those who are in need of healing. After reading this book, I would direct readers to the MacNutts' other books on healing and deliverance, too.

On April 9, 2013, my father passed away in my home at the age of 90. My husband and I cared for him for the last 15 years; the last year of which he suffered from severe Alzheimer's disease and had reverted back to infancy. On September 25, 2013, a younger brother (a recovering alcoholic who we worked with and cared for since December of 2005) committed suicide. Although I prayed FOR both my father and brother every day, I did not know HOW to pray WITH them, especially with my brother. We supported him through an inpatient rehab program and helped get him back on his feet each time he relapsed over the eight years he struggled with his sobriety while under our care. Perhaps what he need most was for me to pray healing prayers WITH him, but I just didn't know how. I regret that such an important part of his recovery was omitted out of my ignorance. Perhaps he might have been able to fight his inner demons, if the Practice of Healing Prayer were more widely embraced.

The author makes a compelling case why we should start praying for healing for those God puts in our lives. Why not? If God loves us, and he does, he will show up.

It was exciting to read that ordinary people can pray for healing thru laying of hands or just be present to the sick. And that it can also work for those that are either emotional, mental or spiritually ill.I have several people that I am going to have them read this book and start a team of healing prayer partners. There are so many within ourOwn family and friends that I know will let us pray over them. Once these healings or transformations happen, it will help re-energize people who are already believers and convert a few that don't. Thank You, Francis for writing this book and making it easy to understand. God Bless! :-)

I would recommend to read this book to all Catholic laypeople.After reading, you can understand why we have to pray for the sick and also how to pray. As the author repeatedly address, the healing prayer is not for special persons such as priests or gifted layperson, but for all Catholics and it is not difficult at all. Try at home for your family first!

This is the best 'core' text on healing after the New Testament in my opinion. A must read for Catholics, and Francis MacNutt's ecumenical version of the same book that is simply titled "Healing" is equally powerful for non-Catholics and Catholics alike. The healing grace of Jesus breaks down denominational barriers and is the spiritual 'glue' helping believers become one in Christ Jesus. God bless the MacNutts and their incomparable Christian Healing Ministries in Jacksonville, FL.

This simple book helps Christians to reengage the biblical practice of healing prayer. With clear examples, McNutt leads readers to gain confidence in the work God can do through their prayers.

This is an amazing book and every Catholic should read it. Simple and down to earth teaching about healing prayer that is biblical.

A very simple but eye opening book on the power of prayer we all have capability of practicing in our everyday lives, for sanctifying our homes, our families and the curing of any affliction, be it physical, spiritual or emotional. It teaches us to recover our belief in ourselves as mediators of God's power to heal through us with prayer and through Catholic Sacraments.Especially interesting for people fighting against addictions.I loved this beautiful book. Thank you FMN.

Clear and well structured. Practical and also leaved-headed. I recommend for anyone wanting a how-to on the topic. (I am a Catholic myself and hope this will become a more familiar areas to my fellow Catholics ;)

This is the second book of Francis Macnutt that I read and I loved it. It is very clear and practical. It is not a book to wake up your faith, it is a book to enable you to practice what you already believe. Good references from the scriptures and tradition are provided.

A really great summary of healing