Figure 1.--Abram George was a St. Regis Natice American boy know for his healing power. This photograph appeared in a December 22, 1926 Rochester, New York newpaper. Here we see Abram and we think his father Mitchell George.

Christian faith healing is as as old as Christianity, in fact older. Jesus as a Jewish teacher before the Christian Church was established was noted for performing miracles, especially healing the sick. As the New Testament accounts progress, Jesus' healings become more and more marvelous, culminating in raising the dead. In the early Church, the remains of the saints as other icons came to be seen as having curative powers. Cathedrals vied with each other over the holy icons they possessed, in part to more effectively attrat pilgrims, many of which had aliments for which they were seeking cures. The Protestant Churchs formed by the Reformation for the most part looked askance at icons and faith healing. Protestant faith heeling did There is, however, did develop, although not among the main steam denominations. Protestant faith healers commonly laid on hands, a procedure based on New Testament scripture. There have even been children noted for their curing abilities. The photograph here shows a Native American boy who know for his healing powers. A Rochester newspaper reported, "Healed by boy, scores say. Photo shows Abram George, the 11 year old Indian lad and his father. Scores who have undergone his 'laying on of hands' claim he has miraculous power to heal diseased and sick. At one time, the press was so great for his aid that he collapsed from exhaustion."

Miracles

Faith healing is as as old as Christianity, in fact older. Jesus as a Jewish teacher before the Christian Church was established was noted for performing miracles, especially healing the sick. As the New Testament accounts progress, Jesus' healings become more and more marvelous, culminating in raising the dead.

Icons and Shrines

In the early Church, the remains of the saints as other icons came to be seen as having curative powers. Cathedrals vied with each other over the holy icons they possessed, in part to more effectively attract pilgrims (and their alms), many of which had aliments for which they were seeking cures. This became an important source of income. For the most part these medieval icons and the cathedrals and monestaries they enshrined no longer attract great attention. One exception is the shroud of Turin. There also are some shries that still attract pilgrims. Perhaps the most important is Lourdes in France. Lourdes was a small, little known market town in the French Pyrenees. It was here that Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to a peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, (1858). It became one of the greatest sites of Christian pilgrimage.

The Reformation

The Protestant Churches formed by the Reformation for the most part looked askance at icons and faith healing. Protestant faith heeling did eventually develop as well. Although ythis did not occur not among the main stream denominations. Protestant faith healers commonly laid on hands, a procedure based on New Testament scripture.

Children

There have even been children noted for their curing abilities. The photograph here shows an American boy who know for his healing powers. A Rochester newspaper reported, "Healed by boy, scores say. Photo shows Abram George, the 11 year old Indian lad and his father. Scores who have undergone his 'laying on of hands' claim he has miraculous power to heal diseased and sick. At one time, the press was so great for his aid that he collapsed from exhaustion."

Created: 4:15 AM 1/1/2005
Last updated: 4:05 PM 12/9/2009