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John of God: The Brazilian Healer Who's Touched the Lives of Millions

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Several John of God books have been written, and each has its strengths. This John of God book however is the one to buy with the best all-around picture of the man, his mission, and his extraordinary power. Medium Joao is a humble and private man, but he gave the authors access to his personal life and to the Casa Healing Center that no other author has received.

The Casa in Abadiania, Brazil, is an energy healing center in existence for over 35 years. Miraculous healings are a daily ocurrence there, and people with untreatable diseases travel there from all over the world. This book gives a realistic description of what you can expect when you travel to the Casa, the important rules to heighten your experience, and an intimate picture of the healing medium that makes it all possible.

Dear Joćo, esteemed friend, Abadiānia is the blessed site of your illuminated mission and of your peace.
-Dr. Bezerra de Menenzes, channeled by Chico Xavier

Those of us who have traveled to the Casa can readily attest to the truth of the above statement. It does not necessarily matter if we know who the source is or the story behind it. Our understanding of it is gleaned through the lens of our direct awareness, our personal healing experience.

We've appreciated the beauty of the Casa grounds while sitting in the lush gardens or engaged in peaceful meditation at the Overlook; we have felt the immense healing power of the land at the Sacred Waterfall. We can recall countless instances of hospitality from the Casa staff whether it be standing in line to receive blessed soup or waiting in line to be seen by the Entity. We have observed the unceasing dedication of the man known as Medium Joćo and have sat in current with the phalange of loving and compassionate spirits we call The Entities. And we return home eager to share with family and friends: our healing stories, photographs of surgeries performed on stage in the Great Hall, and sometimes bits and pieces of miraculous healing stories of `others'.

But what if we did know more about these `others'? What if we knew Dr. Bezerra de Menenzes is one of the many Entities available to us at the Casa, who during his lifetime was an influential member of the Spiritist Movement, and throughout his years of practice had no set fee for his services, never once turning away anyone who sought medical attention? What if we could read his words, "Doctors who deny assistance to people in need for any reason, especially financial gain, are not worthy to use the title "Doctor of Medicine", and feel the energy behind them?" And while many of us are aware of the amazing paranormal abilities of renowned Spiritist Chico Xavier, a mentor and beloved friend of Medium Joćo, how many of us are know this psychographed (channeled through written words) message was a confirmation that Abadiānia is in fact the one and only site for the Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola? Might a broader context, a wider lens of the healing experience, one that shows us we are all members of a single spiritual family, enhance our own healing? I believe it would.

John of God: The Brazilian Healer Who's Touched the Lives of Millions offers readers this unique vantage point. Heather Cumming and Karen Leffler combine their unique skills and talents to provide us with a captivating, comprehensive account of spiritual healing at the Casa de Dom Inácio. Drawing upon her experiences as a translator and group leader, Heather shares poignant healing testimonials, collected over her many years of service as a translator and guide, from those who have journeyed to be seen by John of God (either in Brazil or his healing trips abroad) and our beloved filhos of the Casa (staff and volunteers). Interviews with Medium Joćo, his wife Ana, their friends and family, offer meaningful insights into the personal life of this remarkable man and his healing mission. We are also privy to Heather's conversations with the Entities, excerpts from her journals, and a thoughtful review of the history and guidelines for healing at the Casa. Yet this is only half the story. Photographer Karen Leffler provides us with stunning spirit photos that capture the energy present at the Casa, the energetic transformation that occurs when Medium Joćo incorporates prior to surgery, and the only authorized photograph of the Sacred Waterfall, one that captures the vibrant energy available to us. In this perfect union of the written and visual, our personal quest for healing is transformed into a quest for collective healing. In the words of the authors,

Bearing witness to the healing process of others dissolves differences and barriers so that in the end, it is not `your' or `my' healing, but `our' healing that allows us to reconnect with that which is meaningful in our lives.

i just had the opportunity to see John of God at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY (his second visit to the U.S.). i did read the book first, and was skeptical but open-minded. the experience turned out to be so personal, so spiritual that i have never felt as close to god and spirit as i did when i was instructed to sit in one of the current rooms to receive a healing. reading the book and of others' experiences, however miraculous, cannot compare to having experienced actually being in his presence. it will leave you with no doubt that he is the real thing. i know certain debunkers have claimed that he does this for the money, but his devotion to his calling in service to others pales to all the ways there are to make money in this world. and if he does make money at it, he well deserves every penny of it and more. he should be a very wealthy man. why is it that the debunkers will cry and point their fingers at miracle workers such as John of God and make claims that they only do it for the money, while doctors are allowed to charge for their services and its acceptable and expected? even miracle workers have bills to pay and need food, clothing and shelter. why should they be expected to do it for free and have to explain to the world what they do with the money they collect (on a donation basis, by the way). god give gifts and talents to musicians, artists and many of us, does that mean we do not have the right to charge for our services? thank you, John of God, for your self-sacrifice and for those that help you at the Casa. If everyone in our world just had a small piece of the godliness of your work, wow - what a wonderful world it would be. i thank you for my healing. god bless.
chris lizzul

There are many questions the average visitor has about the Casa, and John of God. This book to me is truly an inside look that accurately portraits the healing, loving atmosphere that exists in the hearts of The Entities, the volunteers, and most of all Medium Joao, who has devoted his life to aiding the suffering of humanity. Here we read about courage, hope, and the benevolent spirits who work through this humble man. I have been to John of God five times, yet found this book so helpful and inspiring to read, and I referred to it many times on my most recent trip. I recommend it to all seekers who wish to be touched by healing.

I was very pleased to read a book that carried the same feelings and thoughts of living in this little town second by second with what we all seem to absorb. I am touched by writers who can convey to me once again what I felt while being there at The Casa. A true feeling of still being there while providing more facts and insights to an amzing community of volunteers, helpers, healers, and to John of God.
Thank you all for this book !

Every day literally hundreds of people wait in a small Brazilian town to see John of God, renown for his miraculous healing abilities. This is the first authorized portrait of his life and miracles, charting how the uneducated tailor began his life of service at age 16 after being visited by a vision. Color photos document his healings and some of those who have been healed, reviewing his messages and the impact he's had on the lives of his followers. Any in-depth spirituality collection will find it a top pick.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I am a regular visitor to the Casa and find I have nothing to add to the glowing comments already written. This book reflects my own experience and offers deeper insights into Medium Joao and his mission. It's a "keeper" of the highest sort!

I read the book almost in one sitting. It got too late and I had to read the final pages the next day. I have been to Abadiānia since and met Heather, although at first I did not realize who she was. She seemed kind, wise, calm and loving.
What happens there, in the Casa de Don Ignacio is wonderful, enlightening and mysterious at once. There are hundreds, sometimes thousands of people visiting in a day. There is some confusion, different people will give you different instructions, but also some organization. It is good to have a guide. There is clearly a strong positive vibration in the place, but it is still Brazil. A couple had their bag taken away as they left their seat a few seconds to return the soup plate. The house is generously open to anyone, and a few bad seeds might enter.
The first time I was there (have been there 3 times so far) it was the big annual party of Don Ignacio. It had all the elements for a messy mass hysteria but something besides the workers of the house seemed to keep it all under control. I was amazed.
The healings are varied: some happen fast, some take years, some people come to be healed from one thing and is healed for something else, some healings are total, some are partial(but restoring functionality), some are emotional, some are physical, some happen together with traditional medicine, some are purely spiritual. Some people without faith are healed quickly, some with faith might be healed slowly, or vice-versa. Each story is unique. I imagine there might be also some people who are not healed ate all, but I have not met anyone yet who has not been positively affected by the forces from the casa.
Joćo is really just a vehicle of communication and sometimes might get kind of tired of people wanting to take pictures with him or talk with him in need of extra attention. He does not seem to see himself as some sort of spiritual superstar. He is busy but seems nice, but people really should leave him alone.
What happens there is beyond him. Although he is the one who incorporates the spirits, he does not possess any type of power to solve problems and some people seem to have a hard time understanding this.
People arrive there with all sorts of ailments. Different entities, one at a time, incorporate in medium Joćo and it is not always very clear who is there. The main idea is that you do not need to explain too much about your condition because the spirits can see through you. Depending on the entity and on your problem, you might just get a look, a nod and a prescription, or the entity might take more time and ask questions. It depends on the personality of each entity and who is there. But one thing is certain: your problem will be addressed, so relax and do as told.
Eventually, if you have questions or other issues go back another day and ask them.
There are no indoctrination attempts; they do not care what religion, if any, you belong to. As the medium is preparing himself and all the group of mediums inside the main room to attend to people, there are some folks who tell about their experiences in the front room.
Some generic messages and suggestions are given, such as how everyone should participate in their own healing and take care of their bodies and their emotions, but there is no judgment.
Some people are healed from cancer, go outside and light up a cigarette. Unwise, but I guess each one learns at its own pace.
The main recommendation is that you take care of yourself before you start to try to solve all of your family's and friend's problems. You have to be strong first.
Silence, relaxation and introspection also help. Getting there and waiting in the main hall should be like leaving your anxieties and need to chatter outside the gates. Meditation is the best mental posture, to empty your mind so the good stuff can enter.
It is ironic that the title of this book does what Joćo does not want to be done: to consider him the healer, when he is just the vehicle of the spirits who heal.
But anyway, it is a great book, a good introduction of the house.

I have read a number of books about John of God and this recent work is very easy to read and describes a number of this remarkable man's most recent healings. Having experienced first hand the genuine nature of John of God I can only say that this book is a true account of what this man is all about

The main problems that I have with the book is that it portrays `John of God' and the Casa in a light that is not representative of my own experiences there and `John of God' is basically an effective promotional tool without delving into very serious issues:
1) experiences of Casa goers that have not been positive 2)
2) safety
3) what the Casa actually is and if it is as Godlike and loving as it likes to portray itself.

Despite my deep distrust and concern that `John of God' is very one-sided and an effective piece of propaganda, I will tell you that many of the stories in `John of God' regarding Casa healings are indeed accurate I believe as I have met many people with similar stories. I can also vouch for Heather's account that the healings that occur are not simply a `placebo effect'. I was very skeptical when I first when to the Casa. However, as I experienced for myself things that defied my understanding and comprehension and witnessed others having similar experiences, I realized that what goes on there is beyond our understanding. However, had I known then what I know now I would have never ever ever gone there.

From my own experience, the Casa is extremely adept at putting out information/promotion that puts themselves in the best possible light but often isn't grounded in fact but rather creates a `bibleesque', friendly, safe and seductive methology. `John of God' does exactly this as do all of the other Casa books on the market.

John of God the man is just that but he makes for an excellent story and promotional figurehead in the book but the real essence and story of the Casa is whatever is working through him. All we really know about many aspects of the Casa and John of God for that matter is what the Casa tells you and this book is simply reciting those `talking points'. You don't read any accounts of people who have been hurt and their lives shattered. Whatever the Casa is, it is not from this world and that is a very very serious matter in itself that should not be taken lightly.

When you are dealing with life and death situations as often is the case with people who visit the Casa as told in the book combined with the fact that what goes on there defies our understanding as humans, I believe one needs to be very careful in assessing such a place and `John of God' never enters into that discussion. Giving your life and body over to powers that are not of this earth is a huge matter and should not be taken lightly. However, Heather's book is brilliant at washing away those concerns and that is the Casa's intention. You feel like you've read a better more tangible version of the bible and are bathed in faith and love which can be intoxicating. Having spent a year there myself, I can tell you that the Casa would never allow a book like `John of God' to be published if it didn't portray them in a positive light that helped draw people there.

People are often so desperate (as I was) or want to believe so much in something like God in a tangible way that they are willing to ignore the fact that they really have no idea what they are getting into and `John of God' feeds into that without raising ethical and moral issues as to the safety of this place. Yet thousands of people are willing to entrust their lives and bodies to something that is not from this world.

That deceased saints and missionary's that channel through John of God makes for a compelling story and reading but we have no idea what or who is doing this work. Of course, it fits with our Western view of religion and historical perspective and helps draw people to the Casa who otherwise might not go there. In my experience, many Casa goers are `new-agey' to begin with and these mythologies fit into their belief system of incarnation, higher power and God but do you really think anything that is beyond our understanding can be and explained. Of course not, but without it people would be less likely to visit.

As far as John of God the man, there are hundreds of stories of inappropriate (any beyond) sexual contact with young attractive women in both Brazil and other countries. One that was extremely profound was of an American women who was asked by the `entity' to see John of God after he was finished seeing people for that session. While in his room she was sexually assaulted (according to her) and then an instrument was shoved up her nose. When she returned to the states, she immediately fell ill and was in the hospital for several days. I have no firsthand knowledge of her account but stories such as this are numerous and their are messgae boards on the internet with first-hands accounts of sexual misconduct.

A friend of mine went to the Casa while I was there for her asthma. A few minutes after entering `current' she started to have breathing problems. The next day she was brought to the local hospital. She passed away several days later. You could chalk this up to coincidence but I doubt it. I can clearly remember one of our last conversations when she was scolding herself for not having `faith' which the Casa subtly but effectively pressures people to have and limits ones ability to evaluate situations clearly.

There have been numerous other incidents of people ending up in insane asylums after visiting, becoming worse physically and so on. I would say these incidents are in the minority but would you ever go to a doctor whose negligence had resulted in the deaths of some of his patients - of course not hopefully. Plus, no one knows what really goes on there when people feel and experience weird things in their bodies that they have never had before. They just take for granted that it is loving and benign. `John of God' never broaches any of these topics.

I have no doubt there are many more stories/incidents like the ones I have mentioned but `John of God' never touches on any of these. Furthermore, there have been dozens of lawsuits filed against the Casa in Brazil with claims of negligence such as I have mentioned but interestingly and unsurprisingly none have ever resulted in a judgment from what I know.

As for myself, all kinds of horrible things happened to me since first going to see John of God that never had happened before and I wasn't some `new-agey' guy who was interested in such phenomenon. I was threatened and attacked physically and mentally after returning from the Casa in ways that would defy most people's understanding as well having been in near constant fear over my safety and life.
Could you go see John of God in Brazil and be healed and have a wonderful experience? Yes, it is very possible and many people who go there have one or the other. Healings do take place there and many people have gotten better from whatever was ailing them.

However, at the end of the day there are tremendous risks as none of us know what truly goes on there. Again, `John of God' only provides the alluring mythology of the man and the Casa pr talking points. Whatever goes on with John of God is not from this earth and this books fails to address in any way the negative stories and aspects of the man and the Casa where he works. `John of God' has no warning label.