The Unholy Face

 He was born in Croatia, as Josip Grbavac, in the year 1967. Since circa 1995, he has been known to the world as Braco (pronounced  BRAT-tso) or "little brother." Also nicknamed "The Gazer," Braco has garnered a large following. Why? He does not claim to possess spiritual powers, or to be a "healer," yet thousands claim that by staring at his face (or sometimes even a picture of his face), they have experienced cures, sensations of energy, and inner peace. He has not spoken to anyone for an interview since 2002, however his website says the following:

Those meeting Braco´s peaceful Gaze(sic--capitalized as if belonging to God) for the first time commonly note this inviting feeling of familiarity, even friendship and trust. Others report this connection growing with time, becoming a uniquely personal foundation as their lives are enriched by the gift Braco shares. Braco’s work on behalf of people everywhere, to better lives and offer renewed hope, has been taking place since 1995, helping people in many countries: including Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, the United States, Mexico, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Holland, Czech Republic, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, Israel, Australia, Russia, Dominican Republic. And this list is growing with new countries offering invitations for Braco to visit. (See http://www.braco.me/en/about/introduction-braco/).

Braco does not espouse any religion, but simply spouts sweet platitudes such as, "Life is always worth living" reminiscent of the 1950s show with Abp. Fulton Sheen, Life is Worth Living, so they're not even very original platitudes. So why a post on this man? He is a danger, and very insidious. Unlike pagan gurus who openly espouse false teachings, what could be wrong with Braco? He doesn't claim to have healing power. The fact is that Braco is indeed claiming, albeit indirectly, that staring at his face promotes peace, happiness, and cures. What I hope to expose in this post, is that going to Braco is an evil inversion of devotion to the Most Holy Face of Jesus Christ. Just as "Divine Mercy" detracts from devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, this deceitful man detracts and perverts devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. He is peddling a form of anti-Christian New Ageism, and many people are falling for it.

"The Gift" Has Sinister Beginnings

 Braco claims to have received his "gift" from one Ivica Prokić (d. 1995). According to Braco's website, Prokic As a young boy of age seven, had a potent experience while playing by a river with other children. He passed out and later described "feeling a piece of the sun enter him", and this would become a determining moment of his outstanding abilities being awakened.

In childhood, Ivica already felt different from his friends, but it took him years to realize the nature of his special kind of abilities and talents. As a young man, he began experiencing unusual visions that grew more numerous and stronger with time. Eventually, he would recognize that some of the unique things he saw in these visions were becoming a reality, and then he finally came to understand many of the symbols he saw as well.

Moving to Zagreb, Ivica would undergo two more defining encounters. He underwent a near-death experience, which heightened his visionary abilities, and in 1989, he visited a bio-energetic clinic where his talents were recognized as prophetic in nature and exceptional for healing. Now Ivica found the certainty he needed to begin sharing his work to lovingly help people in their lives. His abilities had further developed to enable him to see the past, present and future of those who requested his aid.

Working techniques evolved, and Ivica would come to have short conversations with his visitors, offering advice for their lives, and for the lives of loved ones brought in photographs by visitors. Ivica also began writing short books and gave one to each person. These books offered to help people better understand themselves and life, and many people felt a special loving aid assisting them as they read, and afterwards.

This "gift" was given to Braco, as if he were a "little brother" of his; Braco met Ivica in October 1993. Their bond and recognition of each other was instant, and the friendship and trust that ensued was the foundation of Braco’s future.

Completing thirteen books, Ivica would write about Braco in several, naming him as his successor and carrying on the life mission he began. Years before Ivica met Braco, he also prophetically spoke of his coming to join him and work at his side.

Their meeting, filled with such joy and happiness, made Braco immediately decide to leave his career and former life-style to be at Ivica’s side. After Ivica’s death in April 1995, visitors did not stop coming to Srebrnjak 1 (the Center in Zagreb, Croatia), but instead came to Braco to tell him he was the one to carry on Ivica’s loving work. Braco accepted this responsibility and found in himself the talents to share the gift with people, that began helping visitors and their loved ones immediately, and continues today.

What do people pay to do when seeing Braco? Again from his website:

After visitors are welcomed and brief introductory information about Braco and his gift is shared, sometimes including a film clip, Braco will come on stage. He will stand in front of the group. During the five to seven minute duration of him sharing his Gaze(sic), he remains peacefully calm and motionless. His Gaze(sic) embraces the whole group, and he may not look at every single person individually. There are no therapeutic actions and he neither speaks to his visitors, nor touches them. He does not make any diagnoses, or provide any treatment. Braco’s Gaze(sic) alone is the way of sharing the gift with others.

• After Braco leaves the stage, time will be offered for a few people to share their own experience who wish to do so. A session usually lasts 30-35 minutes.
• Only adults (18 years or older) may gaze with Braco.
• Women who are pregnant past their third month may not attend.
• People with illnesses are advised to follow the recommendation of their doctor before and after their gazing experience.

Some people bring a photo of their children and other loved ones who are not able to gaze with Braco to create a loving connection for the non-gazing individual. (see Braco.me). 

What's Wrong With It?

1. Possible Foul Play. 

Braco's mentor, Ivica Prokic, died on the coast of South Africa by a freak wave. The exact circumstances of his death at the young age of 44 are unknown to this day. Interestingly, Prokic allegedly took off his gold jewelry and handed his money to Braco before his freak accident. 

2. Prokic claimed to have received "energy," had an NDE, and became a fortune teller.

His encounter (if he is not a charlatan), was not of God. Divination (fortune telling) in all its forms is condemned by God, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). 

3. Meditating on Braco's face causes people to "feel energy." 

"That energy started moving inside me. I could actually see it," says Ashley Shapiro, who believes Braco’s gaze cured her respiratory disease. "I said, ‘Oh my good Lord in Heaven, I’m going to heal.'" (See https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/If-Looks-Could-Heal-Healer-Makes-South-Florida-Stop-140480503.html). 

The experience of a surge of energy or power is also related to the cultivation of altered states of consciousness.(See  Karlis Osis, et al., "Dimensions of the Meditative Experience," The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, vol. 14, no. 1, 1982, p. 121). Thus, "[Meditation is] a profoundly transformative process, for when practiced intensely, meditation disciplines almost invariably lead into the transpersonal [occult] realm of experience…. A progressive sequence of altered states of consciousness can occur, which may ultimately result in the permanent, radical [occult] shift in consciousness known as enlightenment or liberation." (See Roger N. Walsh, Frances Vaughan, eds., Beyond Ego: Transpersonal Dimensions in Psychology (Los Angeles, CA: J. P. Tarcher, 1980), pp. 136-137). The pagan meditation he encourages can open the door to possession via the occult. 

4. Braco uses a pagan sun symbol (and sells jewelry with the image for people to wear).

"Sun worship has also been found in Babylonian texts and in a number of Asian religious cults. Today, many Pagans honor the sun at Midsummer..." "The sun has long been a symbol of power and magic. The Greeks honored the sun god with "prudence and piety," according to James Frazer's . Because of the sun's sheer power, they made offerings of honey rather than wine -- they knew that it was important to keep a deity of such power from becoming intoxicated!

The Egyptians identified several of their gods with a solar disc above the head, indicating that the deity was a god of the light." (See https://www.thoughtco.com/pagan-and-wiccan-symbols-4123036)

5. It engenders Indifferentism and a cult of personality. 

The focus becomes this man's face, and it gives you peace and healing for some unknown reason. Nothing is attributed to God; every religion is treated as being just as good as every other belief system (Indifferentism). The so-called "theoretical physics" that support Braco's claims come from one Professor Alex Schneider, Board member of the Swiss Society for Parapsychology. This is not a "scientific endorsement." Moreover, the professor's explanation on Braco's site is little more than mumbo-jumbo meant to sound profound:

Basically, Braco’s influence is not to be understood as energies coming from his person. His charisma is such that his "higher" human qualities, together with the help of the catalysis of the individual participants (the above-mentioned group dynamics), puts him in a position to change the people standing before him in their deeper human layers in such a way that they are able to absorb harmonizing information, as well as to awaken these themselves. These then become effective in the outer being of the participants, such as self-healing. Braco always stresses that he is not a healer, meaning, he does not focus on influencing a physical disability of an individual.  Measurements done by Volkamer show that Braco’s subtle energies are about the same as those of any other spiritual healer. The unique feature of Braco, therefore, does not consist of the release of any healing energies, but is taking place on another level. (With nonsense like this written under the guise of being meaningful, Schneider might want to consider a career in politics).

How to Explain the "Healings"

1. The "Placebo Effect." In a psychology experiment, a placebo is an inert treatment or substance that has no known effects. "Even though placebos contain no real treatment, researchers have found they can have a variety of both physical and psychological effects. Participants in placebo groups have displayed changes in heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety levels, pain perception, fatigue, and even brain activity. These effects point to the brain's role in health and well-being." (See https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-placebo-effect-2795466). The huge build-up given Braco before you get into a staring contest with him, can make people believe something will happen and trigger the placebo effect. It's a type of group hysteria, where people experience the same "symptoms."

2. Natural Processes. Many people are taking conventional treatment while going to stare. The treatments start to work, and they attribute it to staring. It reminds me of someone who told me an old joke about a city kid who goes to a farm. The farmer tells him, "When the rooster crows, the sun is rising." The city kid said, "Wow! That's some pretty powerful rooster!"

3. Liars and lunatics. Some people want 15 minutes of fame, some might get paid by Braco, or some might be embarrassed to say they experienced nothing when everyone else allegedly did. People who are mentally unbalanced will often attend these type of events, and they imagine all kinds of things due to their illness.

4. Demonic activity. Braco got his "power" from someone who practiced divination; an occult practice. He uses pagan images and wants people to go into an altered state while meditating on him as some wacky "deity." It's not too hard to see demons at work.

The alleged healings can be the result of any (or any combination of) the above. One thing is certain: they are not true healings from God.  

Insulting the Holy Face of Our Lord

Devotion to the Holy Face of Christ was revealed by Jesus to Sr Marie of St Peter (1816-1848) a Carmelite nun of Tours in France. The primary purpose of the devotion is to make reparation for sins against the first three commandments: Denial of God (atheism / communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days.

The devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, based on the life and writings of Sr. Marie of St. Peter, was eventually approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1885 who established the devotion as an Arch-confraternity for the whole world. There are promises attached to the devotion, and a "Golden Arrow" prayer. Just as sins are like poison arrows in Christ's Sacred Heart, so those who recite the prayer and keep the devotion shoot a "golden arrow of love" into His Heart, bringing delight.

Devotion to the Holy Face is also a reminder of our true last end, the Beatific Vision of God face to face. According to theologian Pohle, "The supernatural beatitude of Heaven fundamentally consists in the intuitive vision of the Divine Essence (visio Dei intuitiva), as opposed to the purely abstractive and analogical knowledge which man has of God here below." (See Dogmatic Theology, B. Herder Book Co., [1955] 12:30). Now, we are to focus on the face of a mere man, devoid of true religious signification, seeped in occultic origin and influence, who wants you to pay for staring at him in the hopes of achieving peace and wellness. I'm surprised he can keep a straight face when taking people's money while saying he doesn't claim to be a healer! So why do you stare at people, and have them stare at you?

Conclusion

So, is Braco insane, possessed or a charlatan? Any one (or any combination) is possible. I doubt that he is deranged, unless "crazy like a fox" counts. He certainly does the devil's work, whether or not a case of actual possession, and he may certainly take advantage of people desperate for healing and peace of mind. Stay clear of this man, who could open you up to malevolent influences. Seek your peace in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. While looking at an image of His Holy Face, recite the "Golden Arrow" prayer, ""May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen."

Finally, let us develop a devotion for the Holy Face of Jesus Christ, as recommended by Pope Leo XIII in 1887 to the members of the Archconfraternity whom honor It:

I. To wear on their persons a picture of the Holy Face, to kiss it devoutly the 1st thing in the morning on awaking and at night before going to sleep, to consecrate their actions during the day to the divine Face, to resolve to perform them in its presence and before its eyes.

II. At the commencement of their prayers, or of any exercise of piety, has an easy means of placing themselves in the presence of God, and of combating distractions, to think of the Holy Face whose eyes are open and fixed upon us, to adore it with faith, to look at it with love.

III. In presence of the Blessed Sacrament, to recall to our remembrance the fact that the Face of the Savior is present there in the sacred Host: that it sees us, listens to us, blesses us, speaks to us interiorly.

IV. To endeavor in their conduct to imitate the virtues of patience, of gentleness, of serenity, of modesty, which shine in the Holy Face. Listen to the divine Master who said learn of me, and seeing me, that I am meek in face and humble of heart: knowing that, in fact the gentleness and humility of the heart of Jesus are, as in a very clear mirror, admirably reflected on the Face of the Man God.

V. In trials, sicknesses, accidents, temptations, to prostrate themselves before the picture of the Holy Face whether in their private Oratory, or above all, in the church of the Confraternity where it is specially exposed.

VI. To have in their houses a picture of the Holy Face which they shall honor as the protector of the family and the Guardian of the domestic hearth; to recite before it the prayers which are habitually said in common by the household.

VII. When they shall hear any blasphemies pronounced, or shall see and act of impious sacrilege which they cannot prevent, to recollect themselves and to pronounce with their hearts, if they cannot with their lips, the words: Behold, O God, our protector, and look upon the Face of thy Christ, or: May the Name of the Lord be blessed! Sit Nomen Domini benedictum!

VIII. To propagate the worship of the Holy Face in their locality, amongst their friends and acquaintances, and to make use of it in order to combat, in every possible manner, the terrible effects of indifference and irreligion.