ST. MICHAEL CENTER

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DUCCIO di Buoninsegna, Siena, "The Temptation on the Mount" The demons have now launched a full out attack against Jason. They are sending manipulative and accusatory texts. (A friend walked into Jason's room and saw his phone sitting face up and the keys typing messages by themselves.) The demons are intensely tormenting him, nightly burning crosses into his body, and more. They are getting into his and his family's head, inflaming their frustration, anger and despair. In the texts, the demons continue to boast: "He is ours." "You will tire of this and give up." "We will drag him to hell." "You will never defeat us." But if you listen closely, you will hear that it is really the demons who are despairing. They fear giving up. They are insisting that Jason belongs to them because they know they are actually losing him. It is just one piece of a cosmic battle that they have already lost on Calvary. Their lot is one of defeat and despair. Our task is to support Jason and his family who are suffering terribly. Their anger, frustration and feelings of hopelessness are very real. This is the challenge of an intense exorcism- keeping the team together and moving forward in the middle of a demonic onslaught. We have engaged our prayer warriors. We need their prayers....I speak to Jason and his family about trusting in Jesus. I tell them this trial will end. The demons will be cast out. Persevere. I worry. I stay close to them during this trial. I tell them that we will never abandon them. Neither will Jesus. And I pray, "Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided..."

"The Baptism of Christ" by Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci Jason woke up with a very ugly four-inch, upside-down cross burned deeply into his shoulder. Strangely, he said he didn't feel it, just a little tingling. Four days later it rapidly disappeared. Jason had foolishly asked Satan for success in his business and finances. Years later he repented and had returned to the Church. But Satan had not forgotten him and was now laying claim to him. At night, Jason hears the voice of Satan in his head, "You belong to me." The upside-down cross is a mockery of the cross of Christ. The fact of its appearance without pain and impossible rapid healing attest to its preternatural origin. Like the branding of an animal, Satan was claiming ownership. In the midst of the exorcism sessions using the new Rite of Exorcism, Jason repeated his baptismal vows. He rejected Satan and all his works. I had Jason explicitly add three times, "I belong to Jesus. Jesus is my Lord and Savior." In the Rite of Baptism for infants, the priest prays, "I claim you for Christ our Savior by the sign of the cross." Echoing these sacramental words, I then prayed over Jason, "I invoke the power of the keys of Peter and by the authority of the Church, I break any covenants between Jason and the Evil One. The death and resurrection of Jesus cancels any ownership Satan may believe he had over him. I claim Jason for Christ our Savior. In the holy name of Jesus, I set him free." At root, an exorcism is a rejection of Satan's claim of ownership. In baptism, we are claimed for Christ our Savior. The new Rite of Exorcism is a renewal of the sacrament of baptism and once more freeing a soul from Satan's grasp. I have come away from these experiences with a more profound appreciation and gratitude for the sacrament of baptism we all receive and its power to free us from the Evil One.

Winged Virgin of the Apocalypse by Miguel de Santiago. Quito, Ecuador, 17th century It was a very tough case. The young woman was possessed by hundreds of demons with Satan himself personally leading them. But the more difficult the case, the stronger the graces God gives. In this case, I knew that we would need the very best God could send. We were coming close to the end, after countless hours of ugly and painful sessions. The demons were getting weaker and were now more obedient, much to their dismay. I commanded them, in the name of Jesus, to tell us, "When will you leave and by what means?" The demons reluctantly responded with a date two weeks hence and said, "She will come." Everyone in the room knew who "she" was. The demons would not say the name of the Mother of God. Her name, like that of her Son, is itself holy. The day finally came and the moment approached. The room grew silent and the possessed woman said, "She is here." As the Virgin quietly moved closer, the demons began to thrash wildly. She said nothing but the radiant light of Christ shining through the humble handmaid of God was overpowering. Satan himself screamed. After screaming and thrashing several times, the Prince of Darkness left. It was over. Now, I ask all of the possessed to consecrate themselves to the Mother of God as part of the healing process. We ask Mary not only to cast out the demons but to protect the afflicted person for the rest of their lives, until she welcomes them into the Kingdom. The Gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church, or against its Mother.

Gerard van Honthorst's Adoration of the Shepherd After an ugly dream last night, I woke up and began feeling awful. Where did this come from? After a few moments, I was able to name it. It was a feeling of hopelessness. Ugh. I don't recall ever feeling the darkness of such hopelessness. Where did this come from? Then the insight came: several of my current clients are struggling with hopelessness. It is not uncommon that an exorcist would get a whiff, or perhaps even more, of his clients' demons. It is helpful in diagnosis, and more. So, I took the advice I give to my clients. With rosary beads in hands, I placed both hands on my head and repeatedly commanded: "In the name of Jesus, I command the demons of hopelessness to leave." Again and again and again. After a few minutes, I took a short break and did a second and third round. Then, it lifted. Wow. Hopelessness is a very ugly feeling, which permeates the demonic and the depths of hell. In addition, it is one of Satan's main attacks these pandemic days. COVID-19 is a real virus killing people; but Satan is an opportunist and he is taking advantage of it and sowing hopelessness everywhere. Tomorrow is Christmas. With the coming of Jesus, hope has entered our land and casts out the darkness of despair. I learned again, first hand, what a great gift God gives us in the birth of our hope.

Flagellation of Christ by Caravaggio We received a late night text from the demons. They were taunting us: "You should have heard her scream. We are going to break her leg off." Then they blamed us, "It's your fault. You made us do it." "Jane" is possessed. She also has a bad left leg. That night, the demons attacked her and twisted her bad leg. It was awful. I knew they couldn't break her leg off; God would not allow it. But they could make her suffer and they did. The demons couldn't help jabbing us and trying to shift the blame: "It's your fault." I suspect their twisted minds actually believe it. Evil will never take the blame for its own sins and despicable actions. Satan is spending his eternity blaming God for all he himself has done. One of our gifted people had an intense encounter with some demons. She said what stunned her most was the absolute lack of even a drop of mercy or compassion. Thus, it was predictable they would exploit Jane's bad leg in order to inflict the maximum pain and fear. Demons are vicious and will always try to torture a person where it hurts the most. Our little team, I believe, feels God's response to such pain and torture. There arises in us a deep sadness, an intense compassion, and a desire to help. Our team rallied around Jane and doubled our efforts. Isn't that what Jesus does? He is God's compassion and one who ultimately saves us from such evil. Where does all the pain and suffering come from in this world? I know it does not come from God.

Daniel in the Lions' Den by Peter Paul Rubens "Julia” grew up in a good Catholic family. She went away to college and began dating a young man who was heavily engaged in the occult. She participated in these rituals and fell into other sinful behaviors as well. By the grace of God, she came in contact with a dynamic Catholic youth group at the University and it turned her life around. She broke up with her boyfriend. She started attending Mass and went to confession. Things were looking up. A few months after her conversion, she awoke one morning with horrible marks on her back. It looked like a beast had raked its claws down her back. Demons began to attack her. They nightly harassed and abused her. She had difficulty entering a Church or going to Mass. She knew her past had come back to torment her. Two of her female friends at the University wanted to help. They had entered her room at night and could see what was happening. They decided to sleep in her room and to be a support during the demonic attacks. Unfortunately, these young women, although well intentioned, were not spiritually ready for what they encountered. One fell into drug abuse and sexual promiscuity, and shortly thereafter left the University. The other became filled with rage, threatened suicide, and she, too, left the University. Julia’s family referred to her to an exorcist who began the Rite. Julia noted that when she went home to her family, the demons did not enter the house. The Father explained that their house had been blessed; it was filled with sacramentals including crucifixes, holy statues, and often sprinkled with holy water. The parents were fervent Catholics. Ephesians 6 says: “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” These two young women were not ready. The parents were. Faith in God and Jesus Christ are the armor that protects us. As faith slips away in these secular days, I worry that our homes and families will not be protected. As faith slips away in our nation, what will become of it?