Enter your search term in the Search window below (e.g. St. Michael)
220 results found for ""
- Exorcist Diary #218: A Parent's Prayer
["Prayer Before the Meal," Jan Steen, 1660] One of the most common requests we receive is from parents who are distraught over their child's serious problems. Some are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Others have mental health problems, including psychotic illnesses and/or suicidality. Others have wandered from the faith and may even be practicing witchcraft or the occult. Still others are estranged from the family and no longer speak with them. You can hear the heart-rending pain in these parents' hearts as they plead for help. In addition to promising our fervent prayers, SMC has composed a prayer for parents to offer. This prayer recognizes the special authority that parents have over themselves, their spouses, and their children who are still minors. Thus, they can use "imprecatory" prayers and command evil spirits to leave.* For children who are no longer minors, this prayer is directed to God and thus uses "deprecatory" prayers. In either case, of course, it is God who casts out the Evil One and brings healing. We used this prayer for the first time in our last online deliverance session, with powerful effect. It was palpable. One parent said: "The Parent's Prayer speaks especially to my heart. While praying, my heart literally ached and hurt as we were praying for my children." I have no doubt that God the Father, and the entire Holy Family who themselves experienced great parental anguish, were especially present and gracing those suffering parents. A Parent's Prayer Heavenly Father, I invoke the full authority you have given me as a spouse and a parent and I lift any curses, spells, seals, hexes, vexes, consecrations, voodoo, or any occult action or any evil affecting me or my spouse or my children who are minors. In Jesus’ name, I cast out all evil spirits that are harming us. In Jesus’ name, I reject them, I rebuke them, I renounce them, and I cast them out! For my adult children, I beg you heavenly father to hear a parent’s plea and free them from any of these occult actions or any evil, and cast out all evil spirits. Father, I beseech you to send a spirit of unity and peace to my family. Heal the divisions in our family; may those family members who are estranged from each other be reconciled in forgiveness and love. May we live together in your peace. I pray for special healing graces for each one of us. Heal the wounds that plague us- heal any depression, anxiety, fears, compulsions, addictions, angers, resentments, and any and all mental and physical illnesses. Restore us to full health. I especially ask for the following specific grace for my family, if it be your holy will (here mention the specific intention silently or out loud). Most of all, may you infuse into our hearts the gift of faith, always trusting in you. Bring back any of us who have wandered from the faith. May we be fully protected from all harm and evil by the Shield of Faith and the Sword of Truth. I make this parent’s prayer in the holy name of Jesus begging the powerful intercession of the Holy Family with the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and all the saints. [Note: This prayer can be found on our website: www.catholicexorcism.org under "Deliverance Prayers for the Laity."] *For a theological reflection on this special authority, see Fr. Chadd Ripperger, "Dominion," Sensus Traditionis Press, 2022, pp. 155-160. **Msgr. Stephen Rossetti will lead an online Advent Deliverance Retreat from 11am to 2pm Eastern USA time (same as New York City) on Saturday December 10th. This retreat is designed for those who want to know more about spiritual warfare and who want a deeper personal experience of deliverance and healing. Register here. Or register at: www.catholicexorcism.org. ***Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily content that will hopefully help you in your spiritual journey.
- Exorcist Diary #216: Demons Retaliate Against The Saints
[Reliquary with a theca inside containing a relic of the True Cross.] Last week, I related how powerful the Litany of the Saints was when used in a recent exorcism. The results were astounding and led to the quick liberation of a possessed young woman. As each saint was invoked and the first class relic of the saint was placed on the afflicted person's forehead, the demons kept shouting, "Not that name! Not that name!" They howled in agony and were quickly expelled. Less than a week later one of our exorcists, who is also the pastor of a parish, put out a handful of relics of the saints for veneration in his church. For many years without incident, he has followed this practice in the month of November, the month when we venerate All Saints. But this year, the relics were stolen. The security cameras show that a woman in a dark coat sat in front of the relics for some time. Then as she approached the relics, the security camera tape went inexplicably blank for five and one-half minutes. The tape subsequently shows that the reliquaries in which the relics were housed were opened and the relics (the thecas) were stolen while the reliquaries themselves were not. One might first presume that it was a case of a simple robbery. But the reliquaries were not stolen and most likely they would be the object of a robbery. Who would steal a little piece of the bone or blood of a saint and leave behind a somewhat ornate reliquary? Moreover, the security cameras went blank precisely as she was apparently stealing them. While we do not want to jump to conclusions, it seems more than likely that this was an intentional act to steal the sacred remains of the saints, and not a simple robbery. Also, the "malfunction" of the security camera at precisely the time of the robbery suggests that demons were directly involved in the act. It is highly unlikely she could have pulled off such a technical feat, but it would be simple task for demons. And if demons were involved, then this woman was likely acting at the behest of Satan. She is probably a minion of the Evil One. Our response? We pray for the conversion and salvation of her soul. We also pray that these holy objects will be returned. This retaliation of the Evil One against the saints only reaffirms our conviction of the importance of the saints in the battle against evil. In the days ahead, the Litany of the Saints and the relics of the saints will hold a place of great importance for us in our exorcisms. *We invite you to join Msgr. Stephen Rossetti on our next online deliverance webinar on Monday, November 28, 2022, from 7pm to 8pm Eastern USA time. Please register if you wish to attend. **Msgr. Stephen Rossetti will lead an online Advent Deliverance Retreat from 11am to 2pm Eastern USA time (same as New York City) on Saturday December 10th. The three-hour session will include talks on identifying demonic portals and attacks, efficacious prayers for healing, authority in the deliverance ministry, and protecting self and family. He will answer a number of questions on spiritual warfare posed by those attending. Msgr. Rossetti will lead an extensive deliverance session including numerous prayers for deliverance and healing. This retreat is designed for those who want to know more about spiritual warfare and who want a deeper personal experience of deliverance and healing. Register here. Or register at: www.catholicexorcism.org.
- Exorcist Diary #215: Demons Cast Out by the Saints
[The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs, Fra Angelica, 1420s] Our exorcist began to pray over a possessed woman. But at the very beginning of the session, the demons spontaneously shouted, "Charbel, you stay away from me!" The team had not yet been invoking the saints, or St. Charbel by name, so they were surprised he showed up. They were also surprised the demons admitted it. Moments later, as the Litany of the Saints ensued, the demons shouted again and again: "Not that name! Not that name!" This demonic reaction was unusual. Clearly something was up. An astute exorcist discerns what is working in a session and adjusts the prayers accordingly. The exorcist was initially skeptical, as he should be, and careful not to be deceived by the demons. But as the session continued, it was becoming apparent that these and many other saints were indeed coming to help. Their holiness and intercession were visibly torturing the demons. Normally, the Litany of the Saints is part of the opening of an exorcism session. Then the exorcist moves quickly into what are thought to be "more important" prayers. However, in this case, the exorcist adjusted his normal routine and stayed with the Litany of the Saints for hours, making it the bulk of the sessions. Also he had dozens of first class relics of the saints at his fingertips. As the exorcist prayed each name, he laid the corresponding relic of the saint on the afflicted person's forehead. With each relic and invocation of a saint, the demons howled in agony. The three consecutive days of intensive exorcism sessions were focused on and filled with hours of invoking the saints. Again and again, the demons shouted, "Not that name! Not that name!" St. Patrick. St. Rose of Lima. St. Maximillian Kolbe, The 12 Apostles. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Blessed Michael McGivney. St. Lawrence. Blessed Conchita. St. Teresa and the Carmelite saints. St. Catherine of Alexandria. St. John Eudes. And more. On day two, the demons began to manifest their leaving. The afflicted woman started coughing up a white frothy foam. The demonic screaming reached a crescendo followed by a kind of demonic "explosion." Then she came back to herself. Again and again, as each set of demons left, there was coughing up of foam, a crescendo and explosion, followed by a moment of calm with the person returning to her conscious self. Finally, at the end of day three, the exorcist invoked the special intercession of the Virgin Mary. This time, after the demonic explosion, a peace came over the woman and filled the entire room. She came back to herself and said, "It's over." She said that a great weight had been lifted and the demons were gone. Subsequent discernment continues to confirm that the demonic possession had ended. Each possession and each path to liberation is always somewhat unique. In this case, the exorcist believes that the Lord was teaching him and the team the importance of the communion of the saints and their powerful intercession. Moreover, he said, "It taught me that every part of the Rite is exorcistic, not just the imprecatory prayers that command the demons to leave." Now the exorcist does not fail to value the prayers which invoke the powerful intercession of the saints. Nor should we. *We invite you to join Msgr. Stephen Rossetti on our next online deliverance webinar on Monday, November 28, 2022, from 7pm to 8pm Eastern USA time. Please register if you wish to attend. **Msgr. Stephen Rossetti will lead an online Advent Deliverance Retreat from 11am to 2pm Eastern USA time (same as New York City) on Saturday December 10th. The three-hour session will include talks on identifying demonic portals and attacks, efficacious prayers for healing, authority in the deliverance ministry, and protecting self and family. He will answer a number of questions on spiritual warfare posed by those attending. Msgr. Rossetti will lead an extensive deliverance session including numerous prayers for deliverance and healing. This retreat is designed for those who want to know more about spiritual warfare and who want a deeper personal experience of deliverance and healing. Register here. Or register at: www.catholicexorcism.org
- Exorcist Diary #214: Demons Claim A Priest
[St. Thomas Before the Cross, by Sassetta, Panel, 1423; Pinacoteca, Vatican] I showed a photo of a man dressed in casual clothes to one of our specially gifted people: I said, "What do you see?" She responded, "Who is it?" I said, "I am not going to tell you. What do you see?" She said, "The man is covered with demons. The demons are saying, 'We have him. He is ours.'" I then told her, "He is a priest." We had been trying to assist this priest. He was referred for problems with purity. While the problems were not illegal, they were obviously sinful and, in this case, likely mortal. But he refused to acknowledge the problem or confess his sins. I fear for him. Blessed Concepcion Cabrera de Armida (Conchita) was beatified by the Church this year. She was a mother of nine children and had regular locutions from the Lord, often about the priesthood. In one of these communications, Jesus told her, "We do not pray enough for priests, thinking that they are beyond all temptation and passions....My Heart seeks souls who dedicate themselves fervently, zealously and tirelessly, to praying day and night for them." At another time, the Lord spoke to her about priests whom He said were "black and impure." Jesus said, "They are souls that cost Me ... intimate and incomprehensible sufferings, because I fear to lose them. In them, the evil one mocks Me and how he struggles to triumph over Me by snatching them from Me."* Priests have special graces of protection from the evil one, but they are also special targets. At St. Michael Center, we willingly pray over the many priests who come to us for assistance. They need your prayers as well. *"Priests of Christ" by Concepcion (Conchita) Cabrera de Armida. The book is available on kindle. **We invite you to join Msgr. Stephen Rossetti on our next online deliverance webinar on Monday, November 28, 2022, from 7pm to 8pm Eastern USA time. Please register if you wish to attend.
- Exorcist Diary #213: Demons Loosed on Halloween
[ "The Torment of Saint Anthony", Michelangelo, 1487-1488] We knew that "A" would be assaulted by demons on Halloween. It happens every year. As a spiritual sensitive and a victim soul, she is more attuned to the preternatural world. This is both a blessing and a cross. On Halloween, when the demons are especially loosed in the world, it is definitely a cross. So, our team offered to hold an all-night vigil and pray with her. We were hoping that we could keep the demons away. We used the strongest deliverance prayers we had as well as holy water and other blessed objects. We did our best, but she was assaulted by demons throughout the night. It was pretty ugly. The next morning "A" said she was grateful for our efforts and expressed her thanks. We were a bit disappointed at the results. But she and the team all realized that sometimes God allows demonic assaults on victim souls regardless of our best efforts. We see this in countless saintly examples: Catherine of Siena, Gemma Galgani, Padre Pio, the Cure of Ars, and many, many others. God allowed these holy souls to be tempted, assaulted, and purified in the crucible of their valiant struggle against evil. No doubt their emerging victorious from these struggles is an unseen grace for countless souls throughout the world, especially those in bondage to the Devil. We were disappointed we could not protect "A". But it was not in God's plan. However, she did emerge victorious after a Halloween night of demonic pummeling. Maybe we were "successful," just not in the way we had hoped. Every day people suffering demonic torments come to us for help. Many can be liberated by living a virtuous sacramental life. Some also need concentrated deliverance prayers. But others are not liberated in a timely way. Some of these have obstacles to liberation that have yet to be overcome. For others, their road to purification and liberation is a long one. A very few are chosen by God to walk in the crucible of calvary for their own sanctification and for the salvation of souls. *We invite you to join Monsignor Stephen Rossetti on our next online deliverance webinar on Monday, November 28, 2022, from 7pm to 8pm Eastern USA time. Please register if you wish to attend.
- Exorcist Diary #212: Cursed by One's Parents
["God the Father Blessing," Raphael, 1508] A man was going through a particularly rough patch. While he was not possessed, he had long been afflicted by what appeared to be demonic obsessions and unshakeable feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. He was living an exemplary Christian life of holiness, but the mental torments continued and, under the stresses of his current life, had now grown debilitating. He sought the help of a priest exorcist who recommended some deliverance praying, including seeing a woman who was a spiritual sensitive. They discerned that the man was indeed suffering demonic obsessions and one of the causes, to his surprise, included being cursed by his father. As a child, he was verbally abused on a number of occasions by his father who irrationally vented his rage against him: "Tell that g....d... kid to shut up!" He followed this with threats. The child felt frightened, worthless and rejected. The team took him through several deliverance sessions which included forgiving his father and formally saying, "I reject the lie that I am a worthless child." Then they lifted any curses sent against him. By the time the sessions had ended, the man had regained his emotional equilibrium and found a new sense of inner peace. Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the famous exorcist of Rome, wrote: "When curses are spoken with true perfidy, especially if there is a blood relationship ... the outcome can be terrible. The most common instances that I have encountered involved parents or grandparents who called down evil upon children or grandchildren."* Fr. Amorth said the first and necessary condition in the healing process is for the person to forgive the parents. Sometimes parents will intentionally curse a child, particularly if the child veers from the parents' expectations for the future, such as marrying an "unacceptable" person or pursuing an "unacceptable" vocation. Other times, as in this case, a parent will vent his/her rage against the child with threats, cussing and damning words. The parent may shout, "You will never amount to anything!" The psychological and spiritual toll on a child should not be underestimated. Parents have a unique authority and power to bless their children. They also have a unique power to wound them.... Pope Benedict recounted his own childhood experiences of being blessed by his parents: "I shall never forget the devotion and heartfelt care with which my father and mother made the sign of the Cross on the forehead, mouth, and breast of us children when we went away from home, especially when the parting was a long one. This blessing was like an escort that we knew would guide us on our way. It made visible the prayer of our parents, which went with us, and it gave us the assurance that this prayer was supported by the blessing of the Savior…I believe that this blessing, which is a perfect expression of the common priesthood of the baptized, should come back in a much stronger way into our daily life."** *Father Gabriele Amorth, Exorcist Tells His Story, Ignatius Press, 1999, p.130. **Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, Ignatius Press, 2000, p.184. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *We are now on social media! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily content that will hopefully help you in your spiritual journey. I will be posting many of my stories, experiences, and prayers that I hope you use to grow in faith. May our Blessed Mother and St. Michael watch over our content and bring it to those who need it the most.
- Exorcist Diary #211: Demons Cling to Unforgiveness
[The Stoning of St. Stephen, Charles Thevenin, 1829] I recently received this note from a man who attended one of our group deliverance sessions. He wrote: Over the past year, I had been suffering from feelings of oppression, frequent suicidal thoughts, negative thoughts, despite everything going well in my life. Once you began praying the forgiveness formula, I realized I was harboring much hatred and disdain for people who unjustly wronged me in the past. As I named these people, prayed for them and forgave them, I felt a HUGE weight lift from my heart. The suicidal thoughts have gone, I feel at much greater peace, more attuned to the Lord. God bless you and your ministry. Demons cling to unforgiveness. It gives them a foothold in our lives. When this man gave up his hatred and forgave those who wronged him, he himself was freed. Whether the wrong suffered is real or imagined makes little difference. Until we let go of the hatred and desire for revenge, we are enslaved to those who harmed us and the harm we suffered. Hell is a place of accusation and rage. At the head is Satan who eternally blames God for all the evil that has befallen him. St. Faustina said that one of the seven sufferings of hell is a hatred of God with its incessant curses and blasphemies. When we are stuck in hatred and revenge, we are stuck in hell and living with the demons. "Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing will be poured into your lap." (Lk 6:37-38) Here is the Forgiveness Ritual that we use: People: In the name of Jesus Christ, I willingly forgive anyone who has hurt or harmed me (including N., N., N., etc...). I forgive them from the bottom of my heart and I ask God to bless them. (3 times) Priest: I witness your forgiveness. I ask God to heal any unforgiveness and inner wounds and trauma. May God heal you and all those who have hurt you. May you be released from any dysfunctional attachments, be healed in your heart, and set free in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus may you be healed. In the name of Jesus, be at peace. [Of course, in the absence of a priest, one can still make an act of forgiveness.] *We are now on social media! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily content that will hopefully help you in your spiritual journey. I will be posting many of my stories, experiences, and prayers that I hope you use to grow in faith. May our Blessed Mother and St. Michael watch over our content and bring it to those who need it the most. **Our next online deliverance session is Monday, October 24th at 7-8pm Eastern USA time. Register at www.catholicexorcism.org or go to this link.
- Exorcist Diary #209: Satan's Spirit of Rebellion
[Michael casts out rebel angels. Illustration by Gustave Dore for John Milton's Paradise Lost"] Her mother was a witch. Her grandmother was a witch. "Janice" was dedicated to Satan as a baby and expected to become a witch. By the grace of God, she decided otherwise. Liberation has been a long and valiant fight. I do not know how many would persevere in such an ugly fight for so long, but she has. However, one of the underlying dynamics is her periodic insistence on how to do things, including the exorcism, and her overall rejection of authority, on many levels. There is a spirit of rebellion in her. Having been repeatedly abused as a child, one can understand it, but this spirit impedes the process of liberation. Often in the sessions we invoke the Virgin Mary and her humble obedience. I have Janice repeat after me, "I consecrate myself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and I ask for her humble spirit of obedience." Needless to say, the demons choke on the words as Janice fights to verbalize them. Modern day witchcraft typically includes a spirit of rebellion which more than a few find attractive, especially young women who feel disenfranchised. This spirit of rebellion also permeates much of society today, left and right. All this feeds a growing lack of unity and the angry chaotic tenor of our times. A spirit of rebellion predates the Garden of Eden. Satan and his angelic followers were the first to rebel. The Evil One has been fomenting rebellion and chaos ever since. The followers of Jesus recognize the humble obedience we owe to God our Creator. Moreover, Jesus empowered the Church to continue His ministry and declared, "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me" (Luke 10:16). Janice is slowly coming to trust us. This will be one of the final hurdles to expelling an underlying witch's mentality and finding complete liberation. We, on our part, are striving to be trustworthy, and never to violate her trust in the slightest. This will be an important part of her healing process.
- Exorcist Diary #210: Demons of Infirmity...again
["St. Michael Killing the Dragon," c. 1493-1505, Josse Lieferinxe] After the exorcism, I got angry texts from some very unhappy demons: "D... you! I want that girl back!", they texted, "It was supposed to be a dark day for her." Good news that they are demanding her back; it means that the exorcism was effective and she is no longer in their grasp. The demons then threatened her and us: "Give her back or I'll be sure she crashes her car." She did not crash her car. I responded by sending the above picture of St. Michael spearing Lucifer and I attached the following command: "I command the demons to look at this picture and acknowledge the power of Christ that he wields." The demons responded, "F... you! I'll be back!" And they left. That night on my way into the chapel to pray, I was hit with a strong, sudden "illness." It felt exactly like a bad case of the flu. "Oh no," I thought, "I am too busy to get sick." I felt really awful. Then it dawned on me that the "illness" was a bit odd. It came on suddenly, unlike previous illnesses I have had. I then recalled the earlier demonic threats and I became suspicious. Hmmmm. I recalled that St. Gemma was often assaulted by demons and she said that the devil sometimes made her feel very ill. I put a crucifix on my nauseated stomach and prayed repeatedly: "Demons of Infirmity, Vade!"* I sprinkled myself a few times with holy water, especially on my intense headache. I continued: "Demons of Infirmity, Vade!" After a couple of minutes, the "illness" lifted completely and I was fine. So I went into the chapel to pray. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Latin command to leave **We are now on social media! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily content that will hopefully help you in your spiritual journey. I will be posting many of my stories, experiences, and prayers that I hope you use to grow in faith. May our Blessed Mother and St. Michael watch over our content and bring it to those who need it the most. ***Our next online deliverance session is Monday, October 24th at 7-8pm Eastern USA time. Register at www.catholicexorcism.org or go to this link.
- Exorcist Diary #208: Demons 'teach' us about prayer
["Woman Kneeling in Prayer," George Henry Boughton, c. 1860] I have been encouraging David, who formerly belonged to a Satanic cult and is possessed, to pray daily deliverance prayers, in addition to attending exorcism sessions. He is slowly working up to an extensive daily regimen of protection and deliverance prayers, tailored to the kinds of demons he has. I recently added the Saint Michael prayer, which has been difficult for him to pray. I subsequently asked him how it was going. He responded: "When I say the St. Michael prayer, if I don't speak it out loud, or think about it, or what it means, and just quickly read it, then it's not as bad. If I were to go to church and hear it spoken by alot of people, then I would be in alot of pain...The demons [would be] screaming." I think we all realize that when we pray, we ought to focus on the words and pray them thoughtfully and deliberately. Moreover, doing so in a community of the faithful adds additional spiritual "power." Sadly, our human minds tend to wander and get distracted. Also, we can sometimes rush through our prayers, just trying to get through them quickly, as if a superficial rote recitation of prayers is sufficient. Obviously, the witness of the demons is otherwise. I have learned much about the practice of our faith in the course of being an exorcist. David's witness has demonstrated the power of communal prayer. And David has also reminded me of how to pray most effectively: I need to slow down, and say the prayers, including the Rite of Exorcism, thoughtfully and deliberately. It makes a difference. *We are now on social media! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily content that will hopefully help you in your spiritual journey. I will be posting many of my stories, experiences, and prayers that I hope you use to grow in faith. May our Blessed Mother and St. Michael watch over our content and bring it to those who need it the most.
- Exorcist Diary #207: An Ugly Email from Demons
[Icon of The Samaritan Woman] I received a very ugly email. It was short: five sentences and each sentence was full of expletives, exclamation points, nasty invectives, and curses. I immediately blocked the sender. I noticed that the email was sent in response to an email we sent out to all our subscribers. So, this person must be on our mailing list. I then went into the mailing list and found his address. I intended to delete him... But looking at the person's history with us, I found something odd. A few weeks ago, he had apparently enrolled himself as a subscriber. He opened all the subsequent emails from us and was obviously following our ministry. In fact, he just registered himself for our next online deliverance session. And then, he erupts into a rage and sends us a horrid email. Strange?!? As I reflected on the email, I noticed it sounded very much like the texts and emails I get from demons- raging, accusing, emotionally violent, ugly. Ahhh! The insight hit me: he was probably "manifesting," i.e., the demons had taken over and were enraged he was going to attend a deliverance session. He likely has a strong demonic presence. Another person, a possessed woman, recently told me that when she tries to pray with the deliverance videos, the demons are "so angry and screaming." She found it painful. I suggested that she only do what she can. Also, we have had others in the room with her when she prayed with the videos. Obviously, demons are strongly affected when just listening to any priest pray deliverance prayers. As I tell people during the introduction, if the sessions become too painful, the person should cease. Moreover, having personal support in the room for people with a strong demonic presence is helpful and important. Fully possessed people are best served by face-to-face sessions with an exorcist, if possible. For those who are not possessed, such strong reactions are less likely. So, I did not unsubscribe the person who sent the ugly email. Likely, he is truly seeking liberation and the demons are resisting strongly. Instead of unsubscribing him, I said a prayer for him. May God give him strength and perseverance to continue to seek the Lord and on the sometimes long and difficult road to liberation.
- Exorcist Chat #206: Am I a Spiritual Sensitive?
["Archangel Michael and the Rebel Angels," Cavalier d'Arpino, c. 1592-1593] A priest came up to me and, looking a little nervous, said, "When I am with people who are into the occult, I can feel an evil presence. In bad places, I sense the presence of demons. It's a sickening feeling, especially in my stomach and head. What is wrong with me? Am I possessed?" I asked, "How long have you had these sensations?" The priest responded, "Ever since childhood, but they are clearer and stronger now." In recent weeks, several people have told me that they have similar spiritual experiences and they wonder if they need an exorcism. They are often quite worried and frightened. They think, "What is wrong with me that I sense the presence of evil and demons?" We have found that a sensitivity to spiritual realities, especially the presence of evil and demons, can come from four possible sources: 1. It can be a natural charism which the person can use for good or ill. These can run in families. Some people come from a long line of witches or mediums and they use their natural spiritual insights to practice divination, something forbidden by the Bible and our faith. Others use these charisms in accord with God's plan and can do good for others. 2. It can be the result of a special Divine gift. Some people are acutely aware of the presence of demons, and sometimes angels, because God has given them a special grace to do so. They are expected to use this gift to help others. They can be a wonderful help in the deliverance ministry. 3. It can be the result of a demonic presence in the person's life. Being possessed can open an occult third eye and it makes them conscious of the preternatural world. Possessed people are aware of demons through the melding of the demonic and their own human consciousness. Or the person may be deceived by demons into thinking that demonic insinuations into the person's mind are from God. 4. For more than a few, it can be simply a product of their over-active imagination. They often describe fanciful perceptions which are not typical of the angelic world. Their "gift" may actually be the result of a kind of spiritual narcissism. I had a chat with the priest and it did not seem that he had a demonic presence acting in him. Moreover, he was living a virtuous life and was a solid priest. So I said to him, "While we have chatted only a short while, my impression is that you may have a graced spiritual sensitivity, which is a good thing. If you can find a knowledgeable spiritual director to assist you, this sensitivity of yours may be developed and assist you in your priestly ministry." He was relieved and went away in peace. As the Scriptures advise us: "Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1Jn 4:1).
- Exorcist Diary #205: Relic of the True Cross?
[Reliquary of the True Cross, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris] One of our exorcists has a supposed relic of the true cross in his parish. It does not have any papers of authenticity. Moreover, some people question whether these fragments of wood are really from the cross of Jesus. It is said that St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, unearthed three crosses from the believed site where Jesus was crucified at Calvary. In order to determine which one was the true cross, she had the three crosses touched to the body of a woman who was dying of a terminal disease. Only upon touching one of them was she cured. This wood has been venerated as the true cross ever since. Our exorcist was wondering whether his fragment was authentic. He concealed it in his pocket and brought it into an exorcism session. It was a particularly difficult case with a strong demonic presence. Midway through the session, he stood behind the now manifesting energumen. Standing behind the person, as he reached into his pocket, the demons shouted, "Relic of the true cross!" They writhed and were clearly being tormented. Still behind the afflicted person, he placed the relic on the back of the neck of the afflicted person. Again the demons shouted, "Relic of the true cross!" Again, they writhed in torment. Demons lie. Were they trying to deceive the exorcist? Perhaps. But there are times when the Lord forces demons to tell the truth. The exorcist believes that this was the case: the Lord insisted the demons witness to his true cross. There are many relics in our little chapel where exorcisms are performed. The relic of the true cross has a place of honor, as it should. And even if it is not the actual wood from Jesus' cross, it is used in our sessions with faith. We have confidence in the victory of Christ's death and resurrection, and we believe that when we use this relic in faith, the Lord generously imparts a special grace. The witness of the demons gives us additional confidence in its authenticity and its graced power. [A relic of the True Cross being carried in procession through the Piazza San Marco, Venice. Gentile Bellini, 15th century]
- Exorcist Diary #204: Baphomet Threatens Exorcist
["The Temptation of Saint Anthony," Lucas van Leyden, c 1530] Baphomet, a high ranking demon, is the head possessor in a particularly nasty case. The afflicted young woman is regularly assaulted and manipulated by demons. The exorcism sessions are intense and full of swearing, yelling, growling, lewd gestures, and vomiting. At the end of the most recent session, the young woman came back to herself after being in an active demonic state for almost an hour. The Exorcist asked, as he typically does at the end of every session, "How are you? What happened during the session?" She said to the Exorcist, "Baphomet is angry with you. He said that he is going to get you tonight at midnight." This is not the first time the demons have threatened one of us. Sometimes they will tell the Exorcist when they will attack and at other times they leave it unknown. But our experience is that when they say they will attack the priest, they will indeed do so. It is not a bluff. However, the Evil One is not allowed to do any more than God allows and He always provides the graces to overcome any demonic assaults. "Forewarned is forearmed." A few hours before midnight, another priest exorcist kindly prayed some deliverance prayers over the priest. This had the effect of somewhat blunting the coming attack. He then commended himself to the protection of the Blessed Virgin, sprinkled holy water around the room, and went to bed. Around midnight, he was awakened by an intense agitation and temptations. These were followed by feelings of utter darkness. Recognizing the source of these strong mental attacks, the Exorcist then said three times out loud: "I offer these assaults for the liberation of the afflicted person." Instantly, the assaults lessened in intensity. Not only is this offering helpful for the afflicted person, it also impresses upon the demons, once again, that all of their efforts are self-defeating. Everything they do ultimately redounds to the glory of God and furthers God’s Kingdom. The attacks did not dissipate completely until a couple of hours had passed. Then, the priest went back to bed and slept soundly, having once again experienced the surpassing power of Christ and his defeat of Satan. Giving into fear of Satan and his minions only empowers the demons. Faith is more than simply acknowledging that God exists. It implies trusting in God and in the victory of Jesus Christ. We surrender ourselves completely into God's hands. No priest will long survive the sometimes intense spiritual combat of an exorcist's calling without such a personal surrender.
- Exorcist Diary #203: Five Steps for Dealing with Demon Brain
[Joan of Arc, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1882 ] "James" is suffering from demonic obsessions or "demon brain." Every couple of weeks, he goes through a spell in which his thinking is strongly influenced by demons. When this happens, he becomes despairing and suicidal. He came up with a five-step process for dealing with these demonic attacks. The five steps might be helpful for anyone suffering such demonic afflictions. He has generously consented to share them with all. The five steps are: 1. Recognize the beginning of a demonic attack EARLY. Once he is in the middle of "demon brain," he cannot recognize it and he mistakenly believes it is his real self. So he is trying to be aware of the initial signs that a demonic attack is coming before it is too late to react. 2. Reach out for help. James recognizes that he cannot deal with the demons by himself. He reaches out to friends for support, his therapist for counseling, and a priest for spiritual direction and deliverance prayers. While these supports do not completely dissipate the attack, they do help him to navigate successfully the demonic onslaught. 3. Honest and open sharing. James knows that isolation can be lethal in the midst of demonic obsessions. When demon brain hits, he has a tendency to clam up. So, he intentionally tries to be open and honest about himself with his support system and what he is experiencing. 4. Reject & let it go. In the midst of demon brain, it is difficult for James to recognize that his thoughts are really demonic and not his own. Nevertheless, he is trying to train himself to recognize the true source of these evil thoughts and to consciously reject them. He said, "I need to reject these thoughts and let them go." Using our prayer formula, he says, "I reject, renounce and rebuke the evil spirits of [name them] and, in Jesus' name, I cast them out." 5. Do things I enjoy and distract myself. His demonic thoughts are dark and despairing. In the midst of demon brain, he consciously chooses to engage in activities he enjoys such as having dinner with friends or outdoor events and/or exercise. These help to elevate his mood and distract him from focusing on the evil demonic thoughts. Moreover, James does his best to continue with his strong spiritual regimen of daily prayer and sacraments. These steps are not easy for anyone who suffers from demonic obsessions, especially in the midst of an assault of demon brain. But, over time he has shown the commitment and courage to do so with positive results. His attacks are shorter, less severe and he is on the road to recovery. I have no doubt that in the future these demonic attacks will be largely a thing of the past. In the meantime, they are actually strengthening him psychologically and spiritually. One day, he will be a battle-tested, strong spiritual warrior for Christ.
- Exorcist Diary #202: Hearing the Voice of Satan
[Saint Michael and the Angels at War with the Devil, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 15th c.] When "Joyce" came in for her deliverance session, she looked normal. There were no physical signs of a demonic presence. She appeared to be fully lucid and herself. But on the way into the chapel, she started to spout bizarre ideas. She said in an arrogant tone: "Satan is stronger than your God." She emphatically added: "You cannot expel him." Joyce, who had previously been involved in witchcraft, said: "My spells are stronger than your worthless prayers." At this point, one of the priests started to argue with her, pointing out the omnipotent power of God and the triumph of Christ's death and resurrection. Joyce was unfazed and continued her evil rant. I looked at the priest and said, "Don't waste your breath. You are not talking to Joyce. You are talking to a pack of demons." I led them into the chapel and said, "What we need to do is to pray." When a demonic presence takes over control of a person's physical body, there are typical signs. For example, the body will react strongly to sacramentals such as holy water, crucifixes or the prayers themselves. There may be pains in different parts of the body, especially where the demons are particularly active. Also, there may be marks such as scratches, bruises, lumps that move, and/or burn marks. And more. But sometimes demons manifest without physical signs. Rather, they infect the person's brain. The person starts thinking like demons, a state which our team calls: "demon brain." In the midst of a bout of demon brain, many times people are not aware of it and do not realize the source of their evil thoughts. But our team recognizes that the demons are exercising some control over the afflicted people's minds when out of their mouths comes typical demonic thoughts and ideas. Some common examples of these demonic obsessions or "demon brain" are: *arrogant, haughty denigration of others, especially priests/church *statements exalting Satan's power and dismissing God's providence *statements exalting the power of pagan "gods" or demons, the power of their witchcraft and occult practices. *intense uncharacteristic feelings of despair and thoughts of suicide *intense depressive and dark emotions *a consuming narcissistic rage *extreme feelings of abandonment, rejection and/or hopeless isolation An alert, experienced exorcist will recognize when a client is manifesting such demonic obsessions, i.e. demon brain, even if there are no physical manifestations. He knows that it does no good to try to reason with people in such a state. Only deliverance prayers are effective. Rather than argue with them, an exorcist will launch directly into the prayers. Most people do not suffer from intense demonic obsessions. But when I listen to what comes out of people's mouth on the street, I sometimes hear the voice of Satan. For example, I may hear an arrogant judgmentalism of others, an inner violent rage, a hatred of the Church, a dismissal of God's power and love, temptations to violence and destruction, rejoicing in other people's injury or harm, and/or dark depressive thoughts of a hopeless despair. When I hear these, I hear the voice of Satan. Sadly, it suggests that such people are increasingly under the Evil One's power. As Ephesians 4:29 (RSVCE) says, "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear."
- Exorcist Diary #200: The Three R's for Casting Out Demons
"He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan!'" Mt 16:23 After a recent online deliverance session with us, a woman shared her experience: I've been able to attend most of the sessions and have found that with each successive one, I have been increasingly able to attain spiritual healing. For many years, I have been afflicted with an evil spirit that causes me to hate God and to curse Jesus. I have sought deliverance for a long time. I am learning with each session how to better deal with evil attacks from the devil. I have learned, in particular, that I must do the 3 Rs...I am now able to relate with the Lord Jesus in a loving way, without any sense of the previous hostility, resentment or anger. These three R's of casting out demons are: reject, renounce, and rebuke. In our online sessions, as well as our face-to-face solemn exorcisms, we ask afflicted people to identify the evil spirits present and then say the three R's. So, for example, if an individual identifies the presence of an evil spirit of lust, the person would then say: "In the holy name of Jesus, I reject, I renounce, and I rebuke the spirit of lust. In Jesus' holy name, I cast it out!" To "reject" is to make an act of the will which says in effect: "I do not want this evil spirit." To "renounce" is to give back any benefits desired or received in the demonic relationship. To "rebuke" is sharply denouncing the evil spirit. In deliverance work, an important step in the process of liberation is cutting the relationship between the individual and the evil spirit. While a simple rejection would likely suffice, we have found these three R's to be a bit more thorough and decisive. After the afflicted person has formally rejected the evil spirit, the Exorcist can then invoke the authority of the Church and more easily cast it out. While the entire process of casting out demons can take some time, this formal process of rejecting the evil spirits, using the three R's, is an important step along the way. I have also found these three R's helpful in overcoming the normal temptations of life, which are often fueled by evil spirits. Whenever we are tempted, we can say: "In the holy name of Jesus, I reject the evil spirits of [name the temptation]. I reject them; I renounce them; I rebuke them. In Jesus' holy name, I cast them out!" I have personally found it helpful. I suspect others would as well.
- Exorcist Diary #201: Demons Hold Onto Lies
[Return of the Prodigal Son, Pompeo Batoni, 1773] We had been "pounding away" at the demonic presence for almost two years and "M", a young woman in her 20's, was much, much better. The night attacks had ceased; the demonic marks on her body had mostly disappeared; she tolerated an exorcism without completely going "out;" and during the day she had many more lucid moments. But the demons were still hanging onto something. At one point, she asked for a meeting with her parents. As the meeting progressed, it became clear that she wanted to tell them something but was having a hard time getting it out. The parents were patient and encouraged her to take her time. Finally, with much fear and trepidation, she confessed that she had not been honest with them. She had covered up many ugly past behaviors and painted them over with self-aggrandizing lies. She had been living a lie. To her surprise, her parents willingly forgave her and told her how much they loved her. Allaying her fears, they said they would never leave her and she would always be their beloved daughter. Shortly thereafter, arriving back at her apartment, M vomited up huge masses of black globs. Typically, a sign of the lifting of witches' curses and/or casting out of demons. The black masses actually appeared to be moving and undulating. M was then tired but felt a great weight had been lifted. While the demons were not completely gone, a critical milestone had been passed. Satan is called the "Father of Lies," (Jn 8:44), Mendacii Pater in the Rite of Exorcism. I have noticed that demons will sometimes visibly react when the phrase Mendacii Pater is spoken aloud in the Rite. No doubt they feel it as a stinging rebuke and the truth which they are loathe to face. Not only are they compulsive and habitual liars, their entire life has become a lie. Unwittingly, by living a lie herself, M gave the demons a hold on her. Facing the truth and confessing her sin, plus the forgiving love of her parents, was a liberating moment. M's next step was to take her repentance into the confessional to receive the sacramental graces. M is making steady progress. But like all processes of liberation for the possessed, there are important challenges along the way. M faced this critical challenge of facing and letting go of the lies in her life with honesty and courage. I am proud of her and her parents. I have great confidence she will be soon fully liberated. Satan is the Father of Lies. Jesus is the "Truth" (Jn 14:6). We are set free from Satan's grasp when we confess our sins and live in the light of the Truth.
- Exorcist Diary #198: Do Saints Choose Us?
[St. Agape and her two sisters] "K" was possessed. She was consecrated to the Evil One by her biological parents: one was a witch and the other a Satanist. Her upbringing was brutal including a drug habit foisted upon her by her mother and repeated rapes by men. Both biological parents died young. K was, by the grace of God, eventually adopted by a good man who was a devout Catholic. After introducing her to Catholic sacraments and sacramentals, and witnessing her symptoms, he realized that she was possessed. He brought her to an exorcist. In the process of liberation, the team was surprised when K said that a being named "Agape" appeared and was helping her. K did not know who Agape was, nor did most of the team. K thought that she was an angel; when she appeared, she was surrounded by a great light. Only after she identified herself as "Agape" did K realize the person was human. After hearing K's description of Agape and doing some research, the team realized she was describing Saint Agape- the 4th century virgin and martyr. St. Agape was also orphaned at a young age. She and her two sisters led pious chaste lives under the direction of the priest Xeno. They rejected several offers of marriage as well as indecent advances by men. They were martyred for the faith under the Emperor Diocletian. K suffers from demonic physical assaults as well as repeated sexual advances by men, many of whom are demonically inspired. These men are unwitting minions of Satan trying to sexually assault and/or seduce her, including tempting her with illicit drugs. In moments of overwhelming temptation and demonic assault, Agape shows up and whispers special messages of grace into K's ears. When St. Agape shows up, she often sees the demons depart. Saint Agape is the perfect saint and intercessor for K, given both of their histories. K is the target of intense demonic assaults. The presence and intercession of St. Agape is much, much needed. We thank God for her. Many times we nurture a devotion to a particular saint, thinking we have chosen the saint. It may be the other way around. Maybe, by the grace of God, a particular saint is chosen for us. In the future, when we begin our exorcism sessions, or simply begin our daily lives, perhaps we ought to begin by asking God which saint is chosen for us.
- Exorcist Diary #199: Demonic Obsessions with Depression and Despair
["St. Michael Fighting Demons," by Master of the Legend of Saint Ursula (Bruges), 1480-1500] One of our exorcists shared a recent experience: "Last night, a feeling of depression and hopelessness came over me. I was hardly aware of it in the beginning; it started subtly. Eventually, I found myself in the middle of a dark despair. I felt enervated and done in. This is surprising for me because I really don't have a history of depression." He went on, "I finally recognized it as a possible demonic obsession and commanded the evil spirits of depression to leave. After a few deliverance prayers, the evil mood lifted." Once a month St. Michael Center offers a live online deliverance session. These sessions are much appreciated with several thousand attending. After the sessions, we typically receive scores of email testimonies of healings, thanks be to God. One of the most common experiences is the lifting of a depressed or anxious mood. For example, here are some excerpts: *I started with anxiety, worry and depression. I feel peace now. Thank you! *Very uplifting. I am more joyful. Less oppression. Thank you. *I felt relief and gratitude for this session. I've been suffering from great anxiety and anger issues. Thank you. *My body felt like I'm carrying a heavy boulder on my shoulders. After the session, I felt light, like the boulder was removed. *During the session I felt such energy and renewal as though a kind of electricity was passing through my body. Presently I am witnessing energy like never before. Thank you." *I felt a loosening of the bondages of depression ... and divisions within our family. Thank you! *I experienced an inner joy and peace and hope. A knowledge that Jesus has freed me of my scruples, anxiety and sadness and He is looking upon me with love." Most of the time, feelings of depression and anxiety have psychological roots and need to be treated on the natural level. But our experience suggests that demonic obsessions accompanied by feelings of depression, anxiety and despair are more common than we realize. Four signs that the mood has demonic roots are: (1) it being out of character for the individual, (2) it begins and ends without a natural trigger, (3) it is unusually intense, and (4) it responds to prayer.... In these cases, medications and psychotherapy might have some limited effect but ultimately are not fully successful. Only prayer and a spiritual healing will lift it. In more resistant cases, afflicted people may have a combination of psychological pathology and a demonic obsession. Satan is an opportunist and takes advantage of our psychological weaknesses. He will exaggerate the natural dynamics and torment the soul with an intense depressive and/or anxious mood. These folks need both natural healing remedies such as psychotherapy and medications, plus a healing spiritual regimen. The exorcist then said: "My experience reminded me of my new client who also suffers from intense demonic obsessions with depression, despair and suicidal thoughts." (This exorcist has a spiritual history of being a burden bearer.) He went on, "Perhaps my experience was God's way of allowing me to help by carrying a little bit of her burden. I pray for her every day."