Prevention is key in the spiritual realm. The exorcism and deliverance ministry usually deals with a lack of spiritual protection or someone purposely opening the door to evil.
Fr. Patrick (not his real name) a parish priest who is also a diocesan exorcist, advises people to stay close to God and the Church and do not flirt with the occult.
“God warns us against it in the Bible,” Fr. Patrick explained in an interview. “There’s nothing good that ever comes from it; there is nothing safe about it.” According to him, it’s a dimension you have no control over. “Evil wants to convince you that you will have control over it, but you won’t,” he said. “ It’s always a mistake.”
Likewise, he said that opening yourself up to evil such as pornography is hazardous to our spiritual well being. “Whatever you take in, you take into your heart,” Fr. Patrick said. “It deforms the heart and then that is going to play out in your relationships. People are calling it recreation, but it is a mockery of God’s creation.
Put some skin in the game
Fr. Vincent Lampert, the designated exorcist for the archdiocese of Indianapolis, who trained at the North American College in Rome and assisted on over 40 exorcisms with longtime Italian exorcist Father Carmine De Filippis, said he cannot help anyone not willing to develop a relationship with Jesus.
In spite of all the authority invested in him by the Church, Fr. Lampert said it comes down to a person’s willingness to reach out to God. “There’s no magic involved,” he told me in a previous interview. “I bring in the power and glory of Jesus Christ, but most of the time, people treat us like magicians. They want us to fix the problem but they want no skin in the game.”
According to him, people wanting relief from evil need to grow in faith. “If they are not going to change anything about their life, then throwing holy water at them and praying will do nothing,” he said. “They have to be willing to pray and draw closer to God.”
Faith is the key to life, Fr. Lampert said, and with faith, we need not fear evil. “The power of God is greater than the power of evil,” according to him. ” don’t carry a bag of tricks with me, I bring the power and authority of Jesus Christ that he has given to his Church.”
If we stay away from the occult, go to Mass, have faith in God, and pray, Fr. Lampert said that we are protected and even a curse will bounce off us. “The devil is already on the run if you are going to church and especially if you are receiving Communion.”
Ways to Protect Yourself
- Do not fear evil, but always choose to avoid it! Don’t go looking for trouble or you will find more than you bargained for.
- Keep your mind on God and his angels and saints. If you are stressing about evil, you are probably not spending enough time and energy on God.
- Live a good Catholic life. Frequent the Sacraments which draw you closer to God and strengthens your soul with sacramental graces. If you are in the state of mortal sin, run to confession and vow to change your life.
- Forgive others. Don’t let anger and resentment open you to evil influences. “ Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those…”
- Pray the rosary. The Blessed Mother is a powerful protector and intercessor.
- Pray chaplet of Divine Mercy to push back evil and unleash God’s mercy.
- Wear a scapular
- Use Sacramentals. Hang a crucifix in your home. Wear blessed medals such as a Saint Benedict Medal, and Catherine Labouré’s Miraculous Medal. Use holy water to bless yourself and rooms. (Fill a bottle at church.) The blessings that a priest puts on the water extends through the holy water.
- Pray often. A holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament is very powerful. Use prayers of protection especially the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel.
- Read the Bible and good Catholic books
- Call a priest if you think you are encountering something disturbing and feel you need help.
Take it from the exorcist: evil is real, we have no power over it, but we can avoid it. And never be afraid!
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