A Question about "Magic" Use Prior to becoming Catholic; and formerly cursing someone

[jmjpensacola]

Hi Y’all,

When I was a young teenager (and not a Christian), I tried to use magic to “bind” my step-father, who was an abusive alcoholic.

I have since been baptized (at 19) and joined the Catholic Church. I have been through deliverance ministry as well, and have seen a lot of healing from my former days of dabbling in the occult. I actually just remembered this incident with my step father. I don’t remember all of the specifics of that “binding” ritual that I did, but I am worried about any ill effect it may still have on him, and even if I have been delivered, is there anything I can do to reverse what I have done to him? Or is that not even necessary?

Thanks and God bless!

 

[TheLittleLady]

God has forgiven you. Don’t let your own mind, or Satan, doubt that forgiveness.

Have a Mass said for your step-father.

 

[Episcopalian]

I think you risked yourself, not your stepfather when doing this binding ritual.

You were messing with demons, albeit unknowingly, and inviting them into your life by initiating/participating in this ritual.

You should confess, now that you remembered it, and make sure to take Communion sometime after confessing. That should be enough to keep you protected from any negativity out there.

To be honest though, you were probably cleansed with your baptism since it took place after the occult stuff you did, so a confession may not be necessary.

 

[St.Bede]

Since I can tell that you have already repented from your old ways, and GOD has already forgiven you of your past sins, just pray that GOD would spare his life from all evil, and also ask GOD to bless him abundantly.

May the peace of our Lord be with you always!

 

[CarmeliteKnight]

Your sin was washed away at baptism. As a former occultist my self, you did more harm to yourself than him during said “binding”. If you are still concerned, just pray for him everyday that he gets better from his alcoholism (assuming he is still an alcoholic).

 

[blacksoil]

It’s true that sins are forgiven during baptism because confession is part of baptism. However, as far as I know, one of the conditions of absolution is that we have to “undo” the damages we did, as much as we possibly can. For example, if someone had stolen something, in order for his sins to be forgiven, he also had to return the stolen good. Is it possible for you to “undo” the binding you did to your step-father? Perhaps such superstitious thing isn’t really well considered in the US/western countries, and hence lots of others posters ignored that portion of your questions, but here in my country, the ill-effects of such things are well known concerns… My cousin is currently suffering from terrible sickness that she couldn’t even walk properly, she was totally well just a couple months before. Just recently we learned that it has something to do with a curse somebody placed on her… I really suggest that you talk to your parish priest about this…

God bless! I’m praying for you

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Is it possible for you to “undo” the binding you did to your step-father? Perhaps such superstitious thing isn’t really well considered in the US/western countries, and hence lots of others posters ignored that portion of your questions, but here in my country, the ill-effects of such things are well known concerns

The OP should not be messing around further with the occult trying to “undo” some “binding” that as someone else said probably harmed himself through his committing sin of occult practices, and not the target. Catholics should not be superstitious, regardless of what country or culture they are in.

If the OP is concerned about his past target, all he needs to do is sincerely pray to God for the person, and God will take care of it.

 

[midori]

Pray for your stepfather to have the graces God most wants him to have, and that will move things in the right direction to try and repair what you did in the past.

 

[jmjpensacola]

Thanks, y’all. The motivation for my concern came from reading Fr. Amorth’s book (An Exorcist Explains the Demonic), wherein he talks about “curses” and other types of magic/witchcraft actually having an effect on people, but which are usually harmless to those in a state of grace. I understood that the effects have likely been removed from my own life, I was just curious how that might effect him, as he does not have any faith that I know of and still seems to be in a lot of bondage. I took another posters advice and in addition to praying for him myself, I have arranged to have some masses said for him.

 

[blacksoil]

When I said “undo” I didn’t mean we do it in the non-Catholic way (i.e occult, witchcraft, etc), that’d be unacceptable and a grave sin. I mean, talk to priest who understand the matter, and solveit the church way.

. . . . Even the Vatican appoints exorcists not for without reason. I suggest you go read/watch Fr. Gabriel Amorth or Fr. Gary Thomas. I didn’t know what the OP did to his stepfather, but considering he’s worried enough to ask in the forum, he really needs to talk to a local priest, not just taking the opinions of people in the forum… And really, what’s so big of a deal of talking to a priest? It doesn’t hurt in anyway. And remember God wants us to be humble, and I see confessing and asking help to a priest to be an act of humility

 

[blacksoil]

I think you should talk to a priest, instead of asking and taking opinions of people in the forum.

God appoints priests to be his representatives on earth, and even forgiveness of sins are arranged to be done through priests. Occultism and any forms of wizardry are grave and serious sins, just as written on the bible. It’s true that during your baptism, you should have gone through confession, but as far as I know, those sins that are forgiven are those that we have confessed. The fact you’re worried about it might be that the holy spirit is reminding you.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

When you said Catholic shouldn’t be supersitious, you’re wrong. Even the Vatican appoints exorcists not for without reason. I suggest you go read/watch Fr. Gabriel Amorth or Fr. Gary Thomas.

The above is not “wrong”. Exorcism is not superstition, and it is applied in very limited cases. I’m quite familiar with it and have met some exorcists in person. Each diocese in USA has one. They do not go around applying their exorcism skills to everybody who claims to have been the victim of some kind of magic spell. Nor do they practice deliverance ministry on people who have not presented themselves for the priest’s help (in this case, the OP’s father).

Your original post did not indicate that you wanted the person to talk to a priest. He can certainly do that, but it’s likely the priest will give the same advice people here have done: pray for the person, have Masses said for them. The priest on his own is not going to work some exorcism on a third party who has not even presented himself for help. The priest might pray along with the OP that his father is delivered from his alcoholism or whatever.

I’m also not sure why you’re talking about confessing and humility. The OP has already joined the Church and been through deliverance ministry. Presumably by now he’s confessed the fact that he himself has done occult activities in the past. He is not showing any lack of humility.

 

[blacksoil]

Your original post did not indicate that you wanted the person to talk to a priest

Read the last sentence of my original post, please.

Why do I mentioned about humility? Well because God created each one of us with different talents to serve in different manners and have different functions. When talking about curses (voodo, hexes, occultism), its outside of our realm of expertise, hence we need to ask the expert’s opinions. Asking others for help is an act of humility because we have to realize we can’t do everything on our own.

You’re right that local priest is likely to say what you said, but this is exactly why I think OP should go look for priest who understands this matters, not just any priest. Even Fr. Gary Thomas didn’t believe in such things until he saw it first-hand in Rome.

Just recently I talked to an OFM sister whose vocation is to pray and help people who are cursed or victims of unearthly things. And she told that certain curses requires special prayers to be freed of. What if it’s not done? Well the victim might be sufferings without him/her realizing it, which is a sad thing…

Again, I don’t know what OP did, but then it never hurts to take extra miles to be on the safe side, right?