Binding evil spirits

[chubbychops]

I recently listened to a fantastic talk called ‘Spiritual Flyswatters’ on the Audio Sancto website and was interested to learn that you can bind evil spirits by saying

“In the name of Jesus I bind you spirit of _____ and send you to the foot of the cross to be judged by Our Lord”

To be effective does this prayer have to be said aloud or can it be said mentally ie can Satan and his evil spirits hear ‘thoughts’ or just spoken words?

 

[JerryZ]

I recently listened to a fantastic talk called ‘Spiritual Flyswatters’ on the Audio Sancto website and was interested to learn that you can bind evil spirits by saying

“In the name of Jesus I bind you spirit of _____ and send you to the foot of the cross to be judged by Our Lord”

To be effective does this prayer have to be said aloud or can it be said mentally ie can Satan and his evil spirits hear ‘thoughts’ or just spoken words?

Nope, neither satan nor any of his minions can read minds.

An exorcism is said aloud not “thinking it”

Only GOD can read our minds and souls.

That prayer assumes you “know” the evil spirit’s name. It is VERY UNWISE messing with powers that your are neither prepared nor know enough about.
If you have such a problem… Let the “professionals” deal with them

 

[Veronica97]

My confessor told me he didn’t think it was a good idea to say this type of prayer. He said it would be better to say a Hail Mary or the St. Michael prayer. You’re going to get a lot of varying answers on this one, so some personal discernment is in order. Perhaps ask a priest that you trust. But the danger, I’ve learned, is that when we confront evil spirits, we may “challenge” them and cause more problems than we had to begin with. Better to leave it in God’s hands or ask a priest for a blessing.

 

[po18guy]

My confessor told me he didn’t think it was a good idea to say this type of prayer. He said it would be better to say a Hail Mary or the St. Michael prayer. You’re going to get a lot of varying answers on this one, so some personal discernment is in order. Perhaps ask a priest that you trust. But the danger, I’ve learned, is that when we confront evil spirits, we may “challenge” them and cause more problems than we had to begin with. Better to leave it in God’s hands or ask a priest for a blessing.

I have also heard that it is best not to directly interact with malevolent spirits. Far better to call upon God, Who is ever ready to defend us against evil. Acts 19:13-16 is good reading here, as we do not want to suffer the fate of the seven sons of Sceva:

Acts 19:13-16
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

 

[JordanRogers]

It’s my belief that saying the Rosary works better. Our Lady puts a whooping on them

 

[acadiANNA]

We have a long time friend who frequently says, “Get behind me Satan.” when seemingly facing temptation. Is this a good habit?

 

[po18guy]

We have a long time friend who frequently says, “Get behind me Satan.” when seemingly facing temptation. Is this a good habit?

Well, it is interacting with, and recognizing only the evil one. As well, when the devil is behind you, he remains close to you. Far better to call to the one Who defeated the devil. Saint Michael the Archangel contends with devils, while our Lord casts them out.

 

[chubbychops]

To those suggesting that this sort of ‘interaction’ with evil spirits is unwise, it was a Catholic Priest who offered the advice in a sermon on how to deal with the evil spirits who attack us on a daily basis. It is not meant to be an exorcism.

The sermon advised the use of this prayer and sacramentals such as holy water, the Brown Scapular, Miraculous Medal, Rosary etc to ward off evil spirits.

All the sermons on the Audio Sancto website are by Catholic Priests who are known to be loyal to the Magesterium so I doubt the advice offered is anything other than sound and correct.

 

[BCECookie]

I have a question that is related. I was staying at some lady’s place that I rented via online. I didn’t know her but when I arrived I just kept having these overwhelming sensations of fear, nausea and anxiety when i was in the apartment. I felt better when I left. I didn’t know how to tell her why I left, she seemed upset and I don’t blame her but the apartment was starting to affect me. I was snapping at people and getting angry for really minor things and crying for no reason which isn’t typical of me. Anyway, maybe this should be for another post. But I was just wondering if anyone has any thoughts. Do you stay in a situation like that or get out of it? I got out of it as fast as I could.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

I once attended a Charismatic conference where the main speaker said that the laity have the authority to “bind” demons, citing Matthew 18:18, “Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.”

When has the Church taught this? What Church Father or Doctor has interpreted the Scripture in such a manner? Looking at the on Matt. 18Catena Aurea:18, I see references (in Ss. Jerome, Hilary, etc.) to the Apostles and the authority to excommunicate, but nothing about the laity binding devils. Haydock likewise contains commentary by preeminent scholars on the authority of bishops and priests, but not the Charismatic interpretation.

 

[po18guy]

I once attended a Charismatic conference where the main speaker said that the laity have the authority to “bind” demons, citing Matthew 18:18, “Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.”

When has the Church taught this? What Church Father or Doctor has interpreted the Scripture in such a manner? Looking at the Catena Aurea on Matt. 18:18, I see references (in Ss. Jerome, Hilary, etc.) to the Apostles and the authority to excommunicate, but nothing about the laity binding devils. Haydock likewise contains commentary by preeminent scholars on the authority of bishops and priests, but not the Charismatic interpretation.

That was a single person claiming that. I would not extrapolate from a single case that then entire movement believes this. I have a tiny bit of experience with the movement, but I have also been advised that it is not good to directly interact with the demonic. Witness the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. I leave that to the pros. There are prayers, such as to Saint Michael, in which we petition for help. That is something completely different. It appears that the speaker, unless there is something we don’t know, was simply in error. That is an issue that should be brought to the parish priest, or to the Bishop, who oversees the movement in his diocese.