Demonic attack after covering at mass?

[Catholic_Wife]

I’m going to side with Fr Jones on this one.

While anxiety and other mood disorders are often caused by chemical imbalances that can be treated with medication and/or therapy, Satan knows our weaknesses and will exploit those weaknesses. He will do anything he can to tear us away from our friendship with God and/or to keep us from growing closer to God. Spiritual attacks (some call them demonic attacks) are very real, especially when we are on the verge of having a “spiritual growth spurt”. I’ve seen this many times with people going through RCIA. I’ve experienced it in my own life.

Lily235, you will be in my prayers. Be strong and keep praying to and leaning on Jesus. If you truly feel called to cover during Mass, do it! God may be calling you to a greater personal holiness (not saying anything negative about those who don’t cover).

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I am seeking opinions here, as I don’t have anyone with whom to discuss this in person.

I have been feeling for a while now that I ought to at least try covering at mass, and this past Sunday I did. I’m living in France temporarily, and it seems that veiling in particular is Just Not Done anymore, so I wore a hat instead of draping one of my summer wraps. Now, I have worn hats before back in the USA, but as a fashion statement (and an attempt at prompting a trend). This was the first time I wore something on my head with the express intention of 1) symbolizing humility before God, 2) acknowledging His authority over me, and 3) symbolizing my desire to obey that authority.

Now the interesting part comes directly after mass, when my main physchological weakness flared up again. This happens every once in a while, and I can usuall talk myself out of it by remembering certain things and praying for help, but this got very bad very quickly and kept recurring at the same strong level no matter what I did. These were feelings of being unappreciated at work, anxiety about how my colleagues felt about me, and feeling like I am “not good enough” and never will be. So pride, and some anger at specific people.

While trying to not sin and being quite miserable and crying on and off, I eventually thought that maybe this was a demonic attack because I covered at mass deliberately? When I prayed again with that in mind and begged God to bail me out, I felt better almost immediately and the feelings did not return.

So what do you all think?

It could be a bit of both psychological and spiritual harassment. The enemy usually attacks our weak points, not our strong points. That’s why we fall for the same boring old sin every time, and not some other more exotic item. Well, I do anyway.

Now it wouldn’t be the mere act of “covering” that prompted an attack, but your determination to move more towards God. It’s a bit like the woman with the bleeding issue who managed to touch Christ’s tassel. Now there’s nothing in a Jewish males’ tassel that has any spiritual power, but Christ does. He recognised her faith, not the fact she touched his garment. That was purely external.

The devil wouldn’t like your determination to move towards God, but at the same time he’s know you may have a weakness in worrying what others think about you, their opinions, feeling unappreciated etc. So that’s what he’ll put into your head, and keep harassing you with.

So I think it’s probably a bit of both. The answer is just to keep plodding on - he’ll give up eventually if you don’t.

 

[Gidge]

It appears this post was moved from the Traditional Catholicism forum. I believe that is what TC refers to.

Thank you for the clarification, I’m somewhat new here and don’t have all the lingo down yet.

 

[njlisa]

I’m going to side with Fr Jones on this one.

While anxiety and other mood disorders are often caused by chemical imbalances that can be treated with medication and/or therapy, Satan knows our weaknesses and will exploit those weaknesses. He will do anything he can to tear us away from our friendship with God and/or to keep us from growing closer to God. Spiritual attacks (some call them demonic attacks) are very real, especially when we are on the verge of having a “spiritual growth spurt”. I’ve seen this many times with people going through RCIA. I’ve experienced it in my own life.

Let me say here that I’m not talking about the original poster.

Catholic_Wife, I understand your perspective. I’m coming at this issue from a scientific, mental health viewpoint. I’d hate to leave the medical stone unturned in treating cases of anxiety. Let me give you an example. Many people – including saints – have suffered from blasphemous intrusive thoughts, which are really manifestations of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. According to Wikipedia: “St. Ignatius [Loyola] had numerous obsessions, including the fear of stepping on pieces of straw forming a cross, fearing that it showed disrespect to Christ.” I think, in those cases, attributing the cause of such attacks to demons makes the patient worse, not better. I’m sure you’ve also heard of scrupulosity as a mental illness. Instead of washing his hands all the times for fear of germs, the patient goes to confession for fear of imagined mortal sin. CAF even has a support group for those suffering from scrupulosity.

forums.catholic-questions.org/group.php?groupid=454

That being said, I know that the Church teaches that Satan and his demons are real. But I think it is wise to first look for the scientific rather than then demonic when attempting to treat mental illness. When otherwise rational, mentally sound people feel the influence of the demonic, I think it’s more reasonable to look at the event at a spiritual attack.

 

[BluesPicker]

You nailed it. The Evil One always steps up his attacks when we move towards holiness. He’s an expert at studying our personal wraknesses and attacking us at that vulnerable point! The proof is that when you recognized these anxieties as the voice of evil, and asked Christ for help, the demonic voices fled. Satan always flees from Christ. Praised be Jesus Christ!

Thank you Fr. Jones. A priest can always say in a few words that takes me a flood of words.