Divine Mercy Sunday Mass -rough going

[RosalieM]

I met the Church’s conditions to try for a plenary indulgence for whichever of my parents needed it most, today on Divine Mercy Sunday. It’s a good thing I said the prayers for the pope’s intentions early, because I became gradually unhinged during the mass.
A mentally unstable homeless man the monsignor has asked to stay away came to the mass and sat right next to yours truly. He smelled too. Next thing I knew I was grappling with was I being a good Christian in my attitude. But I couldn’t help it and I simply changed my pew. The mass went on and I thought everything was okay. Then bingo! He pops up right behind me, mimicking responses. Okay, so by the time for communion, I was unnerved as I saw him going up to receive. I totally forgot everything except that this was a sacrilege and told father after the mass. He said I should talk to the man, who was by then outside the church panhandling parishioners as they left. So I told him father asked me to talk to him. I said it was a bad thing for him to go receive communion as he isn’t Catholic. He repeated over and over that he was Catholic and said “bye”.
I’m sure my intention for the plenary indulgence was still in play, but I’m flustered that I could not concentrate because of this man. He had me questioning if I was being judgmental, etc. I imagined him to be a demon. In short, he drove me batty at mass and it was really a bumpy mass. Thanks for allowing me to vent here on CAF. A Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday to all.

 

[jmcrae]

Wow, you have my sympathies! What an ordeal.

I don’t think your Plenary Indulgence could have been affected by this.

 

[Jaypeeto4]

Hi friend,
your indulgence is not affected.
Isn’t it odd that when, precisely when, we are trying to do something especially holy,
something or someone ALWAYS, almost ALWAYS, throws a monkeywrench into our prayer right at that VERY moment. Not five minutes before or later,
but RIGHT AT THAT very, very, most important, moment.
THAT IS NO ACCIDENT.
Once in a while, it MIGHT be. When it constantly occurs,
be ASSURED the evil one is definitely trying to screw up your prayers.

BUT DON"T BLAME the homeless man !!
First of all, if he is mentally ill and nutty, then he has NOT, subjectively,
committed any sacrilege at all, even if he ISN’T Catholic, because he truly,
being truly ill, does not and cannot realize what he is doing. So don’t fuss at him,
pray for him instead.

Also, contrary to what some believe, and the Church KNOWS this,
some cases of mental illness are, INDEED, cases of illness CAUSED
or at least EXACERBATED, by demonic torments of the ill person.
He may indeed have a chemical imbalance in the brain. Much mental illness is, truly,
attributable to this very thing, but the demons can, do, and sadistically ENJOY,
making a sick person EVEN SICKER. And they do DO it. Don’t let anyone tell
you that they DON’T. They DO.
So pray for this poor man, and no, your indulgence was not affected.
Who do you think impelled this man to follow you around, in particular YOU,
and sit right behind YOU mocking and mimicking the prayers?
Believe me, dear sister, it wasn’t his idea alone. He is ill. Pray for him.
Your indulgence is fine.
Love to you,
Jaypeeto4

 

[RosalieM]

Thank you jmcrae and jaypeeto4, so much.
Your posts are reassuring and much appreciated. I did sense something demonic but thought it was the homeless man himself. This was because, as you said, it was during a holy endeavor and then at precisely the holiest moment.
He gave me a glance when he went up for communion. I’m relieved it was not a sacrilege.
Since it’s the enemy working through him, then I really should not confront him at all.

 

[jja619]

If it were a demon torturing him, wouldn’t the presence of Christ in the Eucharist be something that man would shy away from? Not saying that demonic torment or possession isn’t real of course, but you wouldn’t expect someone going through that to want to receive our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist, right?

 

[RosalieM]

If it were a demon torturing him, wouldn’t the presence of Christ in the Eucharist be something that man would shy away from? Not saying that demonic torment or possession isn’t real of course, but you wouldn’t expect someone going through that to want to receive our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist, right?

I think the demonic presence working thru the man would want to mock the act of receiving the Body of Christ. I don’t think it would be like holding up a cross in a vampire movie. The enemy is too sophisticated for that. The enemy can act even in the holiest of situations and sacred places.
(And as an aside, many people who aren’t under any demonic influence repeatedly dishonor receiving the Body of Christ.) Pray Pray Pray