Does The Devil Know What We Say in the Confessional?

[Porknpie]

The devil does knows our actions but not our thoughts. When we go to confession and express both our immoral actions and immoral thoughts, the devil knows us better because we have now expressed our thoughts verbally. Thoughts that he was not previously aware of.

But the question is … is he aware of our words to a Priest in the confessional?

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

I do know that during exorcisms in an attempt to discredit the priest the possessing demon can bring up sins that were not confessed. For this reason a guide on the subject written in the early 20th century recommends a general confession before assisting in any exorcism. I’m sure he still knows them but they were expunged by the authority of God which not even the prince of hell can defy.

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Satan and the legion can not read your mind this is true. However, it sure will seem like they can if you ever have to deal with one of them.

The reason I think this is: because of the sheer number of us they have seen.

If you had as much practice as them at reading people, you would damn near be able to read their mind.

They are aware of every sin and likely immoral thought you have ever had. People have a ton of tells and they know all of them. They study us. They have had how long to practice and on how many people? They are smarter than us to begin with.

You should not bother trying to outwit a demon. Even if you can do it on your own, it will just attack you through the people close to you. Even with your warnings they will likely fall for the traps (even when they are fully aware of it’s presence).

Nothing you do can give a demon any more of an advantage over you than it already had. It’s power over you is limited by our Lord. Through our Lord, you actually have power over the demons.

The whole point is to trust in the Lord anyways. A demon can not gain more of an advantage over you than it had before you went to confession. This is how they make people paranoid.
Yes they can surely hear it. They already knew anyways so what does it matter. They can not do anything our Lord stops them from doing.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

The whole point is to trust in the Lord anyways. A demon can not gain more of an advantage over you than it had before you went to confession. This is how they make people paranoid.
Yes they can surely hear it. They already knew anyways so what does it matter. They can not do anything our Lord stops them from doing.

Demons LOSE power over you by the sacrament. An unconfessed sin has a hold over you which to some degree or another hands you to the power of hell.

Also, more than their not being able to do what the Lord forbids them, they are unable to do what the Lord does not specifically permit.

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Demons LOSE power over you by the sacrament. An unconfessed sin has a hold over you which to some degree or another hands you to the power of hell.

Also, more than their not being able to do what the Lord forbids them, they are unable to do what the Lord does not specifically permit.

Job would support this.

I always enjoy your posts.

edit: by not stopping it He is giving permission because He sees and knows everything. However, you did add clarity that was necessary.

 

[R_C]

The devil does knows our actions but not our thoughts. When we go to confession and express both our immoral actions and immoral thoughts, the devil knows us better because we have now expressed our thoughts verbally. Thoughts that he was not previously aware of.

Remember that in the secret of the Confessional you are talking to Christ Himself.

Satan hates confession because when you reveal to Christ his lies, deceptions, and temptations, you put him to shame and Christ Himself sends him away immediately. To keep anything from the priest is to give him strength that you cannot even conceive.

Theologians say that it is highly probable that Satan can infer your thoughts anyways (and this is also the experience of the priests whose ministry is to drive away demons and who have written articles or books on the topic). Be glad to expose yourself fully to Christ by confessing even your darkest thoughts, and Satan will be defeated, for it is Christ’s own desire that “everything hidden shall be revealed”.

For your immortal soul is created by the Father pristine, in His image and likeness, saved by the sorrowful Passion of the Son, and purified by the Holy Spirit at Baptism. Any demon who has done anything to diminish your beauty and glory before God will tremble and wish that mountains would fall over them when Jesus, having heard your sincere confession, turns to look at them.

“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted.
“Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
"Be quiet!" Jesus said, sternly.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Remember that in the secret of the Confessional you are talking to Christ Himself.

Satan hates confession because when you reveal to Christ his lies, deceptions, and temptations, you put him to shame and Christ Himself sends him away immediately. To keep anything from the priest is to give him strength that you cannot even conceive.

Theologians say that it is highly probable that Satan can infer your thoughts anyways (and this is also the experience of the priests whose ministry is to drive away demons and who have written articles or books on the topic). Be glad to expose yourself fully to Christ by confessing even your darkest thoughts, and Satan will be defeated, for it is Christ’s own desire that “everything hidden shall be revealed”.

For your immortal soul is created by the Father pristine, in His image and likeness, saved by the sorrowful Passion of the Son, and purified by the Holy Spirit at Baptism. Any demon who has done anything to diminish your beauty and glory before God will tremble and wish that mountains would fall over them when Jesus, having heard your sincere confession, turns to look at them.

“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted.
“Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
"Be quiet!" Jesus said, sternly.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LGj-Eh4VtU/Tw9DBkvaMGI/AAAAAAAAABM/v1DRrp-zF_I/s240/Jesus.jpg

Wait as much as I agree with everything you just said… do you have proof of the details?

The concept is definitely correct there is nothing false in what you said it was a great post from a reliable source. I would just like more evidence of the details because they are very cool.

Edit: I know most of those details are based in scripture; as for the ones that are not…

I don’t doubt you I am aware of a certain gift you have received.

 

[Porknpie]

Be glad to expose yourself fully to Christ by confessing even your darkest thoughts, and Satan will be defeated, for it is Christ’s own desire that “everything hidden shall be revealed”.

Great replies. I was not meaning to imply that I would ever withhold a sin in the confessional. I should have stated this in the first post.

 

[R_C]

Great replies. I was not meaning to imply that I would ever withhold a sin in the confessional. I should have stated this in the first post.

I did imagine that However if one were to have a concern with Satan figuring out our weaknesses, one may be tempted to do so It is he, on the other hand, who has to be concerned with us revealing everything to Christ

@FaithInTheSon You’re too kind, I’ll re-read my reply and try to add some sources.

 

[R_C]

First sentence: Reconciliatio et Paenitentia

“Just as at the altar where he celebrates the Eucharist and just as in each one of the sacraments, so the priest, as the minister of Penance, acts ‘in persona Christi.’ The Christ whom he makes present and who accomplishes the mystery of the forgiveness of sins is the Christ who appears as the brother of man, the merciful high priest, faithful and compassionate, the shepherd intent on finding the lost sheep, the physician who heals and comforts, the one master who teaches the truth and reveals the ways of God, the judge of the living and the dead, who judges according to the truth and not according to appearances”

First paragraph: I was recalling the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, specifically the thirteenth rule for “knowing the different movements which are caused in the soul”:

Likewise, he acts as a licentious lover in wanting to be secret and not revealed. For, as the licentious man who, speaking for an evil purpose, solicits a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wants his words and persuasions to be secret, and the contrary displeases him much, when the daughter reveals to her father or the wife to her husband his licentious words and depraved intention, because he easily gathers that he will not be able to succeed with the undertaking begun: in the same way, when the enemy of human nature brings his wiles and persuasions to the just soul, he wants and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to his good Confessor or to another spiritual person that knows his deceits and evil ends, it is very grievous to him, because he gathers, from his manifest deceits being discovered, that he will not be able to succeed with his wickedness begun.

Second paragraph: I cannot recall all places where I’ve learned this. I could, though, find a few recent sources: the book “La Provvidenza” of Fr. Rotondo (on the possessed having, in appearance, the ability to read one’s thoughts), and finally an answer from Fr. Bellon, O.P.:

What the priest said over the radio (Satan cannot directly access man’s thoughts) is true. …] Satan, at the most and with divine permission, can possess a body, but cannot penetrate the soul, which is the dwelling place of our thoughts and affections…] The problem is here: our actions can be seen by the devil. And from these, he can track the thoughts. This is why the devil, given some determined premises (in our case, our actions) he can conjecture what we want to do and from this track our thoughts. But our thoughts are not directly revealed to him. Therefore be at peace: Satan cannot enter the interior of your mind and therefore of your conscience. Here, in this sanctuary, you are only with God, as recalls Vatican II (Gaudium et spes, n. 16)

The rest are inspired from the Catechism and the Gospel.

And btw I like your reply very much. It reminds me of a Spanish proverb I heard once: “mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo”

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Thank you for that, it almost suffices.

I was specifically looking for the part where our Lord looks at them and they tremble.

As sure I am that it happens, I was hoping there would be some dogma on it. Mainly just because I like it though.

What you posted does basically say it without saying it.

 

[R_C]

Well, the part on trembling was at least in some measure inspired by James 2:19

…] you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

I’ll keep digging

 

[FaithInTheSon]

True, but not specifically in confession.

Thanks man but no need, your talents are needed elsewhere I am sure.

 

[Spritus1]

Confession is a most powerful sacrament. In fact exorcists attest that it is more powerful than an exorcism in many cases. Satan knows all our weaknesses and will use these to try to drag us to ruin. He is very crafty and cunning and has intimate knowledge of human nature.

That is why it is so important to always remain in a state of grace through frequent reception of the Eucharist, regular confession, the avoidance of sin and the liberal use of blessed sacramentals such as the Miraculous Medal, Holy Water, the Crucifix and the St Benedicts Medal and Scapular. Blessed salt and oil are also very effective. All of these can be used by us to put on the Armour Of God. Satan and his demons hate all of these sacramentals with a passion and will generally avoid coming into contact with them and those who use them with faith.

Saying the names of Jesus and Mary and calling on Saint Michael the Archangel helps greatly also. As do binding prayers where one adjures the demons to be bound in and by the Most Holy Name and Precious Blood of Our Lord and go the foot of the Cross. Do not command the demons in your name but only in the name of Almighty God. Implore God’s help to bind the demons of lust, spite, envy, sloth, fear, anger or whatever sin you are struggling with - again very effective. There is such power in the Name of Jesus!!!

All of the above saps Satan and his demons of their power over you. We should make use to the above spiritual weapons in our arsenal.

I wear the Scapular, Miraculous Medal and St Benedicts medal all of which have been blessed by a priest. Every night before I go to bed I sprinkle my home with Holy Water. In my home I have statues of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Grace and of Fatima and numerous crucifixes, all of which have been blessed. I basically try to make my home and my person as hostile an environment to Satan and his demons as possible; DO NOT give them an easy ride. Close down as many potential entry points as possible; WE ARE in a WAR, albeit an invisible and spiritual one but that is no less real for that.

Say the Most Holy Rosary often and try to visit the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle even if only once or twice a week outside of Mass. The Lord will help you to identify the subtle strategies of Satan and his demons whose work is very sly and sneaky.

Remember Satan goes around like a ravenous, roaring lion looking for anyone who is vulnerable and who he can destroy.