Have you ever felt a Demonic Presence

[po18guy]

The experience of manifest evil often occurs when one is growing in faith. This is intended to discourage one from going deeper into their faith. Yet, it can make its presence known at any point in one’s life. It may manifest itself as temptation when one is drifting away from their faith. It hopes to lure you away from God, or prevent you from drawing nearer to the Lord. Doubt, confusion and disappointment are the evil one’s main weapons. If you have ever experienced it, you are more keenly aware of subsequent occurrences or presences.

 

[po18guy]

The demons written about in scripture and cast out by Jesus are metaphors for medical conditions not any kind of supernatural creature.

And just what is your source for this teaching?

 

[po18guy]

This stuff scares the poop out of me.

I’m scared!

Faith casts out fear. God’s power is infinitely superior to that of evil. Our Lord always triumphs.

p.s. what did you expect from the thread title?

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Better to dwell on the ever presence of God in our lives. Belief that God is there for us is all we need.

What does this have to do with liturgy and sacraments? Did you post on the wrong board by accident?

Greetings Anna Claire,

Good to dwell on the ever presence of God in our lives. However your second statement is not entirely true.

Even the demons believe in God, yet they will not be saved, why?

Yes we must believe in God, but we are called to carry that belief into action. We are called to take up our crosses and follow Him, [Jesus.]. This sounds a bit more than just believing in God.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I’m a skeptic. My faith in “God with us” is too strong to believe in what I will call nonsense. Anyone who does have such experiences should seek mental, physical and spiritual help.

Greetings Anna Claire,

John Zaffis once said, [John Zaffiz is a demonologist who has worked on several cases.] “To those who believe, [in demons and that demons are very real] there is an abundance of evidence, yet to those who are skeptical nothing will ever be enough.”

This saying is pulled as best as I can remember it.

Are you calling demonic possession and or demonic oppression nonsense? Why are they nonsense to you?

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

If you ever truly experience a demonic experience, you will find it hard to be a skeptic of the reality of these forces that Christ spoke about so clearly in the Bible. Hopefully, you will never have an experience or see what the demonic can do to a person first hand! However, it does not matter if you are a skeptic, their reality does not depend on skepticism.

 

[po18guy]

Now I did not say that…I don’t know what he believes about demons. I was referring to believing literally what the bible says instead of interpreting the meaning.

It appears that you have “interpreted” yourself right out of Catholicism. For what purpose does the Church maintain exorcists? Why is there a rite of exorcism? Your faith in God and His goodness is wonderful, but your denial of the physical manifestations of evil is simply not based in reality.

According to your “interpretation”, it was a medical condition that set Saint John Vianney’s bed on fire. What was it, a high fever?

Saint Padre Pio emerged from his cell with scrapes and bruises from physical combat with the devil. Do you think he had seizure disorder?

Saint Teresa of Avila woke up to see the devil standing in front of her. Was she delusional?

Please read the catechism (without “interpretation”).

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Greetings Anna Claire,

Immature theology to not believe in the “nonsense of demons.” My friend, do you remember the last Pope, he has been known to do at least, I believe 4 exorcisms, it could be more. Was the Pope being childish when he was doing this?

I will address some of your statements.

I don’t plan on it but if it happens I hope I have enough sense to seek help.

Why would you seek help if it is nothing more than nonsense?

God is bigger than all this nonsense of demons.

God is bigger than the demons yes. However there is nothing that is even remotely nonsense when it comes to the demons.

Its very imature theology to believe this.

Really. Why is this? The Church has always believed in demons. The Church has a Rite of Exorcism to deal with such things. Is the Church immature? Where is this statement coming from? The Church has been in existence for 2000+ years and how long have you studied or researched or learned about demons?

The evil that exists in this world is caused by humans…US…God gave us the free will to reject him.

This statement if false. First there is evil that is caused by non human causes, ie. demons. Second, not all evil is caused by humans. Are you saying that humans caused Hurricane Katrina by your statement. There is evil in nature, in the sense that natural disasters are not good, evil caused by the demons, and yes evil caused by humans.

I am not understanding why you are saying that God gave us the free will to reject him, as this is not having anything to do with your statement. I see this as a red herring.

However I should say that I have felt God’s presence in my life many times.

I am glad of that and I pray that you will continue to feel his loving presence.

If you can’t feel God in your life, your faith isn’t what it should be.

This statement does not always hold true either. What about the saints who went through periods of dark times. Mother Teresa said most of her life was lived without feeling the Presence of God, yet her faith was very strong. More saints can be given as an example.

Also, if you do feel God’s loving presence, you won’t be feeling any demons around.

This statement does not hold true either in all cases. Saint John Vianney [forgive me dear Saint Vianney if I misspelled your name], St. Padre Pio, St. Anthony of the Desert, and other saints felt the presence of evil at times.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

One thing I’d be checked for is seizure activity, there are many kinds of seizures.

I don’t disbelieve the presence of demons of course, One needs to wonder about mental conditions and that which are hard to diagnose that they may be caused by demons , there are many strange happenings which can’t be explained.

If its a gift , I don’t want it.

Greetings Luvtosew,

I wanted to write to say that mental illness and demonic opression and or demonic possession are not mutually exclusive. I have seen and worked with cases where the person was mentally ill but yet was being oppressed and or possessed.

As you say it is indeed a very fine line to walk in trying to discern these things.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

The demons written about in scripture and cast out by Jesus are metaphors for medical conditions not any kind of supernatural creature.

Greetings Anna Claire,

From what source are you deriving this statement from?

Do you realize that what you are saying flies in the face of 2000 years of Magisterial Teaching. That 1 Demons are real. 2. They can be cast out. 3. Jesus cast them out.

You know I find it interesting that at times in the Gospel it is very clear what he is doing. It says a few times that the sick were brought to him, and He healed them, made the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and cast out demons. Why was this listed separetly if “casting out demons was only a metaphor for medical conditions.” Don’t you think the Gospel writers would have been careful to note this, by not mentioning it at all. Why do they list it as a separate category of what Jesus did when he was healing people? Oh becuase he REALLY did cast out demons.

Oh you are right demons are not supernatural creatures, they are preternatural creatures. Only God is supernatural.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Just wondering if it is common to “feel” the presence of the devil.

A priest once told our church he had felt the presence of the devil and he ran to get
holy water.

He never said he SAW the devil.

I wonder sometimes if anyone actually sees or feels the devil?
In these trying times, I wonder if people are hearing or feeling him/it more?

(i have not by the way) or not that I have been aware of.

Greetings Maplebug55,

I am not sure if it is common or not, but it is possible to feel the presence of the devil. I have worked with several exorcists and in deliverance ministry and have felt evil and seen things as well.

These things, demons, are very real.

But praise be to God, that His power, which is Almighty and unlimited are very real too.

If one feels that they are being oppressed by all means have recourse to the Sacraments.
I have heard many times that “The Sacraments are their undoing.” If you harbor resentement against anyone, forgive them or pray for the grace to forgive. Give them no footholds.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

It appears that you have “interpreted” yourself right out of Catholicism. For what purpose does the Church maintain exorcists? Why is there a rite of exorcism? Your faith in God and His goodness is wonderful, but your denial of the physical manifestations of evil is simply not based in reality.

According to your “interpretation”, it was a medical condition that set Saint John Vianney’s bed on fire. What was it, a high fever?

Saint Padre Pio emerged from his cell with scrapes and bruises from physical combat with the devil. Do you think he had seizure disorder?

Saint Teresa of Avila woke up to see the devil standing in front of her. Was she delusional?

Please read the catechism (without “interpretation”).

Well said. :clapping:

 

[po18guy]

Point to ponder:

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist.”
― Charles Baudelaire

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Point to ponder:

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist.”
― Charles Baudelaire

And he still is playing that trick too with great detriment.

 

[GoldenLight]

Point to ponder:

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist.”
― Charles Baudelaire

 

[maplebug55]

Thanks to all for your replies. I must say, some scary stuff !

 

[po18guy]

Thanks to all for your replies. I must say, some scary stuff !

The demonic is real. Yet, the article by the exorcist Priest gives real consolation to all Christians, regarding God’s power, as well as the position that Mary holds. Demons never insult Mary. Never. Take that, evil one!

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

I don’t know if I have, but if I ever do, I think I’ll be prepared. The Devil will have quite a time battling me . For now, I pray for those who suffer from it. I have also wondered if it would be prudent to offer myself in their stead. In otherwords, volunteering myself so that those tormented people may have a moment of ease. Has anyone ever done that here?

I recently bought “Deliver Us From Evil: A Guide to Spiritual Warfare and Exorcism”. I don’t bother with the exorcism part, but it has plenty of prayers including the long version of the Prayer to Saint Michael and the shorter one (in Latin and English). Its interesting. Plus, I always have Holy Water with me for good measure.

~ Pius :knight1:

 

[po18guy]

I don’t know if I have, but if I ever do, I think I’ll be prepared. The Devil will have quite a time battling me . For now, I pray for those who suffer from it. I have also wondered if it would be prudent to offer myself in their stead. In otherwords, volunteering myself so that those tormented people may have a moment of ease. Has anyone ever done that here?

I recently bought “Deliver Us From Evil: A Guide to Spiritual Warfare and Exorcism”. I don’t bother with the exorcism part, but it has plenty of prayers including the long version of the Prayer to Saint Michael and the shorter one (in Latin and English). Its interesting. Plus, I always have Holy Water with me for good measure.

~ Pius :knight1:

It may not be wise to actively seek confrontation with evil, yet neither is it anything to necessarily fear (with faith). It is just plain vile stuff, and can leave us wounded. Far better, I would say, to know the enemy - not to obsess with him or about him, but simply to know him and his methods so that you recognize them when you see them. Remember that he is the most subtle of creatures. I am certain that you have experienced it in some manner.

However, there are some who come to recognize that they are a “victim soul” who has the ability and desire to suffer in the place of others. It is not as dramatic or exciting as confronting the demonic, but can be equally valuable.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

It may not be wise to actively seek confrontation with evil, yet neither is it anything to necessarily fear (with faith). It is just plain vile stuff, and can leave us wounded. Far better, I would say, to know the enemy - not to obsess with him or about him, but simply to know him and his methods so that you recognize them when you see them. Remember that he is the most subtle of creatures. I am certain that you have experienced it in some manner.

I’m sure I have as well, but just not to the extant that these people here have felt it.

However, there are some who come to recognize that they are a “victim soul” who has the ability and desire to suffer in the place of others. It is not as dramatic or exciting as confronting the demonic, but can be equally valuable.

I just feel bad for those who are so tormented with the Devil and his minions. Saint Michael is very powerful indeed, though. So that is a fine intercessor right there. In the book I mentoned earlier, there is a certain prayer to do with the renunciation of Satan.

Satan,
I renounce you and all your works, including all and whatsoever witchcraft, voodoo, spiritism, tarot cards, everything that directly or disguised might have any connection with you. I also renounce now whatever connection that I or members of my family, friends and acquaintances may have had with your works.

I renounce you, Satan, in the name of Jesus Christ and I order you to leave me now, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, my savior. Amen.

Seems simple but pretty straight forward.

~ Pius :knight1: