Have you heard of "binding" things before?

[InLight247]

Talking about the church’s teaching and interpretation of Scriptures,
I totally agree we have to follow the authority.

If you have your Bible, please flip to Matthew 18:18.

In my “The Catholic Answer Bible”, on page 1039, there is a specific paragraph explain Matthew 18:18:

for the** plural** of the verbs bind and loose, this verse is practically identical with 16, 19b, and many scholars understand it as **granting to all the disciples **what was previously given to Peter alone.

We are Jesus’ disciples.

 

[surfinpure]

Talking about the church’s teaching and interpretation of Scriptures,
I totally agree we have to follow the authority.

If you have your Bible, please flip to Matthew 18:18.

In my “The Catholic Answer Bible”, on page 1039, there is a specific paragraph explain Matthew 18:18:

We are Jesus’ disciples.

From the Navarre Bible, re: v. 18:

“This verse needs to be understood in connexion with the authority previously promised to Peter (cf. Mt 16:13-19): it is the hierarchy of the Church that exercises this power given by Christ to Peter, to the apostles and their lawful successors–the Pope and the bishops.”

In case you’re unfamiliar with the Navarre Study Bible:

"The Navarre Bible Reader’s Edition contains the full biblical text in the Revised Standard Version with notes or commentaries provided by members of Navarre University’s theology faculty.

“The commentaries seek to explain the doctrinal and practical meaning of the scriptural text, drawing on a rich variety of sources – Church documents, the exegesis of Fathers and Doctors, and the works of prominent spiritual writers, including Blessed J. Escriva, who initiated the Navarre Bible project.” (from the back cover of the “Gospels & Acts” Volume)

 

[surfinpure]

As an afterthought, I’m fairly certain that if you took the question of the interpretation of this verse over to the Sacred Scripture forum, you’d find overwhelming support for the interpretation I cited. I have never once heard this verse interpreted as pertaining to “all the disciples,” and I believe it is anathema to do so. I have a copy of the Catholic Study Bible and will look it up. It wouldn’t be the first time they deviated from traditional interpretation on serious matters, though. However, this is not the place to discuss that.

 

[InLight247]

I have a copy of the Catholic Study Bible and will look it up. It wouldn’t be the first time they deviated from traditional interpretation on serious matters, though. However, this is not the place to discuss that.

I am not referring to Catholic Study Bible, I am not familiar with that Bible. The Bible I use is “The Catholic Answer Bible”, the Bible from Catholic Answers, the forum we are on.

The Catholic Answer Bible has “Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur” on the front.

Are you familiar with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur?

In case you are not, it means it is free of doctrinal or moral error, approved by the Church.

In my “The Catholic Answer Bible”, on page 1039, there is a specific paragraph explain Matthew 18:18:

for the plural of the verbs bind and loose, this verse is practically identical with 16, 19b, and many scholars understand it as granting to all the disciples what was previously given to Peter alone.

 

[surfinpure]

I am not referring to Catholic Study Bible, I am not familiar with that Bible. The Bible I use is “The Catholic Answer Bible”, the Bible from Catholic Answers, the forum we are on.

The Catholic Answer Bible has “Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur” on the front.

Are you familiar with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur?

In case you are not, it means it is free of doctrinal or moral error, approved by the Church.

In my “The Catholic Answer Bible”, on page 1039, there is a specific paragraph explain Matthew 18:18:

Furthermore, since I have just demonstrated that there is a very different interpretation held by the Church on this verse, are you not curious as to whether it is a bad idea to practice “binding and loosing” without first confirming that the interpretation in your version is correct? It is a dangerous practice, as I said before, and as Rome’s chief exorcist has said in his book. Have you read Fr. Amorth’s book? Do you suspect anyone would know BETTER what is and is not safe to do with demons than Rome’s chief exorcist himself?
Catholic Answers does nto publish a Bible. The “Catholic Answer Bible” is published by Fireside Catholic Publishing in conjunction with Our Sunday Visitor.

And you might be surprised to learn that the Navarre Bible ALSO carries a Nihil Obstat and Imprimi potest. Apparently I am not the one who is unfamiliar with what these things mean.

 

[surfinpure]

I am not referring to Catholic Study Bible, I am not familiar with that Bible. The Bible I use is “The Catholic Answer Bible”, the Bible from Catholic Answers, the forum we are on.

The Catholic Answer Bible has “Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur” on the front.

Are you familiar with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur?

In case you are not, it means it is free of doctrinal or moral error, approved by the Church.

In my “The Catholic Answer Bible”, on page 1039, there is a specific paragraph explain Matthew 18:18:

Catholic Answers does not publish a Bible. The Catholic Answer Bible (sorry, this is what I meant to write a minute ago) is published by Fireside Catholic Publishing in conjunction with Our Daily Visitor.

And yes, I am well familiar with the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. The Navarre Bible carries the same guarantee.

Also, I have opened my version of the Catholic Answer Bible and find there’s a little bit more to the story in the commentary than you’ve posted. Care to refer back to the note on vs. 16,19?

 

[InLight247]

Catholic Answers does not publish a Bible. The Catholic Answer Bible (sorry, this is what I meant to write a minute ago) is published by Fireside Catholic Publishing in conjucntion with Our Daily Visitor.

I know Catholic Answers Bible is published by the publisher of
Fireside Catholic Publishing, that is the publisher who made the printing, not who assembles the content of interpretation. Anyway, that is not the point. The point is it is approved by the church with no error.

Talking about use Jesus’ name to rebuke and bind any spirit of temptation or evil is quite different from being an exorcist. Spiritual warfare is a reality in everyone’s life. We are not talking about being an exorcist, no one in the right mind will want to tap into that area without a specific call from God and being properly equipped.

When we pray, we usually end up with “in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, or “in Jesus’ name”. Therefore, we are all using God’s name in our prayers, realizing it or not. There is nothing new, nothing wrong, it is very legitimate to use Jesus’ name.

Many don’t realize the power of spoken words, especially spoken words in Jesus’ name. Know that God spoke the world into existence. Spoken words have creative power. That’s why it is important of what we declare with our mouth. We can use spoken words as an instrument of faith to open door to God’s blessing, we can use negative words to fulfill our destiny as self-prophecy, we can also use spoken words to affirm our faith and fight away evil.

For example, if one is struggling with a certain temptation, say, temptation of doubting God, there is nothing wrong by saying “in Jesus’ name, I bind the spirit of doubt and command it to leave me.” There is nothing to do with meddling with exorcism here.

Or if a loved one is on drug, in addition to Mass offering, rosaries, Chaplets, prayer to St. Michael, and asking help from all the saints, there is nothing wrong also use Jesus’ name to command the spirit of addiction to leave. We, as God’s children, don’t have to be so scared of the dark spirit. We don’t have to be afraid that by saying “in Jesus’ name I rebuke the evil spirit” will open door to the devil. On the contrary, the devil should flee from the spoken name of Jesus.

Maybe we are talking about different things here?

 

[surfinpure]

I know Catholic Answers Bible is published by the publisher of
Fireside Catholic Publishing, that is the publisher who made the printing, not who assembles the content of interpretation. Anyway, that is not the point. The point is it is approved by the church with no error.

Talking about use Jesus’ name to rebuke and bind any spirit of temptation or evil is quite different from being an exorcist. Spiritual warfare is a reality in everyone’s life. We are not talking about being an exorcist, no one in the right mind will want to tap into that area without a specific call from God and being properly equipped.

When we pray, we usually end up with “in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, or “in Jesus’ name”. Therefore, we are all using God’s name in our prayers, realizing it or not. There is nothing new, nothing wrong, it is very legitimate to use Jesus’ name.

Many don’t realize the power of spoken words, especially spoken words in Jesus’ name. Know that God spoke the world into existence. Spoken words have creative power. That’s why it is important of what we declare with our mouth. We can use spoken words as an instrument of faith to open door to God’s blessing, we can use negative words to fulfill our destiny as self-prophecy, we can also use spoken words to affirm our faith and fight away evil.

For example, if one is struggling with a certain temptation, say, temptation of doubting God, there is nothing wrong by saying “in Jesus’ name, I bind the spirit of doubt and command it to leave me.” There is nothing to do with meddling with exorcism here.

Or if a loved one is on drug, in addition to Mass offering, rosaries, Chaplets, prayer to St. Michael, and asking help from all the saints, there is nothing wrong also use Jesus’ name to command the spirit of addiction to leave. We, as God’s children, don’t have to be so scared of the dark spirit. We don’t have to be afraid that by saying “in Jesus’ name I rebuke the evil spirit” will open door to the devil. On the contrary, the devil should flee from the spoken name of Jesus.

Maybe we are talking about different things here?

I can find nothing at all in the Catholic Answer Bible that links it to Catholic Answers, the organization. Can you?

Furthermore, you haven’t included the whole commentary from that Bible. It clearly states that “binding and loosing” refers only to excommunication. It has nothing at all to do with demons.

If you look at these sources, you will find that “binding and loosing” is a power given to Peter, not to everyone, and that it is not about spiritual warfare:

From the Summa Theologica: newadvent.org/summa/5017.htm

From the Church Fathers (a CA link): catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9412frs.asp

St. John Chrysostom:

“Priests have received a power which God has given neither to angels nor to archangels. It was said to them: ‘Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose, shall be loosed.’ Temporal rulers have indeed the power of binding; but they can only bind the body. Priests, in contrast, can bind with a bond which pertains to the soul itself and transcends the very heavens. Did [God] not give them all the powers of heaven? ‘Whose sins you shall forgive,’ he says, ‘they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.’ What greater power is there than this? The Father has given all judgment to the Son. And now I see the Son placing all this power in the hands of men [Matt. 10:40; Luke 10:16; John 20:20-23; 2 Cor. 5:18-20]. They are raised to this dignity as if they were already gathered up to heaven.” (On the Priesthood 3:5 [A.D. 386]).
St. Ambrose:

“For those to whom [the right of binding and loosing] has been given, it is plain that either both are allowed, or it is clear that neither is allowed. Both are allowed to the Church, neither is allowed to heresy. For this right has been granted to priests only” (*On Penance *1:1 [A.D. 387]).

 

[surfinpure]

And as pertains to “rebuking evil spirits,” again, I BEG YOU, read Scupoli and Amorth. You will not want to engage in such direct battle after reading what these well-revered authorities on the subject have to say.

 

[DoxRox]

To the OP, I’d say be careful. I’ve only heard such talk among currently practicing witches and Wiccans.

 

[Nick9]

I personally bind Satan and all evil spirits in the name of Jesus before I enter my place of work every morning. I was advised to do this by a Catholic priest who was once an exorcist. I thought it was the case that though the laity cannot perform exorcisms, they can pray against spiritual oppression either in themselves or in a situation.

 

[Nick9]

I have to add that the priest in question was an **Anglican **exorcist and then he became a Catholic priest (he came over during the Anglican women priest controversy). I am open to correction here regarding binding and loosing.

 

[nana3]

After someone suggested that I go to a Spiritual Warfare website (Catholic Supersite, St. Michael’s Call), I have decided that using the commands like this lady I met asked me to do is very dangerous. I went to this website and looked up in the search engine under their old forums for the answer of binding and loosening. Please if you still think that you can command a demon, read the two answers to two different questions pertaining to the same thing that were asked and answered. The first is in reference to a document written by Cardinal Ratzinger, who is now our Pope, called Inde Ab Aliquot Annis. The question is kind of confusing, but read the Brother’s answer to the question in its entirety please. The commanding of evil spirits is called an imprecatory command and he says we should not use it. He gives an example of an imprecatory command: “In the name of Jesus, I command you demon of whatever…." If you read his answer, it will clear up a lot of what we have discussed on this thread and my original question. Please read it entirely and also read the second site I give, from the same website. The asker gives prayer that I have heard of before and unfortunately, the book with the prayer in it was given to me by a priest, and this prayer is full of imprecatory commands. The Brother rewrote it in his answer. I see what it is all about now. It is not about “I” which the Brother says is egoism, but needs to be a deprecatory command like the last part of the Lord’s prayer, “ …and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13)

saint-mike.org/apologetics/qa/Answers/Spiritual_Warfare/s0403220053.html
saint-mike.org/apologetics/qa/Answers/Spiritual_Warfare/s0312160332.html

I think everyone will have a lot cleared up after reading these two questions asked. Yes, individual interpretation of the Bible can be very dangerous and we do need the Church to help us understand it.

I hope this clears up everything for everyone, but as for me I have been given the answer I know to be true and to the person who PM me to this website, thank you so much and God bless you.

Nana

PS: The homepage of the above sited is:saint-mike.org/apologetics/qa/default.asp

 

[InLight247]

Dear all:

I have been thinking about the discussions on this thread during the past a few days.
Please patiently read the following with no misunderstanding.

My previous thoughts of saying “In Jesus’ name and under the blood of Christ, I bind any spirits not of God and command them to leave ……” was learned from some Catholic seminar teaching tapes by a laity preacher. All those seminars carried different endorsements from priests and bishops. Even though I hardly practice such prayers myself, when I saw this thread, I thought to share with you what I have learned ── that the name and blood of Jesus is most powerful, we don’t have to have a spirit of fear to say such a prayer under the mighty name and blood of Jesus.

I read the first link nana3 provided and did not have time to read the second one last night before going to bed.

This morning I attended Mass said by my spiritual director. I went to ask him question afterwards, simply saying: "I like to know the Church’s teaching if it is OK for us to pray “In Jesus’ name I command the spirit of doubt to leave.”

Father said that sounded like exorcism, even priests are not allowed to do exorcism.
Then I said “I just want an answer of yes or no.” He said, “No”. I thanked him and left.

Since he is my spiritual director, I listen to him for all his advices.

Obviously the prayers in those tapes I heard were not appropriate, even the content of teachings are very good and endorsed by different church authorities.

A good CAF friend of mine emailed me this morning the quotes from the second link nana3 provided, and this jumped out of the page:

I now ask you Father in heaven to bind……

Yes, we should ask Father in heaven to bind, not to bind any evil spirit by ourselves, not even in Jesus’ name and blood.

This is a learning experience. Belief is learned and it can also be unlearned.

I am humbled and grateful for an opportunity of humility.

Thank you all for your help and God bless!

 

[Nick9]

I too have learned from this, InLight, so you are not alone!

 

[surfinpure]

Hello again to all! Please forgive my not replying until now – my family and I had to leave town suddenly, and are only just back this afternoon.

nana,

Thank you so much for sharing those resources with us. I had been thinking I needed to look up Fr. Amorths’ references when I got back, and now I find there’s no need. This even goes into more detail than he does in his book, I believe. I will hang onto these for later reference, because the subject is sure to come up again in my circle of Protestant friends.

InLight,

I am so glad you were able to get a clear answer from your spiritual director! We all should have one! Please don’t feel badly. I, too, used to employ these same imprecatory commands – for many years, in fact. I thank God for bringing me into the Catholic Church and eventually to the teaching that opened my eyes to this danger. I only wish I could have avoided some of the consequences before hand. I fear these exact “deliverance prayers” brought upon me a great demonic oppression for a season of my life. Let us all pray fervently to St. Michael the Archangel and the Blessed Virgin for our protection against such things!

Blessings to all,

mary