How to discern deceptive apparitions?

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BenSinner

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There have been stories of the saints where they explained the devil appeared to them as a fellow friar, mother superior, bishop, etc. to try to trick the saint into something.

This got me kind of worried. What if the devil were doing the same thing to us by pretending to be our parish priest or something.

If he were to do that, how would we be able to discern that it is actually the priest and not an evil illusion?
 
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I would suggest that unless you are regularly seeing mystical visions like Padre Pio or St. Teresa of Avila, this concern should be on your list of concerns only slightly ahead of being bitten by a vampire bat.
 
As long as you don’t look in the mirror - and wonder…if…that is actually you…
 
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The question would be what is the apparition saying? If the message is at all contrary to the Gospel and the teachings of the Church, it is false.
 
Remember that since Original Sin, we know the diff between good & evil,
So if that App suggests evil, just send it on its way
 
Unless there’s something realllly, and I mean reaaaaaaaalllllllllllllly weird going on, I think it’s safe to bet that when you see someone you know, it’s actually them and not a demon.

In case of doubt you can always sprinkle holy water on them. If it’s a demon, it will roar and howl in agony…

But to be serious: don’t go sprinkling holy water on people, don’t go looking for demons everywhere. Focus on leading a good spiritual life and becoming close to God.
 
Spiritual attacks generally only happen to people who have a HIGH sanctity, mystical experiences from God, and God permits it to humble them.

So unless you are having mystical experiences of God, you are probably okay ☺️
 
If you pray the Saint Michael or other prayers of protection daily, then you are spiritually protected.

God answers prayer ☺️
 
Obedience to a good confessor is a surefire way to never error.
 
If any apparition says anything contrary to scripture or the teachings of the Catholic Church, you’ll know its of demonic origin.

**2 Corinthians 11:14-16 **
14 And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
 
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Number one:
Lack of peace.

Number two:
Your priest spiritual director tells you it is not of God.

Number 3:
Your bishop says it is not of God.

Number 4;
It contradicts scripture and catholic teachings.

Number 5:
It has demonic manifestations.

Number 6:
The seer themself is not holy, and ends up in a very sinful lifestyle afterwards. By its fruits shall you know.

Number 7:
The apparition has an aversion to the Name of Jesus, holy Water, prayer, holy medals, etc
 
BenSinner said:
There have been stories of the saints where they explained the devil appeared to them as a fellow friar, mother superior, bishop, etc. to try to trick the saint into something.

This got me kind of worried. What if the devil were doing the same thing to us by pretending to be our parish priest or something.

If he were to do that, how would we be able to discern that it is actually the priest and not an evil illusion?
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Even when they were tricked, they ended up knowing that what they were experiencing was a trick.

I would think that you would know, somehow.

Even so, I think that your chances of this happening to you would be slim. I agree with Tis_Bearself’s post.

I personally believe that for those of us who are faithful and who practice the faith, we’ll be able to tell if we do have any encounters with anything of an evil nature. I believe that we’re given enough grace to know it.

With the lives of the saints, with some of these encounters where they were tricked, they could see that something wasn’t right with the apparition that they were seeing. There was an odor that accompanied it that wasn’t right–something was wrong that led the saint to believe that what they were seeing was evil, and not good.
 
I had a parish priest tell us that if we ever end up in an encounter with Satan, tell him to go to hell!

Apparently he had an actual encounter but he wouldn’t talk about it. But I remember him saying that!
 
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Another sign it is a deceptive apparition:
Your doctor proves you are bonkers, or proves it was a medically induced apparition due to mind side effects from something

Or

Fakery is proven. Forgery.
 
Padre Pio used to always ask apparitions to say Jesus Name. Because he knew demons cannot say Jesus Name without enduring great pain. He used to say: ‘In the Name of Jesus, say Jesus Name.’

Satan only responds to commands given in the Name of Jesus.

All the saints method of deliverance was to say:
‘In the Name of Jesus be: silent/ be banished/ leave me now’ etc

Scripture even says:
‘The jews had great success in exorcisms when they used the Name Jesus. So God was glorified.’

‘The apostles came back saying, Lord even the demons leave when we use your Name.’
 
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One does NOT talk with devil but commands him in the Name of Jesus. Remember what happened to Eve! Gen. 3.
 
And the Jesuits religious order have more canonised saints than any other religious order in the world.
 
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