Spiritual warfare

[truthquester]

What happened between “those days” and “these days”? Maybe the devil has just found ways to improve upon his “greatest trick.”

IMHO, I don’t agree with the statement about the devils greatest trick. He is far too arrogant to allow people to think he does not exist. His biggest attempt at trickery is trying to come in between God and man.

 

[Catholic4Christ]

IMHO, I don’t agree with the statement about the devils greatest trick. He is far too arrogant to allow people to think he does not exist. His biggest attempt at trickery is trying to come in between God and man.

I suppose the Enemy’s tactics vary from soul to soul, so I won’t say that what you’re describing can’t happen. Still doesn’t explain why Churchman25 believes that possessions have decreased “these days.” If anything, an arrogant Deceiver should be possessing more people these days, since he has to compete with modern man in his arrogance

 

[truthquester]

Just a quick question, why do people capitalize worlds concerning issues about the devil?

 

[Louman127]

Just a quick question, why do people capitalize worlds concerning issues about the devil?

Funny you ask that because I always make it a point to leave satan lower case. he is a peasant. he is nothing.

 

[SaintFrancis333]

I have heard about people “fighting their demons”, is this the same thing as spiritual warfare mixed with a little ignorance about what it truly means.

it seems like Catholics know a great deal more about dealing with the principalities of this world than any other religion.

I attend a United church and asked my minister about some of the things that I was experiencing that felt like spiritual attack and he couldn’t do much to help me, so I visited the local Catholic church for some holy water and they had tonnes of stuff to help people deal with that. Right at the front of the church there were pamphlets, they had holy water free for the taking and people who were knowledgeable in it.

The majority of prayers I use I have found here and the other religions don’t seem to have anything like what the Catholic church has.

How many of you actually feel like we are in the middle of a spiritual war and how does it affect you personally?
Sometimes it’s nice to know that I am not alone in what I have been experiencing.

That’s because the Catholic Church is the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself for the salvation of man. Everything else is just man made, using private interpretation and twisting Sacred Scriptures out of their Catholic/historical context they were written and compiled in.

 

[Mike0000]

I guess I’ll throw in my two cents, even though it’ll echo some of what’s already been said here…

Having dealt with some of these issues before, though nothing to the extent of the OP, I’ll share what I know…

1. As was already stated, rule out natural causes (lack of sleep, bad diet, overactive imagination, etc)
2. Once that’s done, contact a knowledgeable priest and/or exorcist have the house blessed and maybe even have a mass said in the house. If possible, find out if anything evil was done in the house like seances, wicca/satanic ceremonies, murder, drug stuff, prostitution, abortion, etc. This can cause/allow demons to occupy a space (the term is “infestation” I believe).
3. If you’re living in a state of sin or committing any sorts of mortal sins, stop immediately. These are doors for the demonic to have legal rights to occupy spaces/people.
4. This ties in with item 3 listed above: start living a Catholic sacramental life (as best you can at the moment, since you’re not Catholic). This means having an active prayer life, staying out of a life of sin, attending mass, praying the rosary, reading scripture, etc.
5. Ask for the help/intercession of Our Lady, St Padre Pio, St John Vianney, and St Michael.
6. Liberal use of sacramentals like holy water, blessed salt, blessed items like crucifixes, rosaries, St Benedict’s Medals (preferably blessed in the old rite), blessed salt, etc. Catholic Answers Press sells a great book called “Demons, Deliverance, and Discernment” that has great information on this subject, as well as prayers you can use.
7. As a convert from Protestantism, I can assure you that the Protestants have nothing even close to the knowledge, authority, processes, etc in regards to this area. In fact, some of the things I’ve heard of Protestants doing/recommending is either completely ineffective or often times downright dangerous (commanding the spirits without proper authority, conversing with them, etc). I would disregard their advice and listen to valid catholic authorities on this issue so you don’t risk making the problem worse.
8. Last but most important - become Catholic Not only is it the greatest thing to be a part of Christ’s true church, but you also will have full access to very powerful sacraments like confession and the Eucharist, which have tremendous power in repelling the demonic and helping you stay in a state of sanctifying grace. Also, it puts you under the protection of the church, which is extremely powerful due to the authority given by it from Christ.

Hope this helps

 

[Brendan_64]

How many of you actually feel like we are in the middle of a spiritual war and how does it affect you personally?
Sometimes it’s nice to know that I am not alone in what I have been experiencing.

What you have experienced is not uncommon. You have come to the right place, the Catholic Church, in order to get the ammunition to fight spiritual attack. Also remember that satan and his demons hate Mary as she, a woman, will crush his head and defeat him. He knows this and he hates it.Pray the Rosary, satan hates the Rosary.

 

[truthquester]

Things certainly have died down. I am now smoke free after 33 years of smoking,almost caffeine free, have switched to a more kosher diet, am attending church more regularly, getting ready to go to rcia classes, have a more active prayer life and I absolutely adore God and I cannot get close enough to Him. I am head over heals in love with God and I am in great favor.

I have never been healthier, have never felt such joy and I am completely grateful for everything that happened as it got me very close to God. It seemed really bad at the time and it took a lot of healing to overcome everything that I was experiencing and He is still healing me and I go to Him everyday.

I also understand the difference between day to day stressful stuff and actually attack as sometimes if we become too fearful it can manifest itself in many different ways, it’s not always easy to tell especially if it is subtle. If we do not take care of ourselves however, I believe it can make us spiritually weak thus more susceptible to an attack.

Somebody told me we are not real Christians if we are not attacked at some point in time. Like diamonds in the rough, nature creates diamonds by pressing down forces from both sides and I guess we are like His precious diamonds and it is nice to know that I am worth more than coal lol.

 

[Brendan_64]

What you have experienced is not uncommon.

I’m sorry Truthquester, I had not read your second post when I posted this. What you experienced does seem quite frightening and worrying and quite extreme. The advice given on this thread is good - holy water, the Rosary, St Benedict’s medals or St Benedict’s Crucifix. Blessed salt is also good. It might also be an idea to get a couple of small wooden Crucifixes, get them blessed and permanently fix them above the front and back doors of your house (St Benedict’s Crucifixes are good for this). I’ve also see it recommended to do the same over windows with small S Benedict’s medals. But make sure St Benedict’s medals and Crucifixes are blessed with the special St Benedict’s blessing (bring a copy to the priest and some holy water as a lot of priests don’t know it). Keep a small holy water font near your front door to bless yourself as you leave the house. Sprinkle blessed salt in the corners of the rooms in your house and place a normal sized St Benedict’s Crucifix outside your bedroom door. And pray to Our Lady.

 

[truthquester]

I’m sorry Truthquester, I had not read your second post when I posted this. What you experienced does seem quite frightening and worrying and quite extreme. The advice given on this thread is good - holy water, the Rosary, St Benedict’s medals or St Benedict’s Crucifix. Blessed salt is also good. It might also be an idea to get a couple of small wooden Crucifixes, get them blessed and permanently fix them above the front and back doors of your house (St Benedict’s Crucifixes are good for this). I’ve also see it recommended to do the same over windows with small S Benedict’s medals. But make sure St Benedict’s medals and Crucifixes are blessed with the special St Benedict’s blessing (bring a copy to the priest and some holy water as a lot of priests don’t know it). Keep a small holy water font near your front door to bless yourself as you leave the house. Sprinkle blessed salt in the corners of the rooms in your house and place a normal sized St Benedict’s Crucifix outside your bedroom door. And pray to Our Lady.

I am happy to hear that in not common.
I’m not afraid of anything anymore, you would not believe the courage that put in me. I called upon Jesus and only moments later He sent an angel to my rescue as I am certain that’s what that flash was I saw to my right hand side.

That incident gave me such complete confidence and trust in Him I don’t care if the world crumbles beneath my feet and in spite of the little scare tactics of the enemy I am in the Hands of our God almighty and nothing can be greater than that and it is such a wonderful feeling to have such complete trust and faith in Him. I feel as though I have died and gone to heaven.
I will not live my life in fear and may His grace be sufficient for me.

I just hope and pray that sharing my experiences can go to possibly help somebody else going through spiritual warfare or attack, know that you are not alone and the more you go through the more blessed you are.
Use it fully to draw closer to God and be grateful for it.