How to Close the Openings to the Demonic?

A true, sincere repentance of all sins, subjecting oneself to the grace-renewing sacrament of reconciliation frees the soul from the unclean spirits latching itself on the soul. But because of habitual sin, although already forgiven in the sacrament, it is still possible that the unclean spirits remained or have latched on the person no longer on the level of the spiritual but in the psychological and the physical. In this case unwanted tendencies remain and also physical ailments. Hence, there is always the danger that the demonic will use these conditions to once more gain access to the soul.

The remedy to habitual sin is habitual sanctifying grace. The person must live in grace and constant communion with God. To maintain habitual sanctifying grace in the soul, the person needs actual grace. Sanctifying grace is restored in the soul by a “good” confession. It is sustained and fortified by a disposition and acts that fortify the soul –the virtues and by supernatural help called “actual” grace. Now actual grace is always given to those who ask it from the heart. And the sacraments are the primary means to receive actual graces. A life of prayer which includes Scripture reading and meditation, spiritual readings from the teachings of the Church and the Saints, the proper use of sacramentals, mortification of the senses, acts of charity and kindness all bolster the reception of actual grace.

For the priest, aside from the above, the daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and the Liturgy of the Hours celebrated in a reverent and devout manner is also a must and so is the proclamation of the Word of God in Scriptures animated by faith and confidence in God. The demons mock the sacraments, the sacramentals, the Word of God in Scriptures, and the priesthood in order to discourage and weaken confidence in God by the priest and faithful. But the demons are truly afraid of them. Hence, the conscientious exercise of the holy priesthood in a truly devout manner is in direct contrast to the irreverence of the demons against anything sacred and holy. If the priest then would take this to heart, he possess all the weapons the Lord provides His Church to combat the unclean spirits and triumph over them.