The Spiritual Assignments of the Afflicted

4.1 The Spiritual Assignments of the Afflicted

The initial contact and the interviews with the designated AMOE Case-Officer is intended to have the afflicted someone who really would walk with the person. Becoming a point-of-contact between the afflicted and the exorcist, the case-officer becomes a trusted individual. It is the case-officer that follows up on the afflicted and is the one also who helps determine if the patient is ready.

The assignments include:

• A thorough examination of life to see where the openings are that gave the demonic access to the person. AMOE has prepared a checklist of possible opening that the afflicted would tick on in the list if they have them in their life.
• A solemn renouncement of all ties to the evil one because of sinful actions, sinful life, associations and relations with spiritually dangerous persons. This would often take the form of a prayer before the Lord Jesus infront of the Blessed Sacrament or a Crucifix or a holy image of the Lord. There is no fixed formula on how the prayer goes, but it is important that it be sincere and that the renouncement be as detailed as possible.
• A true and good confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation must follow. It is necessary that the penitent should not hide anything to the confessor. They must confess all mortal sins remembered and venial sins too. God knows everything and to hide it from the priest is a deception. Concealing sins in confession is a sign of non-repentance, and therefore no forgiveness can be attained even if absolution is given. If this would be the case, the demon would accuse the penitent of their sins during the pray-overs. Retaliations would occur and the afflicted would not experience even a bit of relief. Humility before God is a necessary disposition for healing.
• After sacramental confession, amendment of life follows. Conversion of life is necessary. Without true conversion to God and change from a sinful life to graced life, the devil will never leave but will torture the afflicted even more for even trying to get rid of him in a soul that has become his property.
• Going to confession and making it good on a regular basis, e.g. every 2 weeks, strengthens the soul with sanctifying grace making it truly habitual sanctifying grace. In this case, with sanctifying grace restored in the soul and remains there habitually, then the evil one has no longer dominion over it for the Holy Spirit abides in the soul. However, the battle is not yet over.
• Custody of the senses must follow. The devil will attack the senses, the imagination, the memories. He would tap into the memories of the afflicted and play with it so that it would arouse once more passions and desires. This is the psychological attack and it can only be thwarted by vigilance, mortification, penance, and ...
• Prayer. Constant prayer, constant supplication to the Most High for grace and assistance. The battle cannot be won alone and simply by willing it. Divine grace is necessary always and at all times. The flow of divine grace is dependent on the openness of the person to it. Hence the more intense the spiritual and prayer life the more the actual graces are able to flow into the soul and whole being of the person. And here we cannot stress enough the immense spiritual fruits of daily going to Holy Mass, receiving Holy Communion, meditation on the Words of Sacred Scripture with longing and love. The presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, His teachings in Scriptures are indeed soothing ointments to a weary soul. A soul that is at home with Jesus can never be at home with sin and the devil.
• If a person who survives a major serious accident, heart attack, or stroke needs physical and occupational therapy afterwards to allow the limbs and other muscular body parts to regain functionality, the same is true with a life under the bondage of sin and the devil. The practice of virtues repairs what has been weakened by habitual sin and vice. Habitual sin severely weakens the soul's disposition towards what is holy, what is divine. Vice weakens the will allowing the pleasure of the senses to reign supreme. And only the practice of virtue aided by grace can correct what has been damaged. Hence, for example, a lustful life is now to be countered by a chaste life. A life of arrogance and haughtiness is to be corrected by meekness, gentleness and humility. A life of gluttony in food and drink is to be corrected by the virtue of temperance. A sorry life of hatred and anger can only be countered by forgiveness and love. Without the practice of virtues there is nothing to counter the onslaught of the flesh and the devil. For it is not the devil who is the enemy here, the fallen nature which is the flesh is also at war with the soul. "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." (Gal. 5:17)
• No matter what non-Catholics/Orthodox Christians would say, it is an undeniable truth that the maternal love of the Immaculate Virgin Mother of Our Lord Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the solicitude of the Saints and Holy Angels are an immense help in the ministry. We see it often. It pleases God to use the intercession of the friends of His Son to grant deliverance and healing to people afflicted by the evil one. It greatly humbles the demons and this reality torments them to no end. Because in the witness of the multitude of holy men and women of God who are now in God's presence in heaven and reigning with Jesus, they are proof of the devil's defeat for all time. The Holy Angels, meanwhile, shield the child of God, helping them in their battle with the prince of darkness, guiding them to the path that leads directly to their Father in Heaven. Hence, it profits the soul much to have friends in heaven. Devotion to Our Blessed Mother, the Holy Angels and Saints must be part of one's spiritual life.
• Lastly, the reverent and proper use of Sacramentals. Catholics wear and have these all the time, but many do not know how to use them properly. They wear it but consider it as lucky charms, amulets or talismans. Instead of being instruments of grace that would strengthen them and protect them, they use it casually and irreverently. The power that God bestows on the sacramentals of the Church are dependent on the disposition of the one who uses them. This is built-in to the very nature of the sacramentals. Therefore, habitual sanctifying grace in the soul, virtuous living, a deep prayer life, fortify the grace and protection received from the sacramentals. As I already mentioned in a previous post, God is pleased to grant grace and holiness to these "creatures". By making them holy, God shows the unclean spirits how His grace elevates even the lowliest of creatures. The demons as fallen angels have been surpassed by the holiness and blessing the God bestows on the creature made of matter. This fills the unclean spirits with hatred and envy towards this blessed objects. But at the same time recognize the holiness in these graced-objects and it terrifies them exceedingly.

 

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