ABS-CBN TV PATROL REPORT March 26-27, 2015 On the Spiritual Liberation of Pia, Teresa, and Gemma

The correct way of overcoming demonic harassments, oppressions, possessions based on the testimony of women spiritually liberated by the Lord from the power of the evil one.

Watch it here:

• The Spiritual Liberation of Pia and Teresa (Please fast forward to segment 1:30 - 7:58)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0By28gsjlk&feature=youtu.be

• The Spiritual Liberation of Gemma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4sIH9LjyRo

ABS-CBN TV PATROL REPORT March 9, 2015 On a Case of Possession

One can immediately notice in this case a hodge-podge of solutions being done to help the girl. But a mixture of occult practices and catholic beliefs would never really solve her problem. Those occult things --albularyos, anting-antings should be removed. So much ignorance of their Catholic faith, so much superstition. The devil may hide but it will be back.

Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccw1R_id9A8

St. Dominic de Guzman, Founder of the Order of Preachers, defeats the Evil One - Part 3

(Reference: http://www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com/demontfort.html)

 

When Saint Dominic, who spread the devotion of praying the rosary, was preaching the Rosary near Carcassone an Albigensian was brought to him who was possessed by the devil.

Saint Dominic exorcised him in the presence of a great crowd of people; it appears that over twelve thousand had come to hear him preach.

The devils who were in possession of this wretched man were forced to answer Saint Dominic's questions in spite of themselves. They said that:

1. There were fifteen thousand of them in the body of this poor man, because he had attacked the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary;
2. They went on to testify that by preaching the Rosary he put horror into the very depths of hell and that he was the man they hated most throughout the whole world, because of the souls which he snatched from them through devotion to the Holy Rosary;
3. They then revealed several other things.

Saint Dominic put his rosary around the Albigensian's neck and asked the devils to tell him who, of all the saints in heaven, was the one they feared the most, and who should therefore be the most loved and revered by men

At this they let out such unearthly screams that most of the people fell to the ground, faint from fear.

Then, using all their cunning, so as not to answer, the devils wept and wailed in such a pitiful way that many of the people wept also, out of purely natural pity. 

The devils spoke through the mouth of the Albigenisian, pleading in a heartrending voice:

"Dominic, Dominic, have mercy on us - we promise you that we will never hurt you. You have always had compassion for sinners and those in distress; have pity on us, for we are in grievous straits. We are suffering so very much already, so why do you delight in heightening our pains? Can't you be satisfied with our suffering without adding to it? Have pity on us! Have pity on us!"

Saint Dominic was not one whit moved by the pathos of these wretched spirits and told them that he would not let them alone until they had answered his question. Then they said they would whisper the answer in such a way that only Saint Dominic would be able to hear. The latter firmly insisted upon their answering clearly and out loud. Then the devils kept quiet and refused to say another word, completely disregarding Saint Dominic's orders - so he knelt down and prayed thus to Our Lady: "Oh, all powerful and wonderful Virgin Mary, I implore you by the power of the Most Holy Rosary, order these enemies of the human race to answer me." 

No sooner had he made this prayer than a glowing flame leaped out of the ears, nostrils and mouth of the Albigensian. Everyone shook with fear, but the fire did not hurt anyone. Then the devils cried:

"Dominic, we beseech you, by the passion of Jesus Christ and by the merits of His Holy Mother and of all the saints, let us leave the body of this man without speaking - for the angels will answer your question whenever you wish. After all, are we not liars? So why should you want to believe us? Please don't torture us any more; have pity on us." 

"Woe unto you wretched spirits, who do not deserve to be heard." Saint Dominic said, and kneeling down he prayed to Our Lady:

"Oh most worthy Mother of Wisdom, I am praying for the people assembled here who have already learned how to say the Angelic Salutation properly. Please, I beg of you, force your enemies to proclaim the whole truth and nothing but the truth about this, here and now, before the multitude." 

Saint Dominic had hardly finished this prayer when he saw the Blessed Virgin near at hand, surrounded by a multitude of angels. She struck the possessed man with a golden rod that she held and said: "Answer my servant Dominic at once." (Remember, the people neither saw nor heard Our Lady, but only Saint Dominic.) 

"Then listen well you Christians; the Mother of Jesus Christ is all powerful and she can save her servants from falling into hell. She is the Sun which destroys the darkness of our wiles and subtlety. It is she who uncovers our hidden plots, breaks our snares and makes our temptations useless and ineffectual. 

"We have to say, however reluctantly, that not a single soul who has really persevered in her service has ever been damned with us; one single sigh that she offers to the Blessed Trinity is worth far more than all the prayers, desires and aspirations of all the saints. 

"We fear her more than all the other saints in heaven together and we have no success with her faithful servants. Many Christians who call upon her when they are at the hour of death and who really ought to be damned according to our ordinary standards are saved by her intercession.

"Oh if only that Mary (it is thus in their fury that they called her) had not pitted her strength against ours and had not upset our plans, we should have conquered the Church and should have destroyed it long before this; and we would have seen to it that all the Orders in the Church fell into error and disorder. 

"Now that we are forced to speak we must also tell you this: nobody who perseveres in saying the Rosary will be damned, because she obtains for her servants the grace of true contrition for their sins and by means of this they obtain God's forgiveness and mercy." 

Then Saint Dominic had them all say the Rosary very slowly and with great devotion, and a wonderful thing happened: at each Hail Mary that he and the people said together a large group of devils issued forth from the wretched man's body under the guise of red-hot coals. 

When the devils had all been expelled and the heretic was at last entirely free of them, Our Lady (who was still invisible gave her blessing to the assembled company, and they were filled with joy because of this. 

A large number of heretics were converted because of this miracle and joined the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary

St. Dominic de Guzman, Founder of the Order of Preachers, defeats the Evil One - Part 2

(Reference: http://opcentral.org/blog/the-miracles-of-st-dominic/)

 Of the Demon Who Appeared in the Form of an Ape to Blessed Dominic as He Wrote
 

One night, when the brethren were still living at San Sisto, the blessed father, after spending a long time in prayer, left the church and, lighting a candle, sat down at one end of the dormitory to write. Suddenly a demon in the form of an ape stood before him and began to prance up and down, grimacing and taunting him with jesting verses. Whereupon Blessed Dominic motioned for him to stand still and, taking the lighted candle, handed it to the demon to hold before him. With the candle in his hand, the demon stood before him and continued to grimace and recite his verses. As the candle burned down, the ape’s fingers began to burn. At once he began to howl and twist and turn, as though anyone who had experienced the hell of eternal fire would be bothered by earthly fire. But Blessed Dominic motioned for him to be quiet. What could he do? He stood holding the candle until his index finger was seared down to where it meets the hand. This made him howl and twist all the more. Then Blessed Dominic took the ferule he always carried with him and gave the ape a whack and said, “Go away, evil one.” The blow sounded as though someone had struck a bladder filled with air. The ape flung himself through the nearest wall and never returned, but the stench he produced left no doubt as to its true identity.

Sister Cecilia heard the blessed father tell this story to the brethren and sisters and saw him mimic the ape’s gestures and grimaces.

How He Cast Seven Devils From a Certain Woman
 

After the sisters had moved into the church of San Sisto, the same blessed father announced that a solemn sermon would be held there on the second Sunday of Lent, when the Gospel of Cana is read. On the day scheduled, a large group of men and women, young and old, had assembled and Blessed Dominic stood near the cloister door, where the sisters could see and hear him. As he preached the Lord’s words, he was interrupted by the loud cries of a woman filled with demons; she claimed there were seven of them. “Ribald, ribald,” she cried, “through your deceptions you have taken four from me. They were mine and you took them from me.” When the people told her to be quiet and not interrupt the sermon, Blessed Dominic said to her, “Silence, silence.” But the demons speaking through her mouth answered, “You won’t cast us out from here. She is ours and we won’t go. There are seven of us who entered into her one way or another.” And each began to tell how he entered. As the people grew more excited on account of the interruption she made, Blessed Dominic raised his hand and, making a Sign of the Cross, said, “In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I command you to depart from her and molest her no more.” Then she began to shake and to vomit a large quantity of blood and charcoal, so much so that she seemed to be dead. Then Blessed Dominic ordered her carried outside the church into a house where she could be given care until completely recovered and gave her the name Sister Amata. Later on, when Sister Cecilia and her companions, in obedience to the Lord Pope’s command, were living at St. Agnes in Bologna, this same woman, now perfectly cured, made a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James the Apostle and, on the way, visited the sisters and appeared very cheerful and happy.

This miracle was performed by Blessed Dominic as he stood preaching near the cloister door in the Church of San Sisto, and was witnessed by Sr. Cecilia and other sisters who saw him standing by the door and, in great fear, heard him order the demons to depart.

How the Demon Who Appeared in the Form of a Lizard Tried to Obstruct his Preaching
 

One day after his Mass, Blessed Dominic went outside and, standing by the door, told the sisters to come to the stream where the mill was, for he intended to preach the word of God. But knowing what was about to happen, he said, “My daughters, if the enemy of the human race tries to terrify you by appearing in some strange shape, do not be afraid.” So the sisters went along to the place Blessed Dominic described wondering why he wanted to preach to them in such an unusual place. Since the mill was being repaired at that time, he and several of the brethren went through the sisters’ cloister to get to the place where the sisters had gathered. After they took their places along the stream, Blessed Dominic began to speak very strongly about the deceits and tricks of the devil. As he spoke, the devil suddenly appeared in the form of a horrible, black ugly lizard with two heads and two tails. It crawled along the bank of the stream, rapidly lifting its heads and tails and then slapping them on the ground. Then it headed toward the sisters as though to attack them. But, knowing through the Holy Spirit what it was, Blessed Dominic looked squarely into its wild eyes and its shaking head and said, “You enemy, you enemy.” Then, turning to the sisters, he said, “Don’t be afraid; he can’t harm you.” But, seeing that some of the sisters had already become so terrified that they arose and fled, he said to it, “I command you, enemy of the human race, to cast yourself into this water.” And he immediately threw himself into the water and never reappeared.

At this miracle were present Sister Cecilia and the other sisters of San Sisto, as well as a number of the brethren.

Of the Demon Who Turned Over a Lamp as He Was Preaching But it Continued to Burn
 

One time Blessed Dominic returned from a trip to Spain bringing each of the sisters a wooden spoon as a gift. So one day, after many hours of preaching and performing other works of charity, he came to visit the sisters in the evening and brought the spoons he had obtained in Spain. As he sat near the window with some of the brethren, he began to preach to the sisters about the snares of the enemy and told them that, in order to deceive, Satan would not only transform himself into an angel of light, but, if he could hinder preaching and other good works, would assume the shape of the most trifling things, even a sparrow. The venerable father had scarcely spoken these words when the enemy of the human race did appear in the form of a sparrow and began to fly over the heads of the sisters low enough to be snatched at with their hands if they wished to do so and interrupt the sermon. When Blessed Dominic noticed this he called Sister Maximilla and told her, “Catch it and bring it to me.” She got up and caught the sparrow without any trouble and handed it through the window to Blessed Dominic, who held it in his hands and began dexterously to pluck out its feathers, saying, “Enemy, enemy.” By this time, all the brothers and sisters were laughing as he plucked out everyone of its feathers and chattered in a plaintive voice as he did so. Then he released it with the words, “Fly now, if you can, enemy of the human race. You can make all the noise you want to disturb us, but you can’t cause us any harm.” But after the sisters had settled back for the rest of the sermon, it returned through the window and settled on the brass vessel which hung on a small chain in front of the Blessed Virgin’s altar. In it was a burning lamp filled with oil which turned over as the bird crashed into the chain. But even though the lamp became detached from its brass container, it neither broke nor went out. Instead it stood inverted in mid-air with its mouth down and its base uppermost. After the crash, the sisters raised their heads and were astonished to see the lamp standing in mid-air without any support. But this was exactly as Blessed Dominic had predicted. For, although the lamp remained upside down, it continued to burn and not one drop of oil spilled.

Even the grain which had been scattered in the basin under the lamp to protect it did not scatter. In a word, everything continued as though nothing had been disturbed. When Blessed Dominic and the brethren saw this, they gave thanks to God. Then Blessed Dominic ordered Sister Sabina, whom he had appointed sacristan at the time when he was assigning all of the officials for San Sisto, to restore the lamp to its proper place. This she did. And so it came about that a hoax which the enemy of the human race had, in his envy, intended as a hindrance and a source of harm was turned to God’s glory. As for the sparrow which had flown in that night, it disappeared, no one knows where.

When Blessed Dominic preached to the sisters in the evening the brethren outside and the sisters inside lit large lamps so that they could more easily see what was taking place in the church.

This delightful miracle Blessed Dominic performed in the Church of San Sisto near the cloister-window, in the presence of Sister Cecilia and the other sisters of San Sisto.

St. Dominic de Guzman, Founder of the Order of Preachers, defeats the Evil One - Part 1

(Reference: http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Dominic%20and%20the%20Attacks%20of%20the%20Devil.html)

 

Attacks of the Devil. Legends
by Augusta Theodosia Drane, 1891

On the second Sunday in Lent, being the first after the settlement of the nuns at S. Sixtus, Dominic preached in their church, standing, as it is said, "at the grating," that is, so as his discourse should be heard both by them and by the congregation assembled in the public parts of the church. As he did so, a possessed woman who was in the midst of the crowd interrupted the sermon, "Ah, villain!" cried the demon, speaking through her voice, "these nuns were once all mine own, and thou hast robbed me of them all. This soul at least is mine, and thou shalt not take her from me, for we are seven in number that have her in our keeping." Then Dominic commanded her to hold her peace, and making the sign of the cross, he delivered her from her tormenters in the presence of all the spectators. A few days after this she came to him, and, throwing herself at his feet, implored to be allowed to take his habit. He consented to her request, and placed her in the convent of S. Sixtus, where he gave her the name of Amata, or, as we used to call her, Amy; to signify the love of God displayed in her regard. She afterwards removed to Bologna, where she died in the odour of sanctity, and lies buried in the same tomb with Dominic's two other holy daughters, Cecilia and Diana, the latter of whom was foundress of the convent of women in that place.

In speaking of this and other examples of the malice of the demon, which are narrated in the history of S. Dominic, we cannot but observe something perhaps a little distinctive about them. Never do we find one instance in which Satan was permitted the least power to vex or trouble him. Never, as with so many other saints, was he suffered to do him bodily harm, or to assault him with grievous temptations. The evil one appears to us always baffled and contemptible, as in the power of one who is his master, the very Michael among the saints. Yet though always petty, and as it were ridiculous, he ceased not in his efforts to thwart and disturb him, and chiefly directed his malice against the friars and sisters of S. Sixtus, grievously trying them by perpetual distraction, as though he hoped thereby at least to diminish something of the fervour of their devotions.

Once indeed he made a more serious attempt against Dominic's life. One night, as he prayed in the church of Santa Sabina, a huge stone was hurled at him by an invisible hand from the upper part of the roof, which all but grazed his head, and even tore his hood, but falling without further injury to the saint, was buried deep in the ground beside him. The noise was so loud that it awoke several of the friars, who came in haste to the spot to inquire the cause; they found the fragments of the broken pavement, and the stone lying where it fell; but Dominic was kneeling quietly in prayer, and seemed as if unconscious of what had happened.

Another story, of a similar character, is told as follows: "The servant of God, who had neither bed nor cell of his own, had publicly commanded his children in chapter, that in order that they might wake the more promptly, to rise to matins, they should retire to bed at a certain hour, in which he was strictly obeyed. Now, as he himself abode before the Lord in the church, the devil appeared before him in the form of one of the brethren, and though it was past the prohibited time, yet did he remain in the church with an air of particular devotion and modesty. Wherefore the saint, judging it to be one of the friars, went softly up to him, and desired him to go to his cell, and sleep with the others. And the pretended friar inclined his head, in sign of humble obedience, and went as he was bid; but on each of the two following nights, he returned at the same hour and in the same manner. The second time the man of God rose very gently (although, indeed, he had reason to be somewhat angry, seeing he had at table during the day reminded all of the observance of that which had been enjoined), and again desired him to go away. He went; but, as we have said, returned yet a third time. Then, it seemed to the saint that the disobedience and pertinacity of his brother was too great, and he reproved him for the same with some severity; whereat, the devil (who desired nothing else, save to disturb his prayer and stir him unto wrath, and move him to break the silence) gave a loud laugh, and, leaping high into the air, he said, 'At least I have made you break the silence, and moved you to wrath!' But he calmly replied, 'Not so, for I have power to dispense, neither is it blameworthy wrath when I utter reproofs unto the evil-doers.' And the demon, being so answered, was obliged to fly."

On another occasion, as he was by night walking about the convent of S. Sabina, guarding his flock with the vigilance of a good shepherd, he met the enemy in the dormitory, going like a lion seeking whom he might devour; and recognizing him, he said, "Thou evil beast, what doest thou here?" "I do my office," replied the demon, "and attend to my gains." "And what gains dost thou make in the dormitory?" asked the saint. "Gain enough," returned the demon. "I disquiet the friars in many ways; for first, I take the sleep away from those who desire to sleep in order that they may rise promptly for matins; and then I give an excessive heaviness to others, so that when the bell sounds, either from weariness or idleness they do not rise; or, if they rise and go to choir, it is unwillingly, and they say their office without devotion." Then the saint took him to the church, and said, "And what dost thou gain here?" "Much, answered the devil; "I make them come late and leave soon. I fill them with disgusts and distractions, so that they do ill whatsoever they have to do." "And here?" asked Dominic, leading him to the refectory. "Who does not eat too much or too little?" was the reply; "and so they either offend God or injure their health."

Then the saint took him to the parlour, where the brethren were allowed to speak with seculars, and to take their recreation. And the devil began maliciously to laugh, and to leap and jump about, as if with enjoyment, and he said, "This place is all mine own; here they laugh and joke, and hear a thousand vain stories; here they utter idle words, and grumble often at their rule and their superiors; and whatsoever they gain elsewhere they lose here." And lastly they came to the door of the chapter room, but there the devil would not enter. He attempted to fly, saying, "This place is a hell to me; here the friars accuse themselves of their faults, and receive reproof and correction, and absolution. What they have lost in every other place they regain here." And so saying, he disappeared, and Dominic was left greatly wondering at the snares and nets of the tempter; whereof he afterwards made a long discourse to his brethren, declaring the same unto them, that they should be on their guard.

The Legend of St. Dominic

This Legend was compiled by Gerard de Frachet from the Book of Epilogues of Brother Bartholomew of Trent, one of the saint's first companions, and from the History of the Foundation of the Order, composed by Blessed Jordan of Saxony, and dedicated by him to his sons by grace and joint heirs to glory. The Legend dates between 1255 and 1257.

St. Dominic Delivers a Glutton Possessed by the Devil

One of the brothers at Bologna, who had care of the sick, used sometimes, without permission, to eat some of the food which was left. While thus busied one evening, the devil entered into him, and he began to bellow horribly. The holy father came to the spot with the rest of the brethren who were hurrying to the brother's assistance, and pitying his condition bade the devil speak up and say Why he had gone into him. Then the demon answered him: "I hold possession of him since he richly deserves it, for contrary to the letter of your constitutions, and without leave, he has been in the habit of eating the meat left by the sick." On hearing this the tender father replied: "And I, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, do absolve him from his sin, and command you in the name of the same Jesus, that you go out of him and vex him no longer"; and at once the brother was freed from his tormentor.

How the Possessed were Delivered at the Grave of St. Dominic

Brother Chabert of Savoy, a stirring and graceful preacher, and famed for many miracles after death, was a student in Bologna at the time, and on the day after St. Dominic's burial was present with many more spectators while a possessed man was being led to the saint's grave. No sooner bad he entered the church than the devil began to cry out: 'What is it that you want with me, Dominic?' and repeatedly howled out the name of Dominic. Those present brought the man over to the tomb and the devil went out of him.

Prayer of Consecration of the Psychic Abilities to Our Lady for its Closing

This prayer of consecration to Our Lady, is the one we use at AMOE for the closing of the psychic abilities. After the exorcism of the unclean spirit of divination and the exorcism of the occult third eye, this prayer is offered by the afflicted to express his/her desire to surrender the occult third eye and the psychic abilities to God through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.

When prayed it must be said in total surrender and sincerity of heart to God through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.

Most Immaculate and Loving Virgin Mary,
Mother of God and my Mother,
Who was present at the crucifixion
And death of your Son Jesus
On the hill of Calvary,
Have mercy on me, your son (your daughter)
Have mercy on this poor
Suffering body of mine
Harassed and oppressed by the Evil One.
Through the merits of your sorrows,
Grant me relief and comfort.

Close now my psychic abilities, which I have
Obtained through the power of demons.
These psychic abilities I renounce
and surrender totally to you
I consecrate myself to you
I dedicate myself to you
I offer myself to you. (at least 3x with fervor and sincerity)

Hear my supplication dearest Mother and Queen.
Through the love you have for Your Son Jesus
who has entrusted me to your maternal care.
Amen.

Prayer to Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Undoer of Knots

Here is a wonderful prayer we use at AMOE for those struggling to be liberated from all knots the devil has made in one's life.We have modified it to appropriately respond to Spiritual Liberation from the power of the Evil One.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love,

Mother who never refuses

to come to the aid of a child in need,

Mother whose hands never cease

to serve your beloved children

because they are moved

by the divine love and immense mercy

that exists in your heart,

cast your compassionate eyes upon me

and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.

You know very well how desperate I am,

my pain and how I am bound by these knots.

Mary, Mother to whom God

entrusted the undoing of the knots

in the lives of his children,

No one, not even the evil one himself,

can take it away from your precious care.

In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone.

Powerful Mother,

by your grace and intercessory power

with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus,

take into your hands today every knot in my life.

Every knot that bounds me to the Devil

Every knot that ties me habitually to sin and vice

Every knot in my intellect and will,

Every knot that enslaves my emotions,

passions, desires, and relationships

Every knot in my body, mind, and spirit

that prevents me from loving God

with my whole being

Every knot that prevents me from loving others the way

God wants me to

I surrender them all to you,

O Blessed Mother of God. (3x with devotion)

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God,

once and for all, for you are my hope.

O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me,

the fortification of my feeble strength,

the enrichment of my destitution

and with Christ the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep + me, + guide me, + protect me, o safe refuge!

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen.

Warning on the wrong veneration of Angels

In one convent of religious sisters in Tagaytay, where AMOE spent two nights of planning, we were asked if we could bless the place as there were reports of strange things happening around. Of course we acceded to help the sisters. Definitely, there was clear infestation. It came primarily from the nearby center where occult practices are openly done. After all that center is famous for its opening of the third eye thing. What is most troubling of course is that they have catholic religious men and women among the participants and facilitators or resource persons. The second was from something people would not ordinarily associate evil things.

When we were going around praying the prayers of liberation and exorcism of places, the lay-volunteers at that time who were given by the Holy Spirit the charism of discernment of spirits, pointed to something rather odd. There were seven kiosks dedicated to the archangels. Each kiosk was dedicated to an archangel. There was an image of the patron archangel in a corner of the kiosk. No doubt intended for veneration of the faithful. What was strange was in the three kiosks respectfully dedicated to Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, there were no evil spirits lurking around or in the kiosk. However, those that were dedicated to the four non-Biblical archangels namely Uriel, Barachiel, Sethiel, Judiel had infestations. We already understood why. The Magisterium of the Catholic Church does not endorse this kind of devotion. It is clear in the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, on December 2001, paragraph 217 clearly teaches that: "The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture." This is the kind of deviation that the document categorically identifies. When we broke the unholy ties between the name of the angel and the kiosk, the infesting spirits left.

The New Age brought interest in the angels to human consciousness. Many catholics found this fascination with angels worth adopting. Suddenly books on Angels written by New Age masters appeared in popular bookstores. There are books on how to contact your guardian angel and asking for its name. There are now ample publications on how to get spirit guides, who they claim to be angels. There are books on how to summon angels. There is an encyclopedia of angels with their names. For many these angel literature is inspiring. Imagine angelic beings at one's disposal. There are suddenly angels attached to months, planets, days, and even gems. One can even know one's birthday angel. Where did they get all these data? The ordinary catholic would not even ask. They just adopt it. If they find these books, images, figurines in Catholic stores, they will buy them and even ask the priest to bless them. But the Church cautions the faithful about this. And yet no one seems to listen, not religious sisters, not priests, not bishops. For if they have been vigilant enough they would have looked into this document and obeyed it. Unfortunately, you see in some parishes even images of these non-biblical angels displayed for public veneration. This is dangerous!

One simply needs to go to your local catholic store say St. Paul's or Parish store and surprisingly in monastery stores to find how it has become popular. Does no one ever read Church documents anymore?

Archangel figurines at the Carmelite Monastery Religious Store in Lipa, Batangas

One of our possession stories involved a boy asking for the guardian angel's name because the mother who was into the New Age encouraged and taught him how. True enough, the angel gave its name. But it was not the name of the holy guardian angel of the boy. It was an impostor, that gave its name. An angel true, but a fallen angel. The boy called that name again and again, asking it to be his guide and protector. The angel agreed, but since it was not a holy angel, then it did not lead the boy to safety but danger --spiritual danger, and in his case demonic possession.

The prevalence of this misguided devotion towards the angels we are seeing now in AMOE as cause for demonic possession and infestations. The Church recognizes only three names as found in Scripture ---Sts Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. It recognizes the existence also of myriads and myriads of Holy Angels of various ranks in the service of the Most High including our own Guardian Angels. But she forbids that the faithful seek to name them because it is dangerous. In the book of Genesis, when Jacob was wrestling with an angel of God, Jacob repeatedly asked for its name, for the purpose of controlling the angelic being. But every time, the angel refused (Genesis 32:22-31). Although some saints like Padre Pio and Gemma Galgani were able to see their guardian angel and know their name, they did not ask for it but rather it was revealed to them. But at the same time these saints did not  give us the angelic names. Why would we want to know their names when God has forbidden us to ask for it? When an angel gives its name how do we know that it is a holy angel? What assurance do we have? For all we know, it maybe a fallen angel wanting to enter into a relationship with us for the purpose of leading us astray from the Truth. For we are warned by Scriptures: "for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). 

When fallen angels give their names, they initially would give the name they had before the fall from grace, before they were expelled from heaven. The intention of course is to deceive. Every angel at the time of their creation were given by God a name that reflected one of the Almighty's attributes -- e.g. Michael "Who is like God". They would generally have an "El" (Lord/God) at the end of their name. But when they fell and were banished eternally to hell, the fallen angels became the demons and they assumed names entirely in consonance with their vileness and evil, e.g. Beelzebub --Lord of the Flies.

Seen in Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Bulacan.
This devotion is in direct contradiction to the instructions from the Vatican regarding the naming of Angels.

Be wary therefore of angelic names readily published over the internet and other media. The Catholic Church recognizes only three because they have been revealed in Sacred Scripture --Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. All other names are not recognized as authentically revealed by God and are therefore dangerous. Any attempt to know angelic names by any magic or sorcery or occult or new age ritual will not produce any name of holy angels but rather will always be that of a fallen angel, a demon, an enemy of human salvation.

UPDATE:
Apparently the names of the other angels were found in the writings of Mrs. Gabriele Bitterlich who was instrumental in the founding of the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum. However, when the group sought approbation from the Holy See, they examined all works of Mrs. Bitterlich and " there were found in the sizable collection of her writings various doctrines and, in particular, “theories…about the world of the Angels, their personal names, their groupings and functions”, “foreign to Sacred Scripture and Tradition” which “cannot serve as a basis for the spirituality and activity of associations approved by the Church”. (cf. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20110316_nota-opus-angelorum_en.html)


Hence, "the members of the Opus Angelorum were to follow the doctrine of the Church and the teaching of the Church Fathers and Doctors. In particular, the members were not to make use of the “names” of angels derived from the alleged private revelations attributed to Mrs. Gabriele Bitterlich and they were not to teach, spread or make use of the theories originating from these alleged revelations." (cf. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20101002_opus-angelorum_en.html)

Therefore, now without doubt this devotion of naming the other four archangels is infact forbidden by the Church in its Magisterium as clearly clarified by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in October 2, 2010 and March 23, 2011.

The same Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith warns that there are rouge members whether lay or priests of the Opus Angelorum and the Canons of the Holy Cross to which the Opus is attached or affiliated, who go around continuing to spread the devotion to the Angels and the Four Archangels with their names. They are to be avoided and rejected. The faithful are warned of the dangers to faith and spiritual life if one insists on the erroneous teachings.

II. At the same time, however, the Congregation wishes to draw the attention of Ordinaries to the fact that, in the course of these years, a certain number of Opus Angelorum members, including some priests who either left or were expelled from the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, have not accepted the norms given by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and seek to restore what, according to them, would be the “authentic Opus Angelorum”, that is, a movement which professes and practices all those things which were forbidden by the above-mentioned documents. The Congregation has learned that very discrete propaganda in favour of this wayward movement, which is outside of any ecclesiastical control, is taking place, aimed at presenting it as if it were in full communion with the Catholic Church.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, therefore, asks Ordinaries to be vigilant with regard to such activities, disruptive as they are of ecclesial communion, and to forbid them if they are present within their Dioceses.

(cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Circular Letter to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences regarding the Association Opus Angelorum. 2 October 2010).

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UPDATE 01 September 2015

I am posting here the response of Fr. Edward MacNamara Professor of Liturgy and Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical University of Regina Apostolorum - Rome regarding the issue in question.


Assigning Names to Angels

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum University.


By Father Edward McNamara

Rome, September 01, 2015 (ZENIT.org)


Q: In the Philippines there is a growing devotion to the seven archangels with the corresponding images and names to the remaining four aside from those of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. In the Holy See's 2001 Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, No. 217, item 2, it clearly states that "The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture." However, this seems to be clearly violated as in many Catholic religious stores images, prayer booklets dedicated to Saints Uriel, Barachiel, Sealtiel and Judiel are being sold, and priests are asked to bless these images. Moreover, there are Catholic retreat houses, spirituality centers and Catholic cemeteries being dedicated to them, or their names and images are part of the fixtures of churches for the people's veneration. We wonder whether the devotion to the seven archangels with their names and images are doctrinally licit and approved at the level of the official Church magisterium since there are priests promoting them in their preaching and in parish devotions. -- W.F.C., Manila, Philippines

A: The precise text mentioned by our reader is:

"Popular devotion to the Holy Angels, which is legitimate and good, can, however, also give rise to possible deviations:

"when, as sometimes can happen, the faithful are taken by the idea that the world is subject to demiurgical struggles, or an incessant battle between good and evil spirits, or Angels and demons, in which man is left at the mercy of superior forces and over which he is helpless; such cosmologies bear little relation to the true Gospel vision of the struggle to overcome the Devil, which requires moral commitment, a fundamental option for the Gospel, humility and prayer;

"when the daily events of life, which have nothing or little to do with our progressive maturing on the journey towards Christ, are read schematically or simplistically, indeed childishly, so as to ascribe all setbacks to the Devil and all success to the Guardian Angels. The practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scripture."

Roman Catholic Tradition generally does not mention the names of seven archangels or even stress very much the number seven. It is true that Tobit 12:15 mentions seven angels ready to enter the presence of God, and Revelation 8:2 mentions seven, but these texts have not influenced Latin Catholicism very much. On the other hand, there has been continuous and great devotion toward the three mentioned by name in Scripture, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, as well as to the guardian angels.

Some branches of Eastern Orthodoxy do, however, venerate the seven archangels, although many only add Uriel as a named archangel. The Anglican tradition also has prayers to Uriel as a fourth archangel.

The sources of the other names are apocryphal Jewish writings that do not form part of the Bible. The names are found in First Book of Enoch and another list in the so-called Second (or Fourth) Book of Esdras. The lists do not always agree, although the name Uriel is fairly constant. Other names include Raguel, Sariel, Jeremiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, Gabuthelon, Beburos, Zebuleon, Aker and Arphugitonos. Some of these names might be variations in spelling of the same name but others are unique to some books. These and similar books were written by Jewish writers in the period between the Old and New Testaments or even after much of the New Testament had already been written, following the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Similar names are mentioned in the Pseudo-Dionysius (late fifth to early sixth centuries) and in Pope Saint Gregory I. (540-604).

With respect to the naming of the angels, the Latin Church has always been somewhat wary. In a synod or council held in Rome in the year 745 Pope St. Zachary sought to curb a tendency toward angel worship and forbade the use of names not found in Scripture.

A text describing this synod (or council) is reported in Volume XII of Cardinal Cesare Baronio's "Annali Ecclesiastici" (published 1607). The remarkable and somewhat harsh text of this synod dealt with the supposed heretical teachings of a priest living in Germany called Adalbert. A prayer he had composed included the lines:

"I pray ye and conjure ye, and supplicate myself to ye, angel Uriel, angel Raguel, angel Tubuel, angel Michael, angel Adimis, angel Tubuas, angel Sabaoth, angel Simuel."

Baronio's text said, "And when this sacrilegious prayer had been read to the end, the holy Pope Zachary said: How, holy brothers, to you respond to this? The holy bishops and venerable priests responded: What else is to be done, but that all these things that have been read in our presence should be burned in flames; and their authors cast into the chains of anathema? For the eight names of Angels, which Adalbert has invoked in his prayer, are not, excepting Michael, names of Angels, but rather of demons, whom he has invoked to bring aid to himself. But we (as taught by your holy Apostleship), and as divine authority transmits, acknowledge no more than the names of three Angels, that is, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These the Fathers [say]. By whom you perceive that the book called by the vulgate name Fourth Esdras, in which there is frequent mention of the angel Uriel, is rejected and altogether proscribed by the Roman Church."

In this text the basic doctrine is clear regarding the restriction to the three biblical names. The strong language regarding the possible demonic nature of the other names should be seen in the context of the concrete condemnation of Adalbert's doctrine and not as an absolute statement. It is not clear when this document was written, and it might have been redacted many years after the synod took place. Forty four years later, in 789, at the Council of Aix-la-Chapelle, the capitularies of Charlemagne also condemned the naming of angels.

There has been little more official teaching regarding this point. In 1992 a decree from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith forbade addressing or using names of angels, but this decree was primarily concerned with supposed private revelations to a concrete person and is not directly related to our case. It might, however, have contributed to the Directory on Popular Piety's discouragement to naming angels.

On the other hand, notwithstanding the overall reluctance on the part of the Church, occasionally there have been paintings with images of the seven angels, such as a fresco in Rome's St. Mary of the Angels which has Mary surrounded by seven angels. Permission was also granted in 1720 to dedicate a church in Germany in which each of the Seven Angels have an altar.

Doctrinally, not much can be read into such approvals. According to generally accepted principles of theological interpretation, the Church's approval of a liturgy or a feast based on extra-biblical traditions or legends cannot be used as to proof of their historical veracity. The Church is merely acknowledging a particular religious tradition which might have some spiritual benefits for the faithful.

In this sense the use of taking names from apocryphal sources is not in itself forbidden. The Church, for example, has taken the names of the three wise men, the names of Mary's parents, as well as the feast of Mary's presentation in the temple from Christian apocryphal writings. This practice does not mean that the Church gives historical credence to these books but only affirms that they reflect a longstanding tradition.

Thus, for example, the myriad images and churches dedicated to Mary's presentation in the temple do not attest the historical truth of the pious legends regarding her actually spending years in that building or that there ever was a group of virgins in Jerusalem's temple. The feast affirms the basic truth of Mary's total dedication to God from the beginning of her life that is reflected in the apocryphal gospels written several centuries after the time of Christ.

Likewise, the fact that on some rare occasions paintings and a church were dedicated to the seven archangels does no more than recognize some local devotion and tradition. The overwhelming spiritual practice of the Latin Church has shown great devotion toward the three archangels while practically ignoring the other four spirits mentioned in Tobit and Revelation. Nor can anything certain be said about the supposed characteristics, symbols, or particular patronages of these other named archangels.

Therefore I would say that, since the Church has itself officially discouraged promoting a spirituality based upon naming angels other than the traditional three plus the guardian angels, a Latin Catholic should refrain from doing so, even if it is not, strictly speaking, forbidden. It is clear that the Latin Church does not believe that much spiritual profit can be gained from following this path and considers that it is not exempt from some dangers.

Setting up an icon for public veneration or dedicating a building or chapel to an angel other than Michael, Gabriel and Raphael or the guardian angels as a collectivity would require special permissions, and a bishop would not allow such a dedication or blessing to a personage not generally recognized as an angel or saint in the current universal calendar.

This applies above all to Latin Christianity. The Orthodox and Anglican practices are legitimate within the context of their own spiritual traditions.

CASE STORY: 24 Albularyos = 24 Demons = 24 Curses

There was this case of a grandmother in her 60s who was referred to us from the south. From all external appearances the woman is healthy, normal, with comfortable life, successful children, happy marriage, devout Catholic, good neighbor. But deep within the life story of the woman was a spiritual struggle that goes back to even before she was born.

She and her ancestors, parents and grandparents all come from a very rural place where the people are baptized catholics, attend catholic religious services, consider themselves devout, but side-by-side with their catholicism is the strong belief in and fear of engkantos (elementals), aswangs (human eating witches and warlocks), anitos (deities of nature), and the observance of pamahiins (superstitions).

According to her narrative, she was offered to the anitos by her grandparents even before she was born. This was done through a ritual made by local healers or shamans (albularyos). The purpose was to prevent miscarriage and protect the mother and unborn child from the mischief of the aswangs and engkantos of the forests, streams, and rivers which surround the village. The pregnancy went well without any hardships and the grandparents and parents attributed it to the protection brought about by the ritual. When the child was born, before she was even baptized, the grandparents as a sign of thanksgiving to the anitos, offered her again to them through another ritual of offering.

Apparently, the growing up from infancy to toddler to childhood was uneventful, or ordinary. The grandparents and parents did not see anything weird or wrong when she would be seen laughing or playing with invisible or imaginary playmates. For the rural folks of her village, this was nothing to worry about, after all she has been offered to the anitos and hence she is protected from molesting spirits. How unfortunate really that their christian and catholic formation remained in a very infantile stage. Had they known that what they did is sinful and offensive to Almighty God, they would not have observed those idolatrous and superstitious activities.

Artist's conception of a Kaprehttp://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/155/9/5/kapre_and_girl_line_art_by_polidread-d3i00fu.jpg

When the girl was five years old, she was found crying and screaming in the middle of the night and reported seeing a kapre (ogre, an elemental that looked like a hairy tall-man who is believed to fancy prepubescent girls and virgins) inside her room. The experience traumatized her so much that this would become a haunting nightmare every so often. Probed further by the grandparents and mother, she reported that she was molested by the kapre. This surprised the elders because she should not have experienced this as she is supposed to be protected by the anitos. Following that experience, her grandparents brought her regularly to local shamans to be healed. When the nightmares have ceased, she was declared well, the kapre has been forbidden to return, and she grew up as a normal teenager able to go to school and get a decent education.

It would be many many years before the attacks would again commence. The first time was during Holy Week. And then every Holy Week thereafter. She did not know the meaning of why Holy Week would be the chosen time for the attacks to come. She would later be told that it was Holy Week then when she was born. And on the Good Friday of that year she was offered to the anitos. The attacks would take the form of a nightmare, followed by a scream of terror and then entering into a trance-like state, and the experience of something or someone molesting her. When asked what she dreamed of after getting out of the trance-like state, she would recount the kapre entering through the window and then come inside her room and molest her. When they moved into the city of the province, she was brought to the doctor for checkup a couple of times but there was nothing they found suspicious that would be considered medically significant. In short, she was well physically. If there was anything at all that was troubling, it would be the holy week attacks but after that she would be perfectly alright. These attacks came year-in and year-out every Holy Week even when she got married and had children.

Although she considered herself a faithful and practicing a catholic, she confessed that her faith in God and knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church were never developed. Like her ancestors, she would often consult albularyos for her ailments especially those related to the kapre. In one visit to the albularyo, it was revealed to her that she has an engkanto accompanying her wherever she goes. Moreover, she is also married to a kapre. The engkanto is her protector for the purpose of keeping her safe as she is the bride of the kapre. She accepted this diagnosis and just lived with it all through out her adult life. But it seemed to her that every year the attacks have become more and more intense such that she feared Holy Week. Instead of it becoming a moment for serious reflection, prayer, and penance it would be a fearful week for her. She also realized that if she begged the Lord for healing and deliverance, the more the attack intensified. She would not simply feel being molested, but feel also of insect-like creatures are entering her body through various orifices. These freaked her out and brought her to near insanity had it not been for the loving and patient support of her family especially the husband and children. All of these are invisible of course, no one can see it except for the albularyos. All in all she could count about 24 different albularyos she has consulted. All of them gave the same diagnosis of her ailment. They gave her various talismans and anting-antings in order to lessen the effect of the engkanto's presence. What was hidden was that the attacks seemed to have intensified a lot and the insect-like invisible creature crawling on her began when she had two cases of abortions early in the pregnancy. What was also clear during the attacks was the presence of a spirit of lust of which she could not explain, but it constantly bombarded her mind of lascivious thoughts and images.

Her eyes were opened to the truth when she and her husband began being active in church activities and joining church groups active in christian faith formation and biblical apostolate. She saw how wicked her life was, how far it was from God because of her superstitious ways. She saw how her grandparents and parents in their ignorance allowed themselves to be under the power of the evil one because of their occult and magic ways. Alas, she could not do anything for them for they have all passed-away. She could only beg the Lord to have mercy on their poor souls. But she could still do something for her and her family here and now. She underwent a conversion process that was very painful. It was painful because, the albularyos she went to heard from others that she has renounced them as instruments of the devil. Now they in turn, as a sign of their anger, sent her curses and blocking whatever spiritual liberation she was seeking. Indeed, it seemed that spiritual solace and healing was slow in coming. But she did not give up but intensified her prayer life. She begged the Lord for forgiveness and repented of her wicked ways. She went to confession and renounced her superstitious past and the abortions. She was grateful for the forgiveness received but it was only the beginning. She knew that in the many decades of her immersion in occult practices it has taken hold of her soul. But she did not give up, she was confident that God will never abandon her. She held on to her Catholic faith, that God is Almighty, and that there is no curse that He could not break. She also developed a deep devotion to Our Lady and her Rosary, and begged her to accept her as one of her own children, unworthy as she is because of sinful ways. She now offered and surrendered everything to the Lord. "Holy Week is approaching what will happen next?", she thought.

She brought her case to her parish priest, who recommended that they ask help from AMOE. At the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism, there were many cases lined up for pray-overs plus a process to go through. But AMOE saw her case as meriting immediate attention as Lent is already before us and in a few weeks time Holy Week. So she was scheduled for exorcism. And I was asked if I could take her in. I said yes.

During the pray-over day, I saw the grandmother weeping and begging for help. I said it is only the Lord who heals the broken-hearted and sets captives free. And if she has faith nothing is impossible. We started the prayers at 10:30 in the morning. I told her to open her heart to forgive all those who have offended her in whatever manner, to offer them all to the Lord. I gave her a set of prayers to say before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. To my wondrous surprise she named out loud the people that caused her so much pain. She told the Lord that she forgives them and asked His grace repeatedly to help her truly forgive. She asked the Lord to bless them and save them. I led her to a prayer of healing of inter-generational sickness and curses and then inner healing. With copious tears, she begged the Lord for mercy and help. And turning to the image of Our Lady of Fatima, she prayed beseeching the Blessed Mother to undo all the knots in her life. I asked her to once more renounce Satan with confidence, to renounce all unholy soul ties she had with all the witch doctors associated with her life, to renounce the unholy soul ties formed between her and her parents and grand parents because of the occult practices.

Then, I told the lady to seat and I will pray for her. I started with the anointing of her senses and minor exorcisms, including the breaking of unholy soul ties, seals, consecrations, and curses. There were minor twitches in her reactions nothing much. I prayed the eastern catholic exorcism prayers connected with the breaking of all occult powers, sorcery, and magic. We noticed some minor reactions. I continued praying and praying for her. It was about 12:30 p.m. when I asked for a brief pause so that the team can discern.

In our discernment these are the spirits that were clearly present:

• an ogre-like creature, giant, very hairy, piercing jealous eye
• a witch-like creature holding an infant and nursing it with poison
• a demon with tall standing horns
• snakes around her legs, arms, waist, neck
• a tall thin man with many sores
• a woman offering an infant
• bugs and insects crawling out of her
• and a snake around my waste and biting my private parts

These are simply images that present itself to those members of the team who were given at that moment by the Holy Spirit the gift of discernment of spirits. From these we can identify demons of the occult, the elementals (kapre and engkanto), the anito that received the child offering, the demon of lust, the curses brought about by sorcery and witchcraft, the demon of abortion, the demon of hatred and anger, and the demon of retaliation attacking the priest.

Artist's conception of a demon of Divination --Botis.
http://www.smilingdemon.com/PANDEMONIUM/80-DEMON_BOTIS.htm
Note the spikes and horns, they pierce through the soul deeply.
The power of divination is intoxicating and addicting.

Having an idea of what we were up against, we proceeded with the solemn exorcism. It was a non-stop prayer of exorcism, interspersed with praises of God, supplication to the Almighty, supplication to Our Blessed Lady and Saint Michael. We begged the Lord Jesus to glorify His Holy Name so that the old woman may come to believe in Him who died and rose for her sake. We commanded the demons to depart identifying them one by one --occult, witchcraft, sorcery, lust, hatred, anger, abortion. Again and again we exorcised them in the name of Jesus, using the prescribed prayers of the Roman Ritual. We reached until exorcism prayer five --three from the old form, and two from the new. It was 1:45 p.m. I called for another discernment period. This time around, the discernment was very positive. The demons are nowhere in sight. Have they all been sent back to hell? Is she completely liberated?

There was one thing more to do, which was the Closing of the Occult Third Eye of the Spirit of Divination. It went by very smoothly, no twitching no reaction. The old lady cried during prayer. I asked her why she was crying. She said that for the very first time in her life, she felt very light and truly loved by God. One final act was her consecration to Our Lady. With love she prayed the prayer of consecration, I then anointed her and her senses to signify the sealing of her entire person for God. We closed with an Infilling Prayer for her and Cleansing Prayer for all of us. We gave her final instructions and closed at 2:30 p.m.

Jesus heals the woman with bleeding for 12 years (Luke 8:43)

In all honesty, learning of how the old lady was entrenched in the occult, gave me an initial impression that the exorcism would be violent and difficult and that it would involve multiple sessions of exorcism. But I was wrong. The Lord has really shown mercy on the woman. He has seen her sincerity. She prepared herself spiritually. Her faith was genuine. Her surrender, complete. She did not hide anything from the Lord, she renounced every sin, every evil relationship for our hearing. The Lord has taken pity and saw her faith. He touched her and she knew it from her heart. This was like the gospel story of the woman who was suffering for 12 years with a bleeding, and lost all her fortune to the doctors who could not cure her. She surrendered her fate to Jesus in touching the helm of his garment and she was healed. Her faith has healed her.

Today Holy Week starts. May this be the start of truly a new Holy Week for her. A Holy Week of being one with Jesus in His act of supreme love for all humanity and the triumph of His Resurrection.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. All superstition is dangerous. It weakens faith slowly. It attributes power to unclean spirits, fears them more, than fearing and loving God more.
2. Occult practitioners may claim that their power is from God, but this is simply a lie. If they can heal, they can also send terrible curses for their power is in fact from the evil one.
3. Asking for body or spiritual relief from occult practitioners deepen the enslavement to the power of the evil one. Even if one gets healed, the healing is temporary, the attack will come back with a bigger bang because of spiritual complacency.
4. Real spiritual preparation on the part of the afflicted is a big factor in the spiritual healing and liberation of the afflicted.
5. The exorcist and all those who assist in the ministry are identified enemies of the Evil One. And therefore subject to attack and retaliation. But Jesus never abandons His priests and all those who assist him.

How long does a prayer of liberation or exorcism last?

The answer is difficult to give. There is no single easy answer. It can be as short as 30 minutes to as long as four hours or more. It can be one session but most of the time multiple sessions. It really all depends on many factors. Nonetheless, two things need to be considered:

• What is the cause of the attack?
• How deep is the cause, i.e. how embedded is it in the soul?

Why the need for multiple exorcisms?

Often when a person asks to be liberated, the assault has already advanced to a level of either oppression or possession. This is now an advanced stage, and the psychic abilities are well developed and the control of the spirit of divination over this ability is often total and very well pronounced. It has arrived to such a degree because the person has taken advantage of the power being given by the spirit of divination and has enjoyed or benefited from its use for quite some time.

Moreover, the longer the time that has lapsed from the moment of contamination to the time of seeking for divine assistance, the more difficult it becomes, the longer the needed time for spiritual liberation. For in many ways, other sins become involved in the life of the person. And grave sins like idolatry, sexual immoralities, uncontrolled passions, occult practices and beliefs would invite other nefarious spirits in the life of the person.

Once the person becomes aware or have been enlightened that the source of the power is evil and desires to be rid of it and the demon, then retaliation sets in. This is manifested by psychic and physical attacks on the afflicted for any intention or act to pray to God and ask for divine help. The difficulty is also exacerbated because the demon now uses other people, usually also those with open occult third eye, to dissuade the afflicted from seeking the help of the Church and her ministers especially the exorcists. They would instead, recommend that the afflicted use amulets or talismans for protection, or do some occult ritual, or to consult a local occult healer (shaman or albularyo). This of course would even more fortify the demonic stronghold on the person by inviting other demons, thereby, making spiritual liberation difficult.

Take for example the demon of greed for power and lust called Asmodeus. It is often found bundled up with the demon of Gluttony (Beelzebub) and Avarice (Mammon). These are the demons of worldly pleasure and the demon of divination would invite them as the person who possess the power of divination would often times also be attracted to pleasures of the stomach, pleasures of the flesh, and pleasures of wealth.

Artist's conception of the demon Asmodeus
http://www.smilingdemon.com/PANDEMONIUM/92-DEMON_ASMODAY.htm

Looking at the artist's conception of Asmodeus, one sees how incisive they are in a person's life. This demon would penetrate every area of the soul, the mind, the emotions such that it would control it completely. Multiply this thought with other demons present in a person. Then one can have an idea of the battle one is up against when desiring to be truly free from them.

In the absence of sanctifying grace in the soul, the unclean spirits latch on the person both on the level of the soul (for those in a habitually sinful life) and that of the level of emotions and its passions (connected with pride, vainglory, sloth, avarice, lust, anger, resentment, and unforgiveness, etc.). It is not rare that demons would also latch on the body, bringing in infirmity. Therefore, in effect we are no longer dealing here with just one spirit, which originally was the spirit of divination, but already many spirits. It is for this reason that a series of exorcism prayers will be necessary.

The need for conversion

It is necessary for the expulsion of demons that the afflicted seek the divine help with sincerity, in a spirit of total surrender, and humility. The afflicted must prepare spiritually weeks before the prayer intercession. The person must obey all the spiritual assignments given by the exorcist, which must include –honest and sincere repentance of all sins and serious amendment of life. This must be expressed through regular sacramental confession; daily examination of conscience, reverently going to Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion in a proper disposition; development of lively spiritual life of prayer, mortifications, penance, charitable and virtuous life. The afflicted must strive to live in habitual sanctifying grace. Total consecration to the Lord Jesus Christ, manifested in a loving and trusting relationship with Him must precede any spiritual liberation prayers. These are necessary to loosen the hold of the evil spirits in the person. Without proper spiritual preparation and perseverance on the part of the afflicted, the battle would be tortuous and healing long in coming. Thus a person in a habitual state of sin must now be replaced by habitual state of grace. The absence of true conversion on the part of the afflicted would prevent healing. It is then a waste of time and energy for the exorcist and the afflicted.