What are Retaliations ?

Demonic Retaliations, in the context of the ministry of spiritual liberation and exorcism, generally speaking, is the evil one, reacting strongly against the attempt to expel it from a person it has claimed dominion to. It can be directed against the afflicted, the exorcist, or the faithful assisting directly the exorcist or the afflicted towards spiritual liberation. The reaction often takes the form of physical or bodily attacks like malaise, bruises, scratches or something similar. It can also take the form of attacks in dreams leading to nightmares, or to emotional and psychological attacks.

The principle on how one is affected in intensity can be summed up in this manner:

“Spiritual pitfalls and chains of demonic retaliation lurk in the shadows of internal spiritual fortresses. The Bible calls these spiritual fortresses strongholds or footholds. When people nurse open wounds in their souls they needlessly facilitate the destructive operations of the enemy in their lives and histories. Soul wounds weaken people making them easy prey to the enemy’s devices and schemes. The right attack at the right point, at the most strategic moment, can easily lead a person into a fatal trap.

Any opportunity that causes us to ignore unresolved conflicts is potentially dangerous. On one hand, the person has an unending source of inspiration and motivation based on the emotional pain they feel. On the other hand, the enemy’s hook is already in their mouth.”

 (cf. RS Pinos. Demonic Retaliation. Deliverance Ministry. http://spiritualdeliverance.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/demonic-retaliation/. Accessed December 2014. )

The key to understanding it – is “the evil one will not simply release a soul in the grip of its tyranny, especially since every human soul is a prized possession”. It would resist and fight in order to keep the soul in bondage. If the afflicted would seek divine help, the evil one would counterattack and cause the afflicted to have pain either physically, mentally, emotionally, or any two, or all three. The more intense the prayer and determination the afflicted to be liberated, the greater intensity of the attack. If the Lord would not take mercy on the person, the experience would be unbearable. The intention of the evil one is clear and simple, that is, to cause the afflicted to give up hope of divine succor; to isolate him from the faith community and his loved ones both spiritually and emotionally, giving room therefore for doubts that he is beyond help or that God is not answering his plea. Once the afflicted surrenders and gives up in praying, the bout ceases. But eternal peril is at hand.

The violence maybe direct in that the afflicted experiences the assault or retaliation in his person. It may also be indirect, through the attack on persons close to the afflicted, such as family members, or work situations. The enemy will use all possible means to get the person to give up the battle. Nevertheless, if the target of retaliation is serious in defeating the enemy, then praying and penance should never stop for grace will never be wanting for those who truly ask and persevere in faith. “The greater the affliction, the greater the grace.” One needs only to recall the words of Our Lord to St. Paul, who in his affliction cried to the Lord three times to remove the thorn. But the Lord answered: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” To which St. Paul would respond: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

The retaliation on the exorcist or those who assist the exorcist in the ministry is similar to the attack on the afflicted. It can be direct or indirect. The purpose is also quite clear, that is, for the exorcist or his équipe to stop ministering to the afflicted. For sure, the ministers of Christ are protected by Christ Himself and the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints and Holy Angels. But God allows a minute dose of the retaliation to come in, just so that the minister and his équipe will never be complacent or ascribe the effectivity of their ministry to their own power or holiness. Always it must be God who is the center, source, and end. All glory, honor, and thanksgiving should and must constantly be rendered to the Most High. In general, retaliations against the exorcist and his team are minor and should not be cause of worry unless there is a serious opening that has to be patched up. Prayer is the key here for protection.

It is necessary therefore if retaliation occurs to have a very thorough examination of one’s life and conscience to see which areas of life the enemy is tapping to cause harm. These would be then be the openings. These openings are often iniquitous in nature (sinful conditions, unholy soul ties and bonds), emotional (inordinate and unholy desires) or mental (evil thoughts including unforgiveness, resentment, anger, hatred, envy, pride), occultic (related to spirit of divination and superstition, or to direct communications with spirits). Having identified the openings, they are then to be closed by a sincere prayer of repentance, renunciation, and going to the sacrament of reconciliation. Prayer of consecration to God, or to Our Lord Jesus Christ, or to Our Blessed Lady of those problematic areas is very helpful. The use of sacramentals on the person is highly encouraged. At times it maybe even necessary to do a minor exorcism for the priest or the member of the team experiencing retaliation. In this case the Pope Leo XIII prayer would be a good start supplemented by the Prayer of St. Basil the Great.

Why the Almighty allows the devil to retaliate is a mystery. But one can always surmise two things: (1) God knows that a greater good will come and (2) that the evil one cannot do more than the Almighty permits. This goes to say, that if left on his own, without the Almighty restraining the hand of the devil, the evil one would inflict the greatest harm possible that he can do within his own power. Often this would be death and terrible affliction. But because God restrains the hand of the evil one, the extent of his attack is then very limited. (Job 1:8-12) Nonetheless, the experience of retaliation is real. It is therefore of necessity to always see them in the context of God allowing a greater good to come out of the limited experience of evil. That the Lord wants us always to develop a spirit of humility and total dependence on Him is an attitude that is expected to come out of this experience of being a victim of demonic retaliation. From humility and loving trust in God, emerges holiness, and from holiness greater blessing.