The following quote is a comment I received on my blog a few weeks ago. “Unfortunately, not all countries are created equal. Good to hear you (America) have many exorcists or trained priests. However, quite a few countries/dioceses do not have exorcists, or maybe they have one who has received zero training. It’s a tragedy in certain parts of Europe. We are completely abandoned.” Many people have contacted me, not only from Europe, but from America, and all over the world, seeking help because they do not have a priest or exorcist available to help them through their spiritual problems. Sadly, in some parts of the world, people either have no priest, only one priest, or maybe a priest who is far away. But even in areas with an abundance of priests, there may not be an exorcist available or a priest involved in deliverance. I experienced this myself years ago during the time I was attacked by witchcraft. It is very discouraging, especially when you are in the throes of an attack. But there is a lot of information on the subject of exorcism and deliverance today that can help people find relief from their spiritual issues. God does not abandon us. He always provides. It can be hard, but try to place your trust in that truth.
There are more exorcists and priests trained in deliverance today than in the past. But there also seems to be a great disparity between the number of Catholics and the number of exorcists. There are approximately 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide, and 900 priests trained in exorcism through the International Association of Exorcists in Rome. Of those 900 exorcists, North America has 150, and Europe has 500-600, with the majority residing in Italy. While Asis, Africa, South America, and Australia do not publicly release the number of exorcists in their continents. However, bishops can and do appoint exorcists within their dioceses, so you can always contact them for help. So there are exorcists outside of those trained in Rome, available to many people who need them.
“The Rite of Major Exorcism is employed only when there is a case of genuine demonic possession, namely, when it is determined that the presence of the devil is in the body of the possessed and the devil is able to exercise dominion over that body.”
One of the most important things to impart to the laity is that formal exorcisms are only for people who are possessed by a demon, meaning the demon takes over the person’s body. Possession is rare and will require the help of an exorcist. But other spiritual sicknesses do not necessarily need to be addressed directly by an exorcist. They can be, but they don’t have to be. Any priest, trained in deliverance or not, can help. Through their ordination, priests have spiritual authority over laypeople and can therefore pray deliverance prayers over them or, when necessary, a minor exorcism. The priest acts in persona Christi, or in the person of Christ. People who are dealing with spiritual illnesses like oppression, obsession, depression, and infestation sometimes believe that only an exorcist can help them. That just isn’t true. A priest can help with all of these issues, and you can also help to rid yourself and your family of these spiritual afflictions. I am not diminishing the severity of these afflictions at all. I know how unbelievably difficult and terrifying they are. But there are many ways to deal with these demonic afflictions without an exorcist. I know because I did it. So don’t despair.
“Minor exorcisms are prayers used to break the influence of evil and sin in a person’s life, whether as a catechumen preparing for Baptism or as one of the Baptized faithful striving to overcome the influence of evil and sin in his or her life.”
What I want to do is show how anyone influenced by evil can overcome these demonic afflictions without the direct help of an exorcist. You have more power as a baptized Catholic than you think. The first, and most effective way to fight a spiritual attack is the sacraments. So there will be times when you will need a priest. Attending daily Mass, if possible, and confessing your sins weekly, or at least monthly, is extremely helpful for souls afflicted with demons. Anyone practicing the sacraments is striving to live a holy life, and that is protection from evil. Sins like participation in New Age and occult practices, sexual sin, unforgiveness, abortion, and many other grave sins open doors to the demonic. But the sacrament of confession closes those doors and makes us new again. The Eucharist fills us with Christ Himself and gives us strength, so the more we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, the better. And the anointing of the sick gives us the grace to endure all these sufferings. Any priest can give the anointing, and you can receive it as many times as needed. Try to be patient in these trials and consistent in practicing the faith, no matter how you feel. Go to Mass and confession and ask for the anointing when you feel you need it. Trust that you will receive the help you need from the Lord. It will be in His time, but that is always the way.
I want to share a powerful story about possession and the sacrament of confession. Patrick Campbell travels the world providing workshops on deliverance and healing that he trained for through Father Ripperger’s deliverance program. I went to one of his workshops a few years ago, and he revealed that his son was possessed. What was most interesting about this was that he wasn’t liberated from possession by a formal exorcism, but rather through the sacrament of confession. That is an incredible testament to the power of Jesus Christ working through the priest in the confessional. It is Jesus who forgives sins through the priest’s actions. And it was Jesus who chose to heal this person through the sacrament of confession. He was washed clean and made new again, as we all are in confession. Jesus’s mercy is always greater than our sins. Let us never underestimate the power of the sacraments.
“Therefore, submit to God resist the devil and he will take flight.”
James 4:7
As a child of God, you have authority over yourself; therefore, you can pray deliverance prayers for yourself and your family. You can bind demons and even cast them out. You can also ask a priest to pray deliverance prayers over you. A combination of the two would be a great choice. I know that deliverance prayers can be confusing for people, especially those who are under attack, but the following suggestions should help. Deliverance Prayers for the Laity, by Father Chad Ripperger, is a great resource for people. It has various deliverance prayers that can break the bonds between the person and demonic spirits or influences, as well as other prayers. Be sure to include renunciation prayers. It is important to read the introduction before praying the prayers. I would also suggest purchasing another book by Father Ripperger for your priest or pastor: Minor Exorcisms and Deliverance Prayers: For use by Priests (English and Latin Edition). This book will give your priest the tools he needs to help you and others suffering spiritually.
“Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above.”
Eph 6:10-13
Another excellent resource is the Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal. Monsenior Rosetti is an exorcist, and he offers monthly deliverance sessions (online) for those who need spiritual help and deliverance prayers. It is free and open to everyone. Just sign up on the website or app and join at the correct time in your zone. Depending on where you are in the world, it could be quite early or in the middle of the night. But it will be well worth it. The deliverance sessions are helping many people, even those who may not have a priest or exorcist to help them. Monsenior Rosetti is stepping into that role and helping so many people. He needs our prayers and thanks. Saint Michael Center also provides deliverance prayers, videos, and other learning materials. They are having a Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 14th. I know this is short notice, hopefully you can catch it, but if not, he has more than one a year. The next deliverance session is on April 20th. These are just some of the steps you can take right now to protect yourself and your family. I plan to have part 2 of this article out within the next few weeks.
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