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Exorcism tips from Holy Souls Hermitage – What to do if I think I’m harassed by Satan? (Part 36)
Holy Souls Hermitage ^ | 2011/10/28 | Father George David Byers

Posted on 10/29/2011 3:00:52 AM PDT by markomalley

The first thing to do if you think you are harassed by Satan is to pray like a little child might, with simplicity, with faith, with trust. Use the Lord’s Prayer.

The second thing is not to worry. The Lord purposely came into this world to deal with all the hell that hell had to vomit out so that, having taken this on, and rising from the dead, He might have the right in all justice to have mercy on us. It’s a matter of love. And that’s how He wins.

If you’re harassed, that doesn’t mean that you are bad nor evil nor abandoned by our Lord. Not at all. This is the road for you that our Lord has permitted to help you in your circumstances of life with your priorities and in your relationship with Him. Our Lord can always take good out of evil for our benefit, the evil being there in the first place because of original sin and its just consequences. So, no depression. No despair!

The third thing to do is to contact a Catholic Priest in good standing who has been expressly appointed to be an exorcist in that particular diocese. Make certain of this. To find out how to meet up with him, contact your local parish priest of the local Catholic Church in your area, asking him if he would contact the chancery for you. If this is not possible, or you meet up with mockery, google the chancery or “Catholic Center” or “Pastoral Center” of the Catholic (Arch)Diocese in whose territory you live. Google, for instance, ” Catholic Diocese [or Archdiocese] ” along with “near” and the name of the largest city in the region. From there, look for the contact information. Try any number of offices on the list.

What you are experiencing might not be what you expect, and have nothing to do with Satan. Good! Now you know!

If there is something untoward, you might just need a house-blessing. I would ask for the “extraordinary form” of this house blessing. Blessings do what they say, and the extraordinary form of this blessing is most extraordinary. This is what you want. Trust me on that one.

If there is something more serious, the duly deputed exorcist will be able to guide you through the steps that you need to take.

Again, (1) Pray; (2) Don’t worry; (3) Contact a Catholic Priest…

* * *

What not to do:

Don’t do an exorcism yourself. Never command the devil. Ever.

Don’t go to charlatans. You’ll only get yourself in much worse trouble.

Don’t go to a Catholic Priest who says something stupid like: “It’s alright. We’re all exorcists!” or “I deputed myself! The bishop couldn’t care less!” or “I’m charismatic, so what I do is outside of the Church Law’s purview!” or, without any further discussion, simply concludes upon your inquiry, “You don’t need an exorcist. Nobody does. Just go to a shrink. Leave me alone!” or similar things. Instead, go to an expressly mandated Catholic Priest exorcist.

Whatever you do, don’t don’t don’t go to the charismatic deliverance pray over sessions. That’s where perhaps fully half of our cases have come from, starting there. Disobedience is the playground of Satan. Don’t do it. Even if the priest is famous, or the (usually) ever so nice prayer ladies try to insist that they’ve been doing this for years, and that they are real “prayer warriors.” You’ll only get yourself into terrible trouble. Again, go to an expressly mandated Catholic Priest exorcist.

Sorry to be so pedantic, but in this new-agey time, with the anything goes attitude of nicey-nice people who couldn’t care less about the welfare of individuals, only about their own self-promotion, it stems from my experience that pedantic is the way to go.

By the way, those of you who are not Catholic are not left out of the picture. Really. Just go to an expressly mandated Catholic Priest exorcist.


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1 posted on 10/29/2011 3:00:53 AM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

May I suggest dropping ones Democratic Party registration as a first step?


2 posted on 10/29/2011 3:05:01 AM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles.)
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To: GladesGuru
May I suggest dropping Whiskey bottle as a second step?
3 posted on 10/29/2011 4:22:08 AM PDT by BigCinBigD
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To: BigCinBigD

Become an atheist!


4 posted on 10/29/2011 4:26:24 AM PDT by BTCM (Death and destruction is the only treaty Muslims comprehend.)
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To: markomalley

Hmm, wildly interesting, however didn’t Christ “given you Authoirty to...” in Luke?


5 posted on 10/29/2011 4:44:49 AM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: padre35

Aren’t all christians told to command satan leave in the name of Jesus....what is this about never command satan? I really would be interested where it is in the bible...


6 posted on 10/29/2011 4:49:47 AM PDT by goat granny
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To: BTCM

Already am! LOL.


7 posted on 10/29/2011 4:51:17 AM PDT by BigCinBigD
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To: padre35

I think you are referring to this: (all RSV)

Matthew 10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Or its parallels:

Mark 3:13 And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons: 16 Simon whom he surnamed Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home;

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

You will note that He gave the twelve authority over unclean spirits (the authority to cast out demons).

Contrast this with another commonly used passage:

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

You will note that in the above passage, there is no authority delegated.

That's the difference: any Catholic (any Christian) can say deliverance prayers for himself or for another. And those prayers are effective. But the Rite of Exorcism (which is what Fr Byers is talking about) has a distinctly different tone to it that conveys that delegated authority. You can read a copy of it in this PDF file if you are interested.

8 posted on 10/29/2011 5:35:35 AM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good-Pope Leo XIII)
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To: markomalley

Thanks for the clarification.


9 posted on 10/29/2011 5:53:53 AM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: goat granny

Until you learn where in the bible (don’t know yet myself - but I admit, not a protestant, I have this absolute inherent trust in the Church, like perhaps some folks do in the Consititution...that I don’t need to look everything up to trust it though am free and encouraged to), might I offer the reasoning I have discerned from some of the above links: Praying is to ask God to intercede, thus rejecting satan as well - first step.

Let God do the heavy lifting, and you are powerless to do any lifting but are easily led astray as a human.

The exorcist is called in because he has experience and training (not any power) in dealing with satan - he understands (as the previous 35 links detail) that satan will use all of the challenger’s sins to confuse and intimidate and trick.

The priest is a sinner, like you, “the worst sinner in the world” in his own skin, and doesn’t portend to be anything better than you - just knows to call on God to do the heavy lifting. The priest will NOT call satan out, but request God to call satan out - only God has power, not man (the first of satan’s tricks!).

Yes, Jesus said “get behind me”, but that was God commanding it - He also commanded “unless you gnaw on my flesh” and didn’t mean our own flesh as you of course know.

Thank you Marckomalley for providing for me in these links in the past to learn this! Praise God!


10 posted on 10/29/2011 5:56:10 AM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: goat granny

Generally speaking, yes, Lk 10:19.

What the OP is saying the priests who are commissioned to perform the rite of excorcism are given Authority, specifically to do so.

Recall Christ and the child whom he said “this kind will only come out with...” when the child’s life was in jeopardy?


11 posted on 10/29/2011 5:58:32 AM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: markomalley

Thank you, Markomalley, for these posts. Look... I realize that there are folks out there that don’t believe in satan or don’t think he has any sort of power in this world. What’s the saying?... “the devils greatest feat was to make people believe he didn’t exist?” (or something along those lines). Keep up the great work and God Bless!


12 posted on 10/29/2011 7:32:33 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: momtothree

Do you really think each diocese has an exorcist


13 posted on 10/29/2011 9:39:22 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: markomalley

Then tell that Obama campaign staffer that you would appreciate her knocking off the phone solicitations. :)


14 posted on 10/29/2011 9:43:40 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves (CTRL-GALT-DELETE)
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To: markomalley

..so what it the priest is in “good standing” with the Church, but you find out in 6 months he wasn’t in such “good standing” with God? Can satan cast out satan?


15 posted on 10/29/2011 9:47:06 AM PDT by smvoice (The Cross was NOT God's Plan B.)
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To: smvoice

Well, when Saul was chasing David to try and kill him, he was out of bounds but still annointed to be the King, so much so David would not sidestep it and simply kill him out of respect for God.


16 posted on 10/29/2011 12:54:29 PM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It

Hi Fixed, I read your post to me several times and I am sorry but it makes no sense to me what so ever...so all I can say is have a great weekend....GG


17 posted on 10/29/2011 7:00:34 PM PDT by goat granny
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To: padre35
I guess where I am getting confused is in the difference between being tempted to something and telling satan to be gone and the actual exorcist of one that is possessed..But one is still told to be gone in the name of Jesus, and the spirit must obey that name..(hope I am not confusing in what I am trying to say)

What I gathered from Luke 10/19 is to not rejoy when one can do such things, but be glad your name is written in heaven...

But I think my original question was where does it say we are never to command satan, that seems to me it would include also to never speak to the spirit that was tempting us, but we must run to the excorist...Not being possessed but just harassed, we are to just shut up.

I don't know the bible by heart, but there is a difference between possession and harassment. We all are tempted by demon spirits (I don't like those words) to sin, but if we follow Jesus example, we tell them to leave but we do so in Jesus name, for there is no other name they must obey..

Therefore to say we must never command satan is not quite factual....maybe this is just debating how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. But when I ask where in the bible are we told to NEVER command satan, I am honestly seeking an answer. I will have to think on Luke 10/19 but on the surface its about being prideful on having the spirits obey them, maybe just a bit too happy at their own results...(maybe?)

18 posted on 10/29/2011 7:36:31 PM PDT by goat granny
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To: goat granny

Well, there we agree “never” is overbroad.

Recall the sons the sceva? They were replied to with:

“we know Jesus, we’ve heard of Paul, but who are you”?

Meaning the name of Jesus is not some talisman, to rely upon such Authority, requires a deep faith, not the superficial one that the sons of sceva had, to do so is to make a wager:

faith v the power that evil possesses.

Would merely saying “Jesus” be sufficient? What if ones name is Jesus, or Dejesus?

Granted, the difference between “harrassed” and “possessed” is a distinction that makes little difference to me, however let’s compare ( as much as this limited mind can fathom it):

A teenager who tries hard and things just go wrong for, time after time things just do not work out for them and they are troubled in spirit (that is not something those who drink spiritual milk will fathom, those who are Christ centered know the differences)

Compared to the feeling of evil about a place, or person, especially a loved one that you know well.

At what point would “you” descern the difference Goat Granny?

When is an excorcism needed, and when is intercessory prayer?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!


19 posted on 10/29/2011 8:24:27 PM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: padre35
Really much harder to write down than to talk to isn't it?..

Sorry, I don't recall the son's of sceva. But take your word for it...

I would ask the question, If the spirits speaking know Paul and know Jesus, what difference does that make when one says to the spirit, depart in Jesus name...for all are to bow to that name...Could the spirits have been trying to pull a fast one by not obeying the order to leave...(I don't know) but in another part of scripture the apostles told Jesus about a woman casting out spirits and she was not a part of the apostles/disciples. and they wanted Jesus to stop her....he said No, because one that cast out spirits in his name will never be his enemy. definitely paraphrasing this and I don't know scripture by chapter and verse...It seems like you do (good) which means you can probably quote which Gospel it is in...

It is the name that the spirits obey, not the name of the one telling them to leave.

I am not sure what you mean when you say Jesus name is not some talisman to rely upon....It is not some superstition, it is a name of power and carries power with the name...If one didn't believe in Jesus and his power, they certainly would not be using his name with conviction..

Evil exists in man by his fallen nature and by influences outside of our selves, but those born of water and spirit and name (baptized) can overcome such influences by prayer, work, and will,

When one knows and believes in Jesus, and believes in his name, is it not the spirits that must obey, not because of who says it, but because God demands it of them..

Farther down in your post when you speak of the teenager, that to me is the human condition and not necessarily the work of outside influences.. I firmly believe that our human condition has flaws that are not necessarily the result of spiritual influences....I do not believe that mental illness is spiritual, (although in rare cases it might be) As proof I offer that modern medication can cure many such problems and I am sure you will agree that evil spirits are not cured by modern medicine...(or can they be also denied access when the brain of a believer is functioning properly)

When I was working as a nurse and occasionally sent to the psych unit to pass meds...(due to someone calling in sick) There would be at times someone on the unit that by manner and words I would say were truly evil. These did not respond to medication easily. That is all the discerning I ever did...sometimes its a gut feeling, the way they look at you, what they say etc...but even then I would not say they were possessed, I couldn't make that discernment on my own. You just seem to know this person is someone to stay away from...

One can take a liking to someone or an instant dislike, I don't call it a spiritual thing..In other words not everything is to be discerned on a spirit level..

I have no idea when an exorcism is needed as compared to intercessory prayer. But I do believe true exorcism is rare and for some they confuse the need for one when the real need is for a doctors intercession and not a priests. I have had the opportunity to observe a persons brain via a PET scan and when the person is in an exacerbation of their brain dysfunction, as compared to when in remission the area's of the brain functioning correctly can be views on the scan...We understand more of the working of the human body now that 100 years ago. Many things that were at one time thought spiritual in nature we have come to learn that they are physical in nature...Jumping to the wrong conclusion can lead to nasty consequences...

Do we not trust God to lead and believe that the pits others dig for us, they will fall into...If we are to (pray always), to me that does not mean we must be constantly saying prayers, we just lead our lives in ways that would make our Good Father pleased...I don't want to be nagging in prayer all the time, ask and it will be given unto you..

But as I reread what I have written, it may not be answering your specific question to me...as I say, talking is much easier than writing, and one thing can drift off into another subject that when talking gets clarified easier than when typing it....

I don't do deep though easily...:O) but have I answered any of your questions to me? I don't know, only you do.

20 posted on 10/29/2011 9:15:14 PM PDT by goat granny
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