From Forums of the Virgin Mary [translated from Portuguese]:
“The new spiritual warfare: How demons are introducing new forms of attack.”
Exorcists are professionals who understand how demons act; they know how the evil one attacks and how we must defend ourselves.
Not believing in the existence of the devil, as many modernists do, nor considering the recommendations of exorcists, leads them to think that many of the thoughts demons implant in their minds are legitimate, self-derived conclusions from their studies.
From there, heresies are born, distancing them from God and the morality He prescribed for humanity.
They then try to impose these as necessary modernizations that the Church must adopt to keep pace with current times.
Here, we will discuss how exorcists have discovered that demons attack human beings, how these attacks affect people’s perception of their true thoughts versus spurious thoughts implanted by demons, and how to defend oneself to avoid falling into error or unnecessary suffering.
Although Hollywood often depicts demonic possession as the devil’s primary method of tormenting humans, the most common attacks on people and the Church are temptations.
These are not only threats to salvation but also to living a peaceful life on Earth.
Exorcists are uniquely qualified to distinguish between their own thoughts and those planted by demons.
Father Stephen Rossetti of the San Miguel Arcángel Center in the USA has spoken about the attacks that his team of exorcist priests receive from demons.
He identifies three levels that affect exorcists and others.
He states that the first level of demonic attack is leading to the sin of impurity. He has even mentioned that demons send lewd photos and make suggestive comments to exorcists, with some, especially younger ones, succumbing to these attacks.
A notable case was that of the young Spanish bishop and exorcist Xavier Novell, who in 2021 left the priesthood because he fell in love with a divorced woman who wrote erotic novels with satanic overtones. [scroll for more:]
Concordance with God’s revelation helps us discern which thoughts come from the devil.
The second level of temptation is pride, whether in one’s gifts, achievements, intelligence, or analytical capacity.
Demons play a dual role here: they lead people to overvalue their abilities and achievements, and they torment them when these are not recognized.
Pride can lead us to attempt to amend God.
The third level of temptation is the sin of despair, which occurs when things do not go as planned. Saint Catherine of Siena was told by the Lord that despair is the most serious sin because it implies that one’s misery is greater than God’s mercy and leads to the rejection of His mercy.
Demons wait for us to give in to despair, to challenge traditional understandings of God’s will, and to acquiesce to the spirit of the age.
They also attack by causing us to obsess over the future, present, and past.
For example, they may instill fear about future events, such as catastrophic outcomes of climate change, without acknowledging that nothing happens in the world without God’s allowance, which is always for the good of those who love Him.
Succumbing to fear distances us from faith. Faith is more than recognizing God’s existence; it involves trusting in God and the victory of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Another demonic tactic is to make us forget God’s justice and focus solely on His mercy, leading to sin without repentance.
The Church and individuals are also attacked by being constantly reminded of past sins and failures, whether confessed or not, to wear them down.
Recognizing the true source of mental torments and establishing ourselves in the truth of God’s word in the Bible is key to protection.
Evil thoughts that violate God’s word should be allowed to pass through without dwelling on them.
Closing the door on weaknesses, wounds, and past traumas is essential.
Prayers of deliverance, the rosary, spiritual direction, Eucharistic adoration, and the sacraments are sources of healing.
Repetitive prayers to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, the use of sacramentals and holy water, and cultivating peace are also recommended.
Suffering is a part of life, but trust in Jesus, who died for our sins, brings salvation and reassurance.
In conclusion, we’ve discussed how demons introduce heresies, errors, and suffering into the Church and among Christians, and how to defend yourself and your faith.
We at Forums would like to hear your thoughts on how else you think demons are attacking in these times.