St. Michael Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

demons are like rats

'Deep Wounds, Deep Healing'
by Charles K Kraft

p45
"In deep-level healing we get to cast out lots of demons. But we recognize that demons are like rats. And rats go for 'garbage.' 'Garbage' is the term I use to refer to the spiritual or emotional problems to which demons attach themselves. In order to live in a person, demons need to have a legal right. That right is provided when there are things in the person's past or present life to which demons can attach. When that is taken away, the demons usually go quietly."

Feast Day of the Archangels

Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

Michael was the leader of the army of God during the uprising of Lucifer. He is known as the Defender. Raphael travelled with Tobit and protected him. He is known as the Healer. Gabriel informed Mary that she would bear the Savior. He is known as the Messenger of God.

10 curses that block the blessing

The Lord started working on me a little bit on Monday on the subject of 'curses'. This morning a friend of mine sent me the following information...POWERFUL stuff!
Sid Roth

audio

The Onion

(here's another re-post)

The Onion


I was an onion before Christ set me free.Layers upon layers of iniquity.
An ugly old onion whose fragrance was strong;That my Jesus bought and loved all along.
Unknown to me what He was going to do.Of what He was planning, I had not a clue.
Pulling each layer off one by one.In order to make me more like Jesus the Son.
The first layer wasn't so bad.I saw all the sins that I knew I had.
They were easy to fix, just change the way I talk.And learn more of how He wanted me to walk.
Reading His Word, and learning again;How to put aside my life of sin.
But the next layer was pulled which hurt more.He was getting closer to the core.
Unknown what He would find there.I simply gave it to Him in prayer.
As another layer was removed, He started to cry;Pulling this layer brought pain to my Father on High.

And I was crying over the sadness I felt;The brokenness and all of the guilt.
Past memories that I thought were gone;They were buried under layers disguised in a fragrance so strong.
As onions peel more and more;And they put tears in our eyes as we get close to the core;So my father wept over my pain;Giving me a balm of comfort and strength to sustain.
"NO MORE LAYERS." I would scream.As he continued to peel them off of me."I'll have nothing left my Lord, what will I do?I'll be nothing but a worthless core to you.
"But He just said "Trust me," and continued to peelI was sure He was blinded to my pain that was so real.
Year after year I shrunk more and more;Until all that was left of this onion was a core.

It was then that I began to understand;As the Lord embraced me in His loving hand.
He said, now and only now can you be;The creation that will minister before me.
Clothed with the righteousness only from above;Gone are your layers of self so you can be filled with my love.
He took my layers of sin, hurt and pain;And clothed me with love, truth and mercy in His name.
Yes, we are all onions, learning with each day;How to overcome as each layer is taken away.
Some layers tear and pull at our heart;While others grieve us to our innermost part.
But we are nothing but an ugly onion without Christ.Layers upon layers of pride, sin and strife.
Only God can take those layers away.And clothe us with His righteousness in that final day.

author unknown

inner healing

I thought I'd re-post some of my thoughts on 'inner healing'(which is what this blog is about) for anyone that hasn't had the chance to go through the archives.
-------------------------------

The story of Lazarus is one that is close to my heart. In 'Thin Again' the author tells us this story in a way that explains the healing process. Jesus had brought Lazarus back from the dead (he was 'born again' as we too are after our Baptism) but still 'bound up'...his 'grave clothes' were still intact and he couldn't move very well and completly lacked freedom. Jesus then gave the command to the people that were near by to go ahead and free him. (John 11:44)and He does the same for us today...Jesus through the Sacraments gives us life...then it is up to the community as a whole to participate in the full restoration. These 'grave clothes' are anything that keeps us bound even after we have been freed from our sin...hurtful memories, addictions...and yes...even opression by demons and evil spirits(not talking about full posession here) that have come upon us either through doors that we ourselvs have opened or by being exposed to someone else's sin. This is what the 'inner-healing' ministry is all about...releasing captives.

"releasing captives

Defeat
Lazarus rose because he heard the voice of God and immediately wanted to get out of the situation he was in. If he hadn't wanted to move, he would just have died again.

A sincere resolution: to have faith in God always; to hope in God always; to love God always... he never abandons us, even if we are rotting away as Lazarus was.

--- St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #211"

I also believe that even though the Lord can do this for us in one fell swoop...it often doesn't happen that way...and it's more 'a process' of peeling off layer by layer.

united wills

"The Means

Do you see? One strand of wire entwined with another, many woven tightly together, form that cable strong enough to lift huge weights.

You and your brothers, with wills united to carry out God's will can overcome all obstacles.
– St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, #480"

a light to the nations

"These are all little glimpses of what she has in store for us in this deeper call of intercession. In Isaiah 42: 6-7 we read, “I, the Lord have called you for the victory of justice. I have grasped you by the hand. I have formed you and set you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations.” Jesus is the light of the world. He is calling us now individually and collectively as Church to be a light to all the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of confinement and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. This means bringing people out of deception, out of all kinds of bondage. This is the power of intercession. We have the power."
read full story here

Our Lady of Fatima

"The final evidence of the relationship of Fatima to the Moslems is the enthusiastic reception that the Moslems in Africa and India and elsewhere gave to the Pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Moslems attended the Catholic services in honor of Our Lady; they allowed religious processions and even prayers before their mosques; and in Mozambique the Moslems, who were unconverted, began to be Christian as soon as the statue of Our Lady of Fatima was erected."

Read full story here

His words bring healing

"Jesus will refuse a word to no one, and his words bring healing, they console, they bring light.

This is what you and I have to remember at all times, especially when we find ourselves tired and weighed down by work or opposition.

– St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #254"

a reminder

"Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things."

Fr. Ron at Mass this morning encouraged us to add our own names to this passage, or I guess 'I' would work too. For example...I am patient, I am kind. I am not jealous, I am not pompous...hmmmm...how true would all that be? Sure shows the areas that we need to work on. Here's my favorite...'I am not quick tempered, I do not brood over injury'...ouch!

freed to experience joy

"I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." ~John 15:11

Since last week, we have been 'practicing' inner healing with our group. Last week I was an 'observer', this week I had the priviledge and great blessing of being the 'receiver'. I knew going in that this is what the Lord wanted for me. So many issues came up with the Lord's help through my friends guidance and I felt the wonderful relief of being able to receive truth and then to finally let go of the pain. I felt light...like walking on clouds. Then I get home and get the above passage...WOW! I praise You Lord!

As a little aside...at the beginning of the year I was given Saint Joseph Cupertino as my saint for the year...and lo and behold...today is his feast day. So...thank you St. Cupertino for interceding for me. Oh, I just realized something kind of funny...about me 'walking on clouds'...lol...that's sort of what he did too(he would levitate). I also just realized that I had posted about him at my other blog and issued a prayer that I may experience the type of joy he had amongst my daily trials. Thank You, Thank You Jesus!

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

My Lord, You are all powerful, You are God, You are Father. We beg You through the intercession and help of the archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters who are enslaved by the evil one. All saints of heaven, come to our aid.
From anxiety, sadness, and obsessions, We beg You: Free us, O Lord. From hatred, fornication, envy, We beg You: Free us, O Lord. From thoughts of jealousy, rage, and death. We beg You: Free us, O Lord. From every thought of suicide and abortion. We beg You: Free us, O Lord. From every form of sinful sexuality. We beg You: Free us, O Lord. From every division in our family, and every harmful friendship. We beg You: Free us, O Lord. From every sort of spell, malefice, witchcraft, and every form of the occult. We beg You: Free us, O Lord.

Lord, You Who said, "I leave you peace, my peace I give you," grant that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we may be liberated from every evil spell and enjoy Your peace always. In the Name of Christ, our Lord. Amen."

spirit of infirmity

MacNutt maintains that there are actually "spirits of trauma" and "spirits of rejection" that play on emotional wounds. How often are they the major cause of an actual physical illness? "I'm not sure what the percentage would be," says MacNutt, "but we find it quite a bit. Just a few weeks ago we did a course at Regent University in Virginia Beach. We asked for two volunteers to show the group how you can pray, and one of the two was a woman who had cancer of the breast that had spread, so we started to pray on that level and suddenly she was in the midst of a deliverance.

"It seemed that the spirit was a spirit of cancer or infirmity or whatever you want to call it. We got a letter from a friend of hers today saying that the tumors went down and continue to go down. The tumors went down that night, the pain I think disappeared, and the spirits left. We find that's not too rare."

read entire story here

put your weaknesses in the Lord's hands

The Struggle

You are consumed by the desire to confirm once more the self-dedication you made some time ago: remembering that you are a son of God and living like one too.

Put your many weaknesses and infidelities in the Lord's hands. For that is also the only way to lessen their weight.

– St. Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, #175

today's problem

Many of our clerics are more social workers, or sociologists, than they are evangelists, more comfortable in the board room of a social agency than in a church where there is the laying on of hands. They prefer the academic, sociological approach to one that is spiritual.

And thus do we have priests who halt visitors from healing services, dissuade Bible studies, quash efforts to establish Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, disallow traveling lay ministers, dislike the Rosary, discourage deliverance, don't know how to bless a home, scoff at the notion of sacramentals, mock the claim of miracles, or simply ignore all of the above.

The psychologist has replaced the exorcist -- in many cases, with devastating effects -- and the modus operandi when there is a claim of the supernormal in our current time is to announce that there is no proof and will be no investigation. Even alleged Eucharistic miracles are quickly taken from view to avoid embarrassment.

read full story here

Job Opening

JOB DESCRIPTION: Tell the dying world how they can live through Jesus Christ.

NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: Unlimited----Preachers, teachers, singers, musicians, disciples, etc. Exception: The position of Boss has already been filled by the Holy Spirit.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must have previously sinned and been blood washed. Must be willing to press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

EXPERIENCE: None necessary

EDUCATION: Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

BENEFIT PACKAGE: SALARY: My God (the employer) shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

INSURANCE: Access to the Master Physician.

PACKAGE ALSO INCLUDES: Love, joy, peace, patience, long suffering... A Lawyer, A Comforter, and Wonderful Counselor.

RECOMPENSE FOR COMPLETING THE JOB ASSIGNMENT: The most important benefit, ETERNAL LIFE with the employer.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Before the return of Jesus Christ (Date unknown, wise NOT to hesitate.)

NOTE: satan and demons need not apply.

healing and casting demons

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/090606.shtml

I just watched the 'Exorcism of Emily Rose' for the first time last night, and even though I don't much care for horror stories...I had heard that this one was based on a true story and had a spiritual message. It was and it did...wow! I'm sure that they dramatized some scenes for entertainment value...but still...we get the message.

At one point an expert witness is asked why there seem to be more 'exorcisms' performed in third world countries and the answer is kind of shocking. Unfortunately I don't remember her exact words but the gist of it is that we in our 'civilized societies' have learned to cover up posessions...we give people drugs to cope with it and we call it by any other name imaginable...except for what it actually is.

Isn't it funny that in Bible one of the things that we often see Jesus do, is cast out demons. Why is this not happening more frequently in our churches today? Are there less demons in this day and age...hmmm...by looking around, it would appear that the opposite is actually true...so how come? Personally I just think that satan has done his work well...the less we believe in him and his folks the quicker he can get to us.

Towards the end of the movie we find out that Emily Rose had an encounter with the Blessed Mother and was given the option to go home with her at that moment or to continue on with her suffering so that many souls could be won for God by her story(she chose to stay)...the message of her life is that demons are real.

Mother Teresa's Feast Day

Mother Teresa Said..."If we are careful of silence it will be easy to pray and to pray fervently.
There is so much talk, so much repetition,
so much carrying of tales in words and in writing.
Our prayer life must suffer so much because our hearts are not silent,
for as you know "only in the silence of the heart, God speaks."
Only after we have listened can we speak from the fullness of our hearts."

Prayer for Peace of Heart

Almighty and Eternal God
Give me, I beseech You the great gift of inward peace
Command the winds and storms of my unruly passions.
Subdue, by your grace, my proneness to love created things too much,
Give me a love of suffering for your sake.
Make me forbearing and kind to others,that I may avoid quarrels and contentions.
And teach me constantly to seek after and to acquire that perfect resignation to Your Holy Will which alone brings interior peace. Amen

The Onion

I was an onion before Christ set me free.Layers upon layers of iniquity.An ugly old onion whose fragrance was strong;That my Jesus bought and loved all along.Unknown to me what He was going to do.Of what He was planning, I had not a clue.Pulling each layer off one by one.In order to make me more like Jesus the Son.The first layer wasn't so bad.I saw all the sins that I knew I had.They were easy to fix, just change the way I talk.And learn more of how He wanted me to walk.Reading His Word, and learning again;How to put aside my life of sin.But the next layer was pulled which hurt more.He was getting closer to the core.Unknown what He would find there.I simply gave it to Him in prayer.As another layer was removed, He started to cry;Pulling this layer brought pain to my Father on High.

And I was crying over the sadness I felt;The brokenness and all of the guilt.Past memories that I thought were gone;They were buried under layers disguised in a fragrance so strong.As onions peel more and more;And they put tears in our eyes as we get close to the core;So my father wept over my pain;Giving me a balm of comfort and strength to sustain."NO MORE LAYERS." I would scream.As he continued to peel them off of me."I'll have nothing left my Lord, what will I do?I'll be nothing but a worthless core to you. "But He just said "Trust me," and continued to peelI was sure He was blinded to my pain that was so real.Year after year I shrunk more and more;Until all that was left of this onion was a core.

It was then that I began to understand;As the Lord embraced me in His loving hand.He said, now and only now can you be;The creation that will minister before me.Clothed with the righteousness only from above;Gone are your layers of self so you can be filled with my love.He took my layers of sin, hurt and pain;And clothed me with love, truth and mercy in His name.Yes, we are all onions, learning with each day;How to overcome as each layer is taken away.Some layers tear and pull at our heart;While others grieve us to our innermost part.But we are nothing but an ugly onion without Christ.Layers upon layers of pride, sin and strife.Only God can take those layers away.And clothe us with His righteousness in that final day.

author unknown

Love is the answer

Love under all circumstances and you will puncture through any assault by the evil one. This is your shield. It is also a sword. It will go before you and neutralize the acid that may await you. Let love go before you as a guardian. Slash through the rudeness of others with the sword of joy that comes from love and you will be astonished at how circumstances you could not have rectified yourself will suddenly turn in your favor.

"All the days of the afflicted are evil," adds that same mysterious Book of Proverbs, "but a cheerful heart has a continual feast."

Joy from love is a bubble around you. Be joyous no matter what and you will be invincible. Ask God for the gift of cheerfulness. A soft answer turns away anger. A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh.
read full story here