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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Should I be this afraid? Or am I lacking in courage?	Bridget	Friday, January 22, 2010
Question: Hi! A few years ago, during some weeks, I had very bad dreams. I saw the face of a demon and woke up in horror only to find the demon was in my apartment (although I could not see, hear or smell him). At the time I had been away from the church for a long time and was just returning. All my life I had not believed in the existence of demons or angels. This experience proved me wrong. I did not know what to do but my guardian angel must have kept a very good watch indeed because I ended up doing pretty much what I have learnt one should. I said the completorium, I said the St Michael-rosary, I read chapter twelve in the book of revelation, I nailed a crucifix over my bed (and for perhaps childish reasons I slept with my rosary in my hand and the lights on). I did not dare ask a priest about it until it was all over - but once I did the priest I talked to took it seriously, blessed my apartment (he asked for the crucifix I had "used" and said some special prayer over it, I do not know what) and pretty much said I should not worry about it anymore. The experience turned form being one of complete horror to something almost funny. In the beginning I was petrified with fear but since the prayers "worked" (every. single. time.) it gave me a lot of courage and faith in the Lord. I started laughing at the whole thing as I was saying my prayers in the middle of the night. The demon did not frighten me anymore - I was mostly irritated with him. A few months later I read the books of father Gabriele Amorth. I then realized my priest was right - I had no reason to be worried about spells or anything like that. My case was the text book example of the mildest of demonic action Amorth described. I did learn that I had, in pride, made one mistake: I had talked to the demon (saying he could not do anything to me and so on) but I felt confident that God had protected me despite my pride. But now, five years later, I find that I have lost (perhaps wasted?) all that courage. The thought of the demon in those dreams is terrifying to me now and I can't imagine that I was once so unafraid. Is this only the way it should be (I suppose in a way the devil is both the only one you need to fear and the one whom you should fear the least)? Or should I worry? Sincerely Bridget
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Bridget: Be Not Afraid! is what our beloved late Pope, John Paul II, of happy memory, always said. You do not need to be afraid. You do, however, always need to be on guard and not be cocky. The Bible tells us to always be on guard for the devils schemes. One of his schemes is to encourage to be cocky. This bit of pride pleases him and can make you vulnerable. We always need to have a healthy respect for the devil -- like we need to have respect for a rattlesnake. You did the right things back then in your original responses, and that is good. The thinking that the experience was almost funny, I understand. The devil's attempts to harass us can be humorous at times. I also understand the irritation. I feel that way too often times. We need not fear the devil because our Guardian Angels are right by our side and so is our Lord and the Blessed Mother, but as mentioned we do need a healthy respect and not be cocky and prideful. There is a story in the Bible where the disciples came to Jesus all excited and prideful that demons obeyed their commands. Jesus rebuked them: (Luke 10:17-20) The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." The fear you feel now is not of God. The devil may be inspiring you to feel fear because he is angry that he lost the battle with you. Do not let him win this battle. Know that God is with you and will protect you even in the midst of demonic harassment. Do not give in to thoughts that somehow you need to be afraid. "Take every thought captive in obedience to Christ" as the Bible tells us. In our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog linked below we have prayers to control unwanted thoughts and also to rebuke spirits, such as the spirit of fear. As for talking to the demons, we are not to have conversations with them, asking them for their names or to gain information from them, or to hold a "rap session" with them, but we may make commands to them, such as, "Get away from me demon of ______, I am purchased by the Blood of the Lamb", "You cannot hurt me without God's permission, so get out of here", "I bind you demon of _____ and cast you out of my life", etc. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

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Should I be this afraid? Or am I lacking in courage?

Bridget

Friday, January 22, 2010

Question:

Hi!
A few years ago, during some weeks, I had very bad dreams. I saw the face of a demon and woke up in horror only to find the demon was in my apartment (although I could not see, hear or smell him). At the time I had been away from the church for a long time and was just returning. All my life I had not believed in the existence of demons or angels. This experience proved me wrong.

I did not know what to do but my guardian angel must have kept a very good watch indeed because I ended up doing pretty much what I have learnt one should. I said the completorium, I said the St Michael-rosary, I read chapter twelve in the book of revelation, I nailed a crucifix over my bed (and for perhaps childish reasons I slept with my rosary in my hand and the lights on). I did not dare ask a priest about it until it was all over - but once I did the priest I talked to took it seriously, blessed my apartment (he asked for the crucifix I had "used" and said some special prayer over it, I do not know what) and pretty much said I should not worry about it anymore.

The experience turned form being one of complete horror to something almost funny. In the beginning I was petrified with fear but since the prayers "worked" (every. single. time.) it gave me a lot of courage and faith in the Lord. I started laughing at the whole thing as I was saying my prayers in the middle of the night. The demon did not frighten me anymore - I was mostly irritated with him.

A few months later I read the books of father Gabriele Amorth. I then realized my priest was right - I had no reason to be worried about spells or anything like that. My case was the text book example of the mildest of demonic action Amorth described. I did learn that I had, in pride, made one mistake: I had talked to the demon (saying he could not do anything to me and so on) but I felt confident that God had protected me despite my pride.

But now, five years later, I find that I have lost (perhaps wasted?) all that courage. The thought of the demon in those dreams is terrifying to me now and I can't imagine that I was once so unafraid. Is this only the way it should be (I suppose in a way the devil is both the only one you need to fear and the one whom you should fear the least)? Or should I worry?

Sincerely
Bridget

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Bridget:

Be Not Afraid! is what our beloved late Pope, John Paul II, of happy memory, always said. You do not need to be afraid. You do, however, always need to be on guard and not be cocky. The Bible tells us to always be on guard for the devils schemes. One of his schemes is to encourage to be cocky. This bit of pride pleases him and can make you vulnerable. We always need to have a healthy respect for the devil -- like we need to have respect for a rattlesnake.

You did the right things back then in your original responses, and that is good. The thinking that the experience was almost funny, I understand. The devil's attempts to harass us can be humorous at times. I also understand the irritation. I feel that way too often times.

We need not fear the devil because our Guardian Angels are right by our side and so is our Lord and the Blessed Mother, but as mentioned we do need a healthy respect and not be cocky and prideful.

There is a story in the Bible where the disciples came to Jesus all excited and prideful that demons obeyed their commands. Jesus rebuked them:

(Luke 10:17-20) The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

The fear you feel now is not of God. The devil may be inspiring you to feel fear because he is angry that he lost the battle with you. Do not let him win this battle. Know that God is with you and will protect you even in the midst of demonic harassment. Do not give in to thoughts that somehow you need to be afraid. "Take every thought captive in obedience to Christ" as the Bible tells us.

In our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog linked below we have prayers to control unwanted thoughts and also to rebuke spirits, such as the spirit of fear.

As for talking to the demons, we are not to have conversations with them, asking them for their names or to gain information from them, or to hold a "rap session" with them, but we may make commands to them, such as, "Get away from me demon of ______, I am purchased by the Blood of the Lamb", "You cannot hurt me without God's permission, so get out of here", "I bind you demon of _____ and cast you out of my life", etc.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.