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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
question on hooks	debbie	Sunday, September 30, 2007
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius, I have read a lot of posts on "hooks" demons can hold on to, and cause various forms of demonization in one's life. I have been plagued with unwanted blasphemous thoughts for many years, upon returning to the church they became much worse, but as time has gone by with much prayer, holy communion, confession, etc. they seemed to have lessened. I am extremely afraid that they are starting back up again, and I don't want to have to live through this again. I have gone to confession many times since returning back to the church, and I have always been left with the feeling I wasn't entirely forgiven for all the wrong things I have done in my life. I have time and time again tried to examine my conscience and try to tell everything I can remember. I went to confession yesterday and I poured my heart and soul out, I left in tears feeling a lightness like never before in my soul, yet not 10 minutes after my confession these thoughts pop right back up in my head and I feel soiled all over again. I can't seem to ever keep a feeling of holiness within my heart and soul because of it. If the devil and demons can't read our minds, and can't hear our confessions how do they know what "hooks" we may or may not have left? I hope you understand what I am trying to ask. I keep thinking what am I missing? What am I not remembering? I have asked the Lord to open my mind and heart and allow me to remember the things I need to confess. Is it possible that in my case it is not a "hook" anymore but something else causing these thoughts? Thank You
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Debbie: A "hook" is not an unconfessed sin. A "hook" is a residue of sin (consequence of sin), or some other negative behavior that has not yet been resolved and thus creates a bondage or attachment. In addition to seeking forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession we also need to work on renouncing the sin and removing all attachment to that sin. It is here that we have "hooks" -- attachments to sin, or bondage created by a sin -- even though the sin itself has been forgiven. In your case, at least in part, it appears from your post that the problem you are having may be sourced in a kind of scrupulosity caused by a lack of understanding about the nature of the Sacrament of Confession. When you go to the Sacrament of Confession, make a good confession, and the priest absolves you, you are forgiven of ALL sin that you have committed up to the point of that Confession -- even the sins you have forgotten are forgiven. It is ALL gone, you are clean. There is no more sin in your life at that point, your soul is in a State of Grace. Thus, there are no sins to which you need to search your memory to remember. It is all gone. Whatever the causes of this harassment you are experiences is NOT coming from unconfessed sin. That is NOT the "hook". The devil loves to mess with us about confession. He loves to get us worrying about sins that we have forgotten. This is the devil's way to torture us. But do not allow him to play that game with you. ALL sin is forgiven, even sins that are forgotten, when the priest absolves you. If you "happen" to remember a mortal sin you should go ahead and mention it in your next confession, but you are ALREADY forgiven for that sin. So the first thing to remember is stop trying to remember forgotten unconfessed sin when it has already been forgiven. Get on with your life. As for why these unwanted thoughts are happening again? It could be as simple as "because". Evil does not need a reason. You may simply be under attack. The devil knows you have a weakness in this area (since you had this problem before) and has decided to mess with you again. Regardless of the causes, the solution is the same -- prayer, devotion, the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, and if needed, spiritual warfare prayer, the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance, and if necessary, full Deliverance Counseling. We will be praying for you. 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.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

question on hooks

debbie

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius,

I have read a lot of posts on "hooks" demons can hold on to, and cause various forms of demonization in one's life.

I have been plagued with unwanted blasphemous thoughts for many years, upon returning to the church they became much worse, but as time has gone by with much prayer, holy communion, confession, etc. they seemed to have lessened.

I am extremely afraid that they are starting back up again, and I don't want to have to live through this again. I have gone to confession many times since returning back to the church, and I have always been left with the feeling I wasn't entirely forgiven for all the wrong things I have done in my life.

I have time and time again tried to examine my conscience and try to tell everything I can remember. I went to confession yesterday and I poured my heart and soul out, I left in tears feeling a lightness like never before in my soul, yet not 10 minutes after my confession these thoughts pop right back up in my head and I feel soiled all over again. I can't seem to ever keep a feeling of holiness within my heart and soul because of it.

If the devil and demons can't read our minds, and can't hear our confessions how do they know what "hooks" we may or may not have left? I hope you understand what I am trying to ask.

I keep thinking what am I missing? What am I not remembering? I have asked the Lord to open my mind and heart and allow me to remember the things I need to confess. Is it possible that in my case it is not a "hook" anymore but something else causing these thoughts? Thank You

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Debbie:

A "hook" is not an unconfessed sin. A "hook" is a residue of sin (consequence of sin), or some other negative behavior that has not yet been resolved and thus creates a bondage or attachment.

In addition to seeking forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession we also need to work on renouncing the sin and removing all attachment to that sin. It is here that we have "hooks" -- attachments to sin, or bondage created by a sin -- even though the sin itself has been forgiven.

In your case, at least in part, it appears from your post that the problem you are having may be sourced in a kind of scrupulosity caused by a lack of understanding about the nature of the Sacrament of Confession.

When you go to the Sacrament of Confession, make a good confession, and the priest absolves you, you are forgiven of ALL sin that you have committed up to the point of that Confession -- even the sins you have forgotten are forgiven. It is ALL gone, you are clean. There is no more sin in your life at that point, your soul is in a State of Grace.

Thus, there are no sins to which you need to search your memory to remember. It is all gone. Whatever the causes of this harassment you are experiences is NOT coming from unconfessed sin. That is NOT the "hook".

The devil loves to mess with us about confession. He loves to get us worrying about sins that we have forgotten. This is the devil's way to torture us. But do not allow him to play that game with you. ALL sin is forgiven, even sins that are forgotten, when the priest absolves you.

If you "happen" to remember a mortal sin you should go ahead and mention it in your next confession, but you are ALREADY forgiven for that sin.

So the first thing to remember is stop trying to remember forgotten unconfessed sin when it has already been forgiven. Get on with your life.

As for why these unwanted thoughts are happening again? It could be as simple as "because". Evil does not need a reason. You may simply be under attack.

The devil knows you have a weakness in this area (since you had this problem before) and has decided to mess with you again.

Regardless of the causes, the solution is the same -- prayer, devotion, the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, and if needed, spiritual warfare prayer, the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance, and if necessary, full Deliverance Counseling.

We will be praying for you.

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.