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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Spirit of Infirmity?	Clare	Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Question: Hello, Brother or Joe, Is there such a thing as a "spirit of infirmity"? If so, how is it defined? For example, is it a demon that inflicts a particular illness or does it influence us toward, say, gluttony, which can lead to sugar addicton, which can lead to diabetes? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him." " If there is such a thing as a spirit of infirmity, how do we understand the spirit of infirmity in light of this paragraph? Isn't the whole purpose of a spirit of infirmity to make a person sick? Isn't this direct, then? If sickness is just a means to an end, what is the goal of this particular spirit?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Clare: Sure, there can be a demon who specializes in almost anything. In prayer, such as the Rebuking Particular Spirits prayer in our Catalog, demons are identified by their attributes. So, if you think there is a spirit of infirmity present, call it by that name in the Rebuking prayer. But also be more specific, such as the spirit of gluttony, since "infirmity" is rather general. We know that the devil can cause physical illness and harm. We see people in the Bible who have afflictions caused by the devil. Job was physically attacked by the devil. This was allowed by God, but the Scripture does not tells us how the devil afflicted Job. It may have indeed been in an indirect way. But to Job I think it hardly mattered to him whether it was direct or indirect when he lost everything and had boils all over his body. Direct or indirect the effect is still the same. As to your scenario, infirmity of the sugar addiction and diabetes was not directly caused by the devil. The spirit of infirmity, with a motivation to infirm the person with diabetes, indirectly causes that effect through inspiring and tempting the person to gluttony. The devil's attack was to inspire the sin of gluttony. Then gluttony did the rest. Of course we can inspire ourselves to gluttony too without the devil's help. 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

Spirit of Infirmity?

Clare

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Question:

Hello, Brother or Joe,

Is there such a thing as a "spirit of infirmity"? If so, how is it defined? For example, is it a demon that inflicts a particular illness or does it influence us toward, say, gluttony, which can lead to sugar addicton, which can lead to diabetes? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

"395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him." "

If there is such a thing as a spirit of infirmity, how do we understand the spirit of infirmity in light of this paragraph? Isn't the whole purpose of a spirit of infirmity to make a person sick? Isn't this direct, then? If sickness is just a means to an end, what is the goal of this particular spirit?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Clare:

Sure, there can be a demon who specializes in almost anything. In prayer, such as the Rebuking Particular Spirits prayer in our Catalog, demons are identified by their attributes. So, if you think there is a spirit of infirmity present, call it by that name in the Rebuking prayer. But also be more specific, such as the spirit of gluttony, since "infirmity" is rather general.

We know that the devil can cause physical illness and harm. We see people in the Bible who have afflictions caused by the devil. Job was physically attacked by the devil. This was allowed by God, but the Scripture does not tells us how the devil afflicted Job. It may have indeed been in an indirect way. But to Job I think it hardly mattered to him whether it was direct or indirect when he lost everything and had boils all over his body.

Direct or indirect the effect is still the same.

As to your scenario, infirmity of the sugar addiction and diabetes was not directly caused by the devil. The spirit of infirmity, with a motivation to infirm the person with diabetes, indirectly causes that effect through inspiring and tempting the person to gluttony. The devil's attack was to inspire the sin of gluttony. Then gluttony did the rest.

Of course we can inspire ourselves to gluttony too without the devil's help.

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.