ADDICTIONS AND DIVINE MERCY

From “Divine Mercy Answers Life’s Crises and Problems”
By Fr. George W. Kosicki, C.S.B.

Father George Kosicki, CSB (1928 - 2014) worked with

the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception

in spreading the message of Divine Mercy. 

“What Should I Do When I’m Addicted?”

There are various types of addictions. They all affect the whole person in body, mind and spirit. The various addictions begin with a seeking of euphoria or pleasure and eventually end in moral degradation and violent behavior. Consider the following:

Addiction to alcohol is a complex phenomenon that involves the chemistry of the brain, genetic propensity stimulated by excessive intake of alcohol and stress. Some researchers have shown that the break down product of alcohol is not excreted but is “dumped” into the brain and sits on the site of the endorphins. The endorphins are the natural chemicals that stimulate a sense of well-being and pleasure. The end product of alcohol metabolism blocks the site of the natural endorphins -- so the alcoholic is addicted to stimulating the endorphin pleasure site with alcohol.

Addiction to drugs (such as heroine, etc.) follows the same pattern as the end-product of the metabolism of alcohol’s inhibiting the natural endorphins. So the drug addict seeks the euphoria of the drug in a compulsive way.

Addiction to pornography is the latest addition to the list of addictions. The euphoric site in the brain is stimulated to give a sense of pleasure from looking at pornographic materials, for example on the internet. Researchers are reporting that addiction to pornography is the major cause of most of the violent action of molestation of the young and the break-up of the family.

“What Should I Do As An Addict?”

There are Twelve-Step programs for each of the various addictions. Seek them out for help; that is why they exist.

In terms of Divine Mercy as the antidote to addiction, consider the following points that echo the Twelve-Step programs:

1. Admit your misery and your inability to overcome the complex pneumo-psycho-somatic (spiritual, psychological and physical) addiction by yourself. Turn to God’s mercy. Plunge into the ocean of God’s mercy with complete trust.
2. Repent of your sinful addiction and repent of your violent actions and moral degradation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
3. Ask a prayer group or a priest to pray over you for healing of the addiction.
4. Trust in God Who in His infinite mercy is always ready to forgive and to heal.
5. Seek out a support group of merciful friends to encourage you and challenge you to keep your resolutions.
6. Stop all addictive behavior by the grace of God -- i.e., no alcohol, no drugs, no porn...
7. Start with a new life -- new friends, new work if needed to reduce stress, new hobbies, new recreations, change your diet to a balanced intake of food.
8. Start a life of mercy in action: by deeds, by word and by prayer. Seek out ways to be merciful to those in need of help.
9. Repent of your self-concern and be concerned for others.
10. Continue in regular, daily prayer of thanks and asking the Lord for mercy on all those with addictions.
11. Receive regular and frequent Holy Communion to strengthen and nourish you with the Body and Blood of the Lord, the Presence of Mercy Incarnate.
12. Entrust your new life to Mary our Mother, the Mother of Divine Mercy.

Ask for His mercy.

Be merciful.

Completely trust in Jesus.

http://www.renewalministries.net/files/freeliterature/DM%20Answers%20life%20crises%20and%20problems.pdf

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DELIVERANCE AND INNER HEALING

 

Many Protestant deliverance ministers behave as though freedom from the demonic is the ultimate objective. One of these once told me, “I’ll have you know that I am ‘triple-mantled’ for deliverance.” I don’t even know what that means.

Deliverance is part of God’s healing ministry. And deliverance -- apart from inner healing -- is abuse. The ultimate objective should be “inner healing and wholeness.”

“Nature abhors a vacuum.” The same is true in the spiritual realm. Deliverance from evil spirits creates a “spiritual vacuum.” Therefore, the immediate need (for one who is already baptized) is for the “infilling of the Holy Spirit” and prayer for “inner healing.” Then, through Daily Eucharist and frequent Confession, one will continue to be healed and become more whole. Sanctifying Grace received in the Sacraments fills the “spiritual vacuum.”

~ * * * ~

Some time ago, I came to realize that many of the healings I witness are, in fact, deliverances. A woman once exclaimed, “When you prayed for me, I felt something lift!” It was an oppressing spirit that left her -- because of the anointing (that is, the charism of healing).

For some cases, all that is required is a touch and a prayer; other cases require some spiritual warfare. And all that is required of me are simple commands “in the Name of Jesus,” as inspired by the Holy Spirit. [I do not perform exorcisms. Only a priest may perform an exorcism -- and only with the permission of his Bishop.] It is this charism that causes demons to manifest, and ultimately leave.

The charism that heals also delivers!

San Francisco, CA (September 1990)

_ I attended a Mario Murillo Crusade where I (a Catholic layman) was welcomed to pray for people in the ministry tent. One night I was led to three women. As I approached, one of them became silent and lowered her head. When I looked into her face, I saw her eyes “roll backward” into her skull. Only the white of her eyes could be seen.

The woman was possessed -- but the demons did not begin to manifest until I approached her. It was the presence of the anointing (the charism) that caused these demons to manifest.

This was my “introduction” to the deliverance side of God’s healing ministry. [God is in control, and I do my part.] I followed the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and the woman was set free.

Days later, I was informed that this woman was one of two lesbians who had made a “suicide pact” with the Devil. That night, she had planned to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge -- but God intervened, and led her to the Crusade (below the bridge) where He had placed me.

Diocese of Arlington, VA (October 2010)

_ After a healing service in Northern Virginia, a psychotherapist asked me to pray with her patients. Then she took me to see one of her patients believed to be a “locutionist.” [A locution is a form of private revelation, similar to an apparition, but rather than being seen a locution is heard or received internally.]

The locutions were convincing -- but diabolical. The woman’s psychotherapist suspected demonic possession, and an exorcism had been approved and scheduled. I had been invited to participate in this exorcism, but the invitation was withdrawn because of liability concerns. Later, I was told the exorcism had been cancelled.

As we approached a large house in the suburbs, a woman yelled from the front door, “They know you’re coming!” The woman invited us into her home and proudly showed us her “shrine” -- a beautiful display of holy icons and statues… She was a nice lady, and it was obvious that she was a devout Catholic. But when she began to speak about Jesus, I heard the mocking voice of a demon!

I interrupted with the command, “In the Name of Jesus, evil spirit shut up!” And immediately, the woman became silent. I remember the surprised look on the doctor’s face.

I asked the woman to sit down, and we began to pray. I asked the doctor to pray the Rosary while I prayed for deliverance and inner-healing. [Once delivered, a man once said that he could feel the Power of the Rosary -- during the war for his soul!]

After two 3-hour sessions, the woman was free. And when the doctor asked me about the diabolical locutions, I told her to burn them.

~ * * * ~

Once delivered from evil spirits, there is no going back to the former (sinful) way of life. One is now called to “a life of holiness” -- a life centered on the Holy Eucharist. This is now very important -- because the evil spirits will return!

“When an unclean (evil) spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)

[“When the assault of demons (evil spirits) is repulsed, the devil is not rendered incapable of further attack. But it seems that he cannot return immediately to the assault, but only after the lapse of a definite time.” _ St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologica]

When evil spirits return and find their (former) home Spirit-filled and Sacramentally fortified, they cannot “move in and dwell there.” All doors are closed; all permission (consent) is revoked.

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