CONFESSION: HEALING THE SOUL

One’s mortal sin testifies to Satan’s victory in one’s life.

When’s the last time you went to confession? The Sacrament of Reconciliation not only takes away our sins, but takes away any “right” Satan has that we may have relinquished to him through sin. One exorcist told me that a lot of deliverance happens in the context of sacramental confession... The voice of the accuser is silenced in the face of God’s mercy, thus restoring peace of mind and soul. Satan is a “liar and the father of lies.” So when you bring the lies you’ve been living into the light, the darkness scatters. _ Mark Mallett, Hell Unleashed: The Sacraments,

 https://www.markmallett.com/blog/hell-unleashed/

 

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Penance / Confession

Jesus told St. Faustina:

“Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace, that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation]. There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage, or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to Him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were souls like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full.” _ Diary of St. Faustina, “Divine Mercy in My Soul” (1448)

“When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls.” _ Diary of St. Faustina, “Divine Mercy in My Soul” (1602)  

 

Dr. Ray Guarendi

“‘Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned Your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with You. I need You. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into Your redeeming embrace.’ How good it feels to come back to Him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy.” _ Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium

“When I go to confession, it’s for healing: healing the soul, healing the heart because of something that I did to make it unwell.” _ Pope Francis

Through the Sacraments, we receive sanctifying grace. The Sacrament of Confession is more powerful than the rite of exorcism. And living a Sacramental life is the best defense we have against the Devil.

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AFRO-CARIBBEAN RELIGION

I often attend daily Mass at a chapel in the heart of the city that is home to many in the Spanish community. Once in a while I notice women wearing the traditional dress of their homeland in the Caribbean Islands. And I have wondered over the years: “Why do the hands of some ‘shake’ after receiving Holy Communion?” “What causes their hands to ‘tremor’ after receiving the Holy Eucharist?”

A few weeks ago, I again witnessed this “shaking or tremor” of the hands after receiving Holy Communion. And again, it was a woman wearing the traditional dress of the Caribbean Islands.

I gently approached this woman after Mass. She did not understand a word of English, but I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to touch her forehead. And when I did, the shaking (tremor) immediately stopped. As people were still exiting the chapel, I could do no more for her. I waited to speak with the pastor.

The monsignor told me that he is aware of this “shaking” and believes it to be “cultural.” He told me it also occurs during the Sacrament of Penance.

Trusting in our good relationship, I told the monsignor that even a devout Catholic woman can have an evil spirit in her body -- and that this “shaking” (this tremor of the hands) could be an evil spirit reacting to the Divine Presence in the Sacraments.

Later that day, I realized the monsignor was also correct in believing this condition to be “cultural.” His parish includes much of the Spanish community -- including immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean Islands, where Voodoo and Santeria are widely practiced!

Santeria is a system of beliefs that merges the Yoruba religion -- brought to the New World by African slaves imported to the Caribbean to work the sugar plantations -- with Roman Catholicism. Countries where Santeria is practiced today include Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Brazil... and the United States.

Santeria is the worship of Yoruba spirits -- called Orishas. Invoking spirits and spirit possession are important parts of Santeria in Cuba.

Although the Roman Catholic Church officially condemns Santeria, this Afro-Caribbean religion is practiced by many who attend Catholic Mass. Santeria is part of their culture. It is the "fusion" of the Yoruba religion with Catholicism.

Blending of Yoruba Orishas with Catholic Saints

Santeria may appear to be the veneration of Catholic saints; however, it is actually the worship of Yoruba spirits -- called Orishas. Orishas are believed to have influence over human affairs. Each Orisha is believed to express a specific aspect of life: romantic love, money matters, passion, virility... and healing. Altars, statues and artwork are created to revere particular deities. Believers each have their own Orisha that protects and supports them throughout life -- like a guardian angel.

Divination, invoking spirits, spell-casting and spirit possession are all important parts of Santeria. And then there is the darker side of Santeria -- “Palo Mayombe” (black magic). Like practitioners of witchcraft and the Occult, practitioners of Santeria are easily possessed and in need of deliverance.

Palo Mayombe - Black Magic

A PALO MAYOMBE SITE 

FOUND IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA 

 

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SEVERING SOUL TIES

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take Christ’s members and make them the members of a prostitute (or a sodomite, witch, psychic…)? Of course not!
[Or] do you not know that anyone who joins himself to a prostitute (or a sodomite, witch, psychic…) becomes one body with her (him)? For “the two,” it says, “will become one flesh.” (Matthew 19:6; Genesis 2:24) [And the demons in his/her body will have the right to invade and inhabit your body. (Demons are transferred through sexual intercourse.)]
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.
Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body (and opens a door to the demonic).
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Lord Jesus, I repent of all my sins. I renounce all pride, avarice, envy, anger and un-forgiveness. I renounce lust and all acts of fornication, adultery and homosexuality. I renounce gluttony and sloth. I renounce witchcraft, Santeria, the Occult, Satanism and the New Age.

Lord Jesus, I repent of joining with one practicing or dabbling in witchcraft, Santeria, the Occult, Satanism or the New Age. I repent of all my sinful relationships, and I renounce all unholy soul ties. I choose to forgive everyone in my life, both past and present. (And I will confess my sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as possible.)

“In the Name of Jesus, I sever all unholy soul ties between me and every human being, alive and dead.” (“In the Name of Jesus, I sever all unholy soul ties between my spouse and every human being, alive and dead.” / “In the Name of Jesus, I sever all unholy soul ties between each one of my children and every human being, alive and dead.”)

[Lord Jesus, I repent of having sexual relations with a spirit husband / spirit wife. “In the Name of Jesus, I sever the evil soul tie between me and my spirit husband / spirit wife."

(Adapt to meet your specific circumstances.)]

“In the Name of Jesus, I break every curse, hex, spell… and I bind all witchcraft directed against me.” (“In the Name of Jesus, I break every curse, hex, spell… and I bind all witchcraft directed against my spouse.” / “In the Name of Jesus, I break every curse, hex, spell… and I bind all witchcraft directed against my family and home.”)

“Most Precious Blood of Jesus, wash over me.” (“Most Precious Blood of Jesus, wash over my spouse.” / “Most Precious Blood of Jesus, wash over my family and home.”)

Lord Jesus, I surrender my life (and family) to You. May Your Divine Will reign in me. Amen.

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Through the Sacraments, we receive Sanctifying Grace. The Sacrament of Confession is more powerful than the rite of exorcism. Living a Sacramental life is the best defense we have against the Devil. Attend Daily Mass and receive Holy Communion as often as possible.

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