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BARBAQUED
Mary's Servant
USA
454 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 4:23:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Antonio A
Hi Chris R,
I never had that experience and hope in God I never will. I did witness an exorcism, however, and I never want to see anything like it again!
Antonio A. Obregón
Antonio, was it an actual possession or an oppression?
I have read there are very few actual possessions and when there is an actual full possession it is usually a result of occult activity. Our priest in Nogales was speaking about this topic during mass yesterday.
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Edited by - BARBAQUED on Jan 16 2008 4:25:40 PM |
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Antonio A
Maryhead
825 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2008 : 12:46:17 AM
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Hi Barbaqued,
"Antonio, was it an actual possession or an oppression?"
I'm now 58 but I was 23 when I witnessed it. It was a possession by evil spirits and after four exorcisms in different days, the evil spirits left the young man. I only saw the first exorcism but was so terrified, I left running toward my house and later found out the young man, only 15 at the time, had been delivered from evil spirits. The priest that did it was from Spain and he was sent back to Spain by the then Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles because he had not been authorized to perform an exorcism in a private house, nor had the priest requested permission from his bishop to do so.
Antonio A. Obregón |
Edited by - Antonio A on Jan 19 2008 12:47:54 AM |
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Ken G
Mary's Servant
123 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2008 : 11:46:38 AM
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I think it's true that the demons try to get to people at night, while they're sleeping. I've had many nights in which I can feel some kind of dark force around. And they do seem to affect the dreams, as well. Often I will simply repeat the name of Jesus over and over again, whispering it quietly for a few minutes, and the sense of evil always leaves. I don't think they like to hear that name repeated with faith. They get angry and leave. 
Another thing that always casts them out is the Hail Mary - or simply asking the Blessed Virgin to send her angels to drive away the demons. That always scares them off, too!
When we read about the saints, many, if not most of them, had plenty of trouble with the demons harassing them. St. Jean Vianney was frequently attacked by them at night. The religious living with St. Pio in the monastery would hear things being violently thrown around in the saint's room at night. The demons really went after him. He was even at times physically beaten by them, I seem to recall reading.
St. Theresa of Avila had so many demonic visits at night, that one night she woke from her sleep due to another attack, lifted her head, looked over to the demon and simply said, "Oh, you again," and then went back to sleep!
Ha! I love that one. She knew just how little power the demons really have against those who love Jesus. They can be extremely bothersome, for sure, but for the one who continually calls on Jesus' name, there is no need to fear.
Sometimes, when I feel them around in the night, I slip quickly out of bed, grab the holy water which I keep on the nightstand next to me, and give them a good splashing! Oh, I just know they hate that!
I think when the demons stop bothering us, that's when we should start to worry. Because then, chances are, we're not doing anything to displease them, which means,actually, that we're not doing anything to please Jesus! Then they just leave "well enough" alone.
In Jesus and Mary,
Ken G
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RayL
Mary's Servant
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2008 : 07:46:38 AM
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One day back in the 1970's, I was sitting at my desk in Houston, and the Hispanic janitor came to my office to empty the trash can. I turned to watch him, and he bent down, and then all of a sudden he looked straight at me and started to growl, with a very menacing look on his face. His eyes were staring a hole right through me. This went on for 2 or 3 minutes. I was frozen in my chair, afraid to move, since I didn't want to provoke him. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, he calmly picked up the trash and left. It still gives me the willies just thinking about it.
No Mary, no Jesus. Know Mary, know Jesus.
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Edited by - RayL on Apr 05 2008 08:01:25 AM |
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Pro-life Sarah
Moderator
653 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2008 : 08:32:35 AM
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I've had several experiences with demons myself. For awhile when I was little, they used to visit a lot at night. I would see them both "for real" and in my dreams. Once there was a dark, formed spirit in my room who got on top of me and wouldn't move. I was very innocent, but looking back I can tell it was almost as if the spirit was raping me. I remember it vividly. In my dreams, demons would pull me towards hell. I spoke to Fr. Shamon about this and he advised me to bless my room with Holy Water each and every night. I did that, and it stopped....except for the nights that I actually forgot. It was wierd. Eventually it did stop all together....
Another time was when I was in Medjugorje. There was a group of us coming away from a chapel called the Oasis of Peace. A public vision with Maria took place there a few nights before. This particular night was a Friday evening and we were going to pray and say goodbye because our plane left the next day. About ten of us walked out of the chapel together, and we saw what looked like red foxes flying through the air. They growled fiercly and swooped near us. It was very scary. A woman who was with us, Joan, started to say the St. Michael prayer, and we all joined in. Suddenly there was a loud screech and all the "red foxes" disappeared. It was a very powerful moment in my life. It showed the reality of the devil and the reality of God fighting against the devil.
Quite honestly, I learned a lot from that moment. The biggest lesson is to not fear those spirits that we can see. Remember there is protection from them at the sound of the name, Jesus. Every knee shall bend.... I also learned that no matter how close we are to God, the devil attacks....and unfortunately, it isn't always in the form we recognize. I'd almost rather see something because I know what I'm up against.... but when that bugger goes through thoughts or people, that's tough.
That's why the battle is so hard....
Take Care and God Bless,
Sarah
Please say one Hail Mary a day for the intentions all forum members |
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JohnF
Mary's Servant
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 6:00:17 PM
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The Church believes that ghosts, or spirits, do exist. There are times when spirits appear to our benefit, but we are warned against attempting to contact spirits.
"Ghost" is simply another word for "spirit" (geist means "spirit" in German).
Spirit is of three kinds: the human spirit which combined with body make up a human being; the defined spirit that has no body, such as angels; and the infinite Spirit, or God, of Whom the Third Person is the Holy Ghost.
When someone asks whether ghosts exist, he usually has in mind the first kind, a human spirit. Hence Fr. John Hardon defines "ghost" as "...a disembodied spirit.
Christianity believes that God may, and sometimes does, permit a departed soul to appear in some visible form to people on earth. Allowing for legend and illusion, there is enough authentic evidence, for example in the lives of the saints, to indicate that such apparitions occur. Their purpose may be to teach or warn, or request some favor of the living" (Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Modern Catholic Dictionary, Garden City, New York: 1980. Published by Doubleday and Co., p. 229).
The last sentence of Fr. Hardon's definition implicitly gives the Church's teaching on ghosts. Appearances of ghosts are understood with regard to our salvation. Ghosts can come to us for good, but we must not attempt to conjure or control spirits. The Church teaches that "spiritism," seeking recourse or power from ghosts, is contrary to the virtue of religion (i.e., the Commandment "You shall have no other gods before Me"):
"All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others — even if this were for the sake of restoring their health — are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2117).
Thus, while the Church recognizes the existence of ghosts, we are not to intentionally seek them out — for good or for ill.
Please feel free to call us at 1-800-MY FAITH with any further questions on this or any other subject. If you have found this information to be helpful, please consider a donation to CUF to help sustain this service. You can call the toll-free line, visit us at www.cuf.org, or send your contribution to the address below. Thank you for your support as we endeavor to "support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church."
United in the Faith,
Amy Barragree
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=66106
John
We must not doubt for even a moment,
But have trust in the power of God's mercy.
-Saint Faustina |
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Tee
Mary's Servant
USA
140 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2008 : 10:20:36 AM
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Thank you all so much for posting this!!! I have and still do occassionally experience the sleep paralisis (spelling I know) I had an episode the other day for the first time in years. I still can't sleep without a light on because of the demons I saw around my bed as a teenager laughing at me. I can't express how horrible it was and how scared I was. Right before all this happened as a teen I was placed in a mental hospital for emotional problems because no one believed I was being abused by my dad. I can vividly remember turning to smart off to my Dad after he has said something ment to embrass me in front of his friends and when I saw his face it was the face of a demon jeering at me like he knew he had me where he wanted me. I was so shocked by this I didn't say whatever it was I was going to and just went into the kitchen. I had just started going to church, and it was then I realized that it wasn't my Dad I needed to hate, but rather the evil that was using him. Course it took me a few more years to be able to actually do that. I also had completely supressed the attempted rape at 13 and repeated sexual assaults until it was brought up in a therapy session. Because of all that I have doubted my sanity almost all my life so I have only mentioned these "spells" to a very few. I have had some very wonderful experiences the one that stands out happened while I was praying the sorrowful mysteries, but that just added to my confusion at first and the questioning of myself. I have talked to a nun and priest and they have assured me I'm not crazy, but there are days I still wonder. I mean how many 30+ old women need a nightlight and are afraid to take showers unless the house is locked tight and hubby is home. I rush though them as fast as I possibly can when he's not home. (I was attacked in the shower repeatedly for almost a year while my Dad was stationed overseas and my mother worked nights.) The ONLY peace I have ever found has been in Jesus. Medications haven't worked at all, just made it impossible for me to take care of my kids due to the side effects. (I seem to be hypersensitive to medications and can take child doses of many over the counter products and have it work just fine.) I won't lie, this is a big reason I won't ever go back to wicca or any other "religion". He has brought me through all that. I distictly remember one night having horrible dreams and my radio was playing crountry crossroads (old southern gospel songs that came on at midnight Sun. morning a few years ago) and I heard the line "reach out and touch the Lord as he goes by" and I lifted my arm up to reach him. I immedietly felt peace and fell into a peaceful sleep for the rest of the night. I have never forgotten what He did for me that night. I feel so blessed to be where I am now in life. We struggle with money all the time, but my Matthew has restored my faith in men, proving by example that there are good ones left. After meeting him I began to meet more and more like Joe Mizzi, Deacon Labadie, Wayne, and soooo many others. What's really cool is that most of them sensed my initial fear of them and didn't push anything or dismiss me. They were kind and patient. I have no doubt Matthew is part of God's plan for my life. He knows I prayed hard enough about it before we married (even if it was only for 4 weeks.) I have to say though AL has some pretty awsome priests and catholic laymen. While I still tend to avoid blond men, especially ones with blue eyes(silly I know), it's no where near as bad as it was. I honestly thought I was certifiable for many years, but have been reassured by professionals that I'm not, as well as by clergy. Like I said there are times when I still wonder because this type of thing I really don't talk to many people about and doubt creeps in as it tends to. Again thank you all so much for posting this topic and for being so honest and open in your replies! It helps. :)
~Tee
"they must seek to fulfill their daily duties, that is as mothers and wives in an exemplary manner of holiness by pursuing the contemplative life in their homes..." ~ 3rd basic tenet of Apostolate of Holy Motherhood |
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JohnF
Mary's Servant
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2008 : 3:31:18 PM
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I was attacked in the shower repeatedly for almost a year
You're a survivor!
Something like this happened to me ONCE as a teenager. I don't think I could have survived a year of it. |
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Tee
Mary's Servant
USA
140 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2008 : 7:24:01 PM
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No I'm lucky. If it was up to me alone I would have done something stupid a long time ago, but God has always has someone there or something happen in my life to keep me from it. At 17 it was being pregnant with Dustin and wanting to be a good person. There have been friends. It's been his hand protecting me and showing me gradually how to heal. :)
~Tee
"they must seek to fulfill their daily duties, that is as mothers and wives in an exemplary manner of holiness by pursuing the contemplative life in their homes..." ~ 3rd basic tenet of Apostolate of Holy Motherhood |
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RayL
Mary's Servant
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2008 : 6:28:04 PM
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Amazing story Tee. I would recommend saying a rosary every day, and taking the 33 Day consecration to Jesus through Mary....
http://www.ourlady33.com/main.htm
No Mary, no Jesus. Know Mary, know Jesus.
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RayL
Mary's Servant
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 11:32:25 PM
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Here is Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin's take on the subject of Ghosts.
Ghosts?
(Jimmy Akin)
A reader writes:
Gallup reports today that 42% of liberals believe in ghosts - but only 25% of conservatives.
As G. K. Chesterton said, "When people stop believing in God, they do not believe in nothing. They believe everything."
I'm not so sure that one should so quickly dismiss this subject. While there are, no doubt, many liberals who are attracted to the ghost hypothesis on account of New Age beliefs, consider the following:
"Ghost" is simply the German-derived equivalent of the Latin-derived word "Spirit." That's why the Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the Holy Ghost. Originally in English "ghost" and "spirit" referred to the same thing. Indeed, in German the word for "spirit" is still "geist." Rather than get hung up on semantics, we may wish to analyze claims about ghosts in terms of what we know about spirits.
First, spirits exist. This is a truth of the faith.
Second, spirits can sometimes manifest themselves to those in this life, as in the apparitions of the saints.
Third, there are even reports in Catholic history that spirits in purgatory have--by God's will--occasionally manifested themselves to those on earth. In these cases, those on earth may see the spirits experiencing their purgation in some way.
Therefore, if these reports are true, God may at times allow spirits to manifest to those on earth in a way that might lead folks to describe them as "ghosts."
Now, I'm not saying that this actually happens. I'm just saying that we shouldn't quickly scoff at the idea. It certainly has a place in Catholic tradition (lower "t" tradition). I know that folks today often repeat the mantra "There's no such things as ghosts," but it seems to me that this may have more with the influence of a secular/scientistic worldview than anything else. I see no theological reason to say that God doesn't allow this to happen on occasion. (On the other hand, I see no theological reason that compels us to the conclusion that he does, either.)
One note on the possibility of ghosts: Sometimes folks think of ghosts (or some ghosts) as malevolent. I don't see how that would be possible on the above account. Souls experiencing purgatory might seem strage or disquieting to individuals in this life and might appear malevolent, but they would not be. I don't see any evidence, though, that genuinely malevolent souls--i.e., the souls of the damned--could manifest on earth. Thus any genuinely malevolent ghosts would more likely represent demonic activity as far as I can tell.
These two phenomena--the "purgatory ghosts" and demons--also might explain so-called haunted houses and poltergeists ("noisy ghosts" in German).
http://www.jimmyakin.org/2005/07/ghosts.html
No Mary, no Jesus. Know Mary, know Jesus.
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Ghosts
