Last fall, millions of Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, took seriously that profound verse about praying for one’s country found in 2 Chronicles:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Regardless of how they felt about those running for office, concerned Christians realized that our country had lost its way, and was about to go off a cliff if we didn’t get back to the basics by supporting the traditional family values that made our country great in the first place. The Lord heard those prayers and as a result many pro-life and pro-family leaders were elected from the top on down.
Since the election, however, our country has never been more divided. Those used to getting their way, and being backed by leftist politicians along with an extremely left leaning press, were not only stunned by their defeat, but in many ways devastated to the point of repeatedly taking to the streets in angry and often violent outbursts and protests. Never have we seen so much hate being expressed with the main focus being to berate, demean, and somehow damage our new leaders. There was no doubt before and after November 8th that the nation was extremely divided. Whether angry voices came from Hollywood, Capitol Hill, or town halls the aim was and is to get certain leaders out of office. Believe it or not, some are now so desperate they are even dabbling in witchcraft in hopes of changing the outcome of the election.
According to a number of outlets, a document making the rounds is encouraging people to perform a monthly binding ritual, or spell, until President Donald Trump is removed from office. The first one is supposed to happen at midnight Eastern Time. Instructions for casting the spell have gone viral and there’s even a group on Facebook that will answer questions. A source in one of the major magazine articles says that those involved in promoting the spell are hoping to round up a lot of support and “energy” for this ritual, even if folks are doing it just for “fun,” or a way to express their frustration over the election.
“The real intention is just to get the energy focused at the same time, as many people as possible. People can participate in their own religious rituals, or even perform this as a joke or an art project.”
But this is no laughing matter. Since when does sin qualify as a “joke” or an “art project?” Dabbling in any sort of witchcraft can bring us, as well as those around us, great spiritual harm, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains in paragraph #2117:
“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.”
How many people actually think this ritual suggestion might be a “fun” or quirky activity at their next card party or informal social gathering? How do we know that this document being circulated isn’t a larger recruitment effort on the part of those who regularly practice witchcraft? What a way to gather more unsuspecting followers than to tap into the level of discontent in our nation today?
So, let’s take this opportunity to counter this ugliness with the truth and beauty of the Gospel, and do what we are called to do in Scripture when it comes to our elected leaders, and that’s to pray for them, not curse them, regardless of how we may feel about them, and also pray for those persecuting us as well.
You may also consider publicly encouraging others to pray to Jesus for our leaders, especially President Trump. Some hashtags to use in this endeavor are #Pray4POTUS and #JesusIsLord.
Combating Spiritual Warfare
In our Christian life today, we are facing more overt, and covert, spiritual warfare than ever. We need to protect ourselves, our families, and our community. Here is how to do that.
- Go to Mass. Certainly every Sunday, but if you can make it more often that will go a long way in strengthening your spiritual muscles. If you exercise you know that only doing it once a week doesn’t do much. So try to find a Mass near your house or work that offers a Mass before work, or after you drop kids off at school. You may also find a parish that offers evening Masses, which is a great way to relax after a long day. Even if just once a week, you will be doing your soul good.
- Go to Confession. Confession is said to be even more powerful than an exorcism. If you know you are in mortal sin, get to a priest as soon as possible, but normally once a month is good. Venial sins do add up and separate you from God, even if it is more slowly than mortal sins. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will help strengthen you. The more you go the easier it is. You say you haven’t been in a very long time? Well, then call the parish office and make an appointment so you can take your time. You will feel so much better.
- Start praying or pray more. You can’t fight the Devil if you aren’t already friends with God, and you can’t be friends if you never talk to Him. Even 5-10 minutes a day is a good start.
- Read the Bible. This is God’s instruction manual to you. If you haven’t read your Bible in a long time (You do have a Catholic Bible don’t you?) then start today. Start in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.)
- Pray the Rosary. It is a proven weapon to combat spiritual warfare. Our Lady is the enemy of the evil one, don’t hesitate to call upon her for help.
- Use Holy Water. And Blessed Salt if you have it. St. Teresa of Avila relied upon it to fight against evil.
- Go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This is spending time with Jesus in the Eucharist. Check your parish bulletin or a nearby parish for Adoration times. Some parishes have all day Adoration, or at least a few hours, that you can spend praying or just being quiet with the Lord to build your relationship with Him.
- Wear Your Battle Armor. Considering wearing a blessed Crucifix, a St. Benedict Medal, a Miraculous Medal, or a Brown Scapular. Or all of them. You can wear them around your neck or pin them inside your clothing.
Here Are Some Other Resources Against Spiritual Warfare
Online Resources:
The Catholic Newbie’s Guide to 12 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Evil
SpiritualDirection.com – A Comprehensive List of Spiritual Warfare and Demonology Posts and their Links
Books:
Manual for Spiritual Warfare – Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D
Saints Who Battled Satan: Seventeen Holy Warriors Who Can Teach You How to Fight the Good Fight and Vanquish Your Ancient Enemy – Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D.
An Exorcist Tells His Story – Fr. Gabriele Amorth
An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels – Fr. Gabriele Amorth
Prayers Against Evil:
The St. Michael Prayer
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
by the Divine Power of God,
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Psalm 5 (Many times said with the prayer called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” or the “Lorica of St. Patrick” – See Below)
To my words give ear, O LORD; give heed to my sighs.
Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God.
To you do I pray, O LORD.
In the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead and watch before you.
You are no God who delights in evil;
no sinner is your guest.
The boastful shall not stand their ground before your eyes.
All who do evil you despise;
all who lie you destroy.
The deceitful and those who shed blood, the LORD detests.
Yet through the greatness of your merciful love, I enter your house.
I bow down before your holy temple,
in awe of you.
Lead me, LORD, in your justice, because of my foes;
make straight your way before me.
No truth can be found in their mouths, their heart is all malice,
their throat a wide-open grave;
with their tongue they flatter.
Declare them guilty, O God.
Let them fail in their designs.
Drive them out for their many transgressions, for against you have they rebelled.
All who take refuge in you shall be glad, and ever cry out their joy.
You shelter them; in you they rejoice, those who love your name.
It is you who bless the just one, O LORD; you surround him with you’d favor like a shield.
Lorica of Saint Patrick
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
