Fun fact about me: I am part of the Healing and Deliverance team for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. While I do not have the faculties to conduct a solemn exorcism, I routinely help people find freedom from spiritual oppression, demonic harassment, or negative spiritual influences through prayer, inner healing, and ultimately the authority of Jesus Christ. Often, I am called to break curses that have been placed on a person through a Masonic rite, a New Age practice, or some other spiritual oath.
The confession of Jeremiah in our first reading gives us a powerful example of the raw emotional and spiritual warfare experienced by someone under intense trial, followed by a profound breakthrough of trust in God’s saving power. This is a confession that seems to parallel what we often see in spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry.
Jeremiah begins with statements that represent oppression, harassment, and ridicule which is often present is spiritual warfare.
In deliverance ministry, often one of the first steps is to get a person to realize that spiritual warfare is real and that it often manifests itself as a psychological or emotional issue. Persistent thoughts of worthlessness or abandonment, obsessive fear, pervasive shame, and/or unceasing temptation are common. Many have come to identify with lies the demons have told them about themselves or about God.
Jeremiah suddenly shifts into a theme of divine protection. In many ways, he captures the very foundation of deliverance ministry: the absolute authority of Jesus Christ.
In a deliverance session, we rarely see the dramatic, though it has happened where a demon will resist our efforts to free the person in spiritual bondage. We rely on the authority of Jesus Christ that flows to us from the Cross and through the sacramental life of His Catholic Church. When the name of Jesus Christ is properly invoked, the demons are generally powerless as they are sent directly to the Cross for Jesus to do with as He will.
Jeremiah reminds us that the Lord tests the just, and probes mind and heart, in a way that is not dissimilar to an examination of conscience.
In fact, many exorcists remind us that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is more powerful in spiritual warfare than even a solemn exorcism.
Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are absolved of guilt but we are also offered grace that heals the soul, restores communion with God, and strengthens us against further spiritual attacks.
Exorcism, and even what I do in deliverance ministry, is a powerful act, but it is often a response to an already deeply seated demonic activity. Conversely, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is preventative and curative — it can disarm evil before it takes hold, heal ongoing spiritual wounds, and free the soul from the grip of sin and demonic influence.
Demons know when we are not truly living out the sacramental life of the Catholic Church, and they try to find ways to take advantage of that.
We call these opportunities entry points. Entry points demons often use to oppress someone include: unconfessed or habitual sin, curses, trauma or deep emotional wounds, unforgiveness or resentment, family or generational sin, involvement in the occult, involvement in Masonic organizations (such as the Shriners or the Scottish Rite), rebellion or disobedience (especially against the Church), lies and denial, as well as sexual intercourse outside of Holy Matrimony.
When I work with someone in a deliverance session, we investigate each of these common entry points to determine which ones may be open to demonic influence. Oftentimes, it is a combination of several of them. Once we have identified the open entry points, we can identify and renounce (in the name of Jesus Christ) the evil spirits that are oppressing the person.
In almost every case the spiritual release is evident. It is a moment of release that I can generally see in their eyes as it is happening. The demeanor of the person changes. Smiles frequently appear where there were none before. Tears of joy are common as the person experiences a freedom they did not realize was possible.
I have heard people describe actually seeing darkness leaving them as I was praying deliverance over them. Many others describe a huge weight lifted from them. Sometimes voices disappear or other signs of a presence diminish. On occasion, I’ll witness a miraculous physical healing as part of the deliverance.
Like Jeremiah, through these signs we truly witness the vengeance the Lord takes on the demons, for to Him we entrust our cause.
Our first reading completes with Jeremiah encouraging us to sing to and praise the LORD for being rescued from the power of the wicked.
This is generally how I end my deliverance sessions. We thank the Lord for His presence, His love, and our deliverance. Then I invite the Holy Spirit to fill every void in the person that was left as a result of the departure of the evil spirits and I ask the Holy Spirit to seal the person to protect them from future attacks.
Once the person has been delivered, I remind them that their relationship with God has been fully restored, but that it is up to them to take the next steps of authentic praise and freedom. Through our session, their spiritual house, their soul, is swept clean. However, it must be continually filled with grace through diligently living the sacramental life of the Catholic Church (which includes the frequent reception of the Eucharist, regular Confession, and daily prayer).
Or as Pope Saint John Paul II said, “The Church, expert teacher of humanity and holiness, shows us ancient and ever new instruments for the daily combat against evil: prayer, the sacraments, penance, careful attention to the Word of God, vigilance and fasting.”
Brothers and sisters, continue to truly live the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Persevere always to be in a state of grace. Be victorious in the spiritual battle.
Our source of deliverance and spiritual freedom, Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Thanks be to God!
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