How to Defeat the Devil
I have written here enough about my disdain for celebrity exorcists. Another reason of the many I dislike them as that they by default lead one to focus on the devil and the demonic, even though it is not their intention.
Another example of this raised its ugly head recently.
You possibly heard of the funeral for a transgender/sex-worker rights advocate whose funeral happened at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
I have already addressed my take on the criticism leveled in some Catholic circles. I want to address something completely different.
Fr. Chad Rippinger spoke at the cathedral two weeks earlier. He is one of those exorcists who travel the country and preach his message. In the wake of that funeral some said that an exorcism needed to be done at the Cathedral—really??? This is because there were people there who supported ideas and acted in ways contrary to the teachings of the Church. Can I say really again????
When people are trained to think of exorcisms all the time, this is the kind of response you will get. However, if you study the saints, I am sure some would point out that the easiest way to defeat the devil is to turn to God.
St. James taught the powerful words: resist Satan and he will flee you (James 4:7). So, ask yourself: “What would be a defeat for the devil?” Any time one person literally just one, prays sincerely the devil suffers defeat.
I learned a long time ago that just as Jesus gave all he had so that each of us could be saved, the devil gives almost all he has so that each soul will be damned. The devil has no human body, so he cannot sacrifice himself in order to damn people to his kingdom but he gives what he can to increase the number of souls in Hell. So, if just one person prayed to Jesus Christ that day, the devil would be confounded.
This is one of the reasons I hate to hear Catholic media pundits say now someone has to do an exorcism at St. Patrick’s. If one has to be done, it is to be decided by the archbishop of New York and no one else. However, if people want to work against the devil, turn to Christ and lead others to do the same.
When exorcists start preaching their work to eliminate the devil they can inadvertently lead people to think the devil is more powerful than all except the exorcist. They may believe they must call an exorcist for they are powerless against the demonic. That is a lie and maybe from the devil himself.
We all have power over the devil by simply doing the will of God and being in prayer. There is a great line in the bible—praise of God must be our strength and so if we can praise God in Jesus Christ, then we are doing powerful things for Our Lord and against Satan.
So I will again re-iterate my disagreement with celebrity exorcists for exactly what happened in the aftermath at the funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The most powerful thing that could happen is for the most antagonistic of people against the Church to turn toward Christ. That act is more destructive against the devil than anything an exorcist will do. Remember, the most powerful form of exorcism is a sincere, comprehensive confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. That does not need an exorcist but a priest, a confessional and a penitent’s desire to repent of their sins.
Fr. Robert J Carr is the pastor at St. Anthony of Padua parish in Allston, MA
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