Lecture on Exorcism

OF PRIESTHOOD, EXORCISM, AND MAUNDY THURSDAY

OF PRIESTHOOD, EXORCISM, AND MAUNDY THURSDAY

It’s Maundy Thursday. And this day, holy rites commemorates the last days the Lord had before going to His passion and is also a vigil with Him.

I just remembered an office which I really desire, and it may seem that it is related to this specific day of the Holy Week of the Lord’s passion. Hoping someday to become a priest of the Lord, I had this desire to become an exorcist. This Office of Exorcism may seem an adventurous feat to many if their knowledge of it is just a battle with demons on possessed persons as if it is like a fun sword-play fight between two young boys. But this office is totally different from that notion. Reading the books of an official exorcist of the Archdiocese of Manila again and again, I was warned and alerted by the author in his books that doing exorcisms is a very tiring, draining, and even dangerous ministry, to the point that you’ll most probably get hurt and also your loved ones by unseen enemies.

I was very challenged by this exorcist to think about over and over again to consider the said office if I were to become a priest. His books led me to change myself dramatically – to be deserving of such an office and to follow suit if ever the Lord will grant me the grace to be part of this extraordinary office of love, compassion, mercy, and liberation. The exorcist’s style of speaking through his books inspired me to cling to the Blessed Virgin Mary so much and to look after my interior life healthily. His profound yet simple research, teachings and personal experience to this office is a valuable testimony as ever, that exorcisms are much more needed today (even badly needed) and still more in the years to come.

Speaking of fear that is always associated to horror, the only fear – yes, the only fear that I have in my heart is this – what if the demoniac reveal my embarrassing sins of the past? Imagining that still gives me a little fear. But that is the only worry that was left in me, the others were mostly conquered by prayers and maybe, not for me as of the moment, to experience.

This Maundy Thursday, in the washing of the apostle’s feet that is being played by priests and some men, reminds us that the ministry of the priesthood is to die to oneself in order to serve others. May I desire to really die to myself so that the Lord will be born in me. Lord, help me to die to myself and please die with me so that dying is a joy for You are with me, living in me, through Mary. Amen.

Mary H. Distributist

The Effect of the Holy Rosary to Satan

"One day a colleague of mine heard the devil during an exorcism: Every 'Hail Mary' is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end." - Fr. Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican.


Attorney Bro. Marwil N. Llasos O.P. gave a comment similar to this post on my Facebook account. He said that, "in an actual exorcism I witnessed, the devil shouted in a shrill voice upon hearing the "Ave Maria" being recited over the possessed by the assisting Deacon, "ayoko n'yan!" (I don't like that!) I joined in praying the Ave Maria and the devil was confused and didn't know who to face: the exorcist-priest, the deacon, or me. The possessed collapsed."

DISCOURSE ON TEMPTATIONS (Part I – The Unsatisfied Flesh)

DISCOURSE ON TEMPTATIONS (Part I – The Unsatisfied Flesh)

The temptations of our Lord Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) are a wellspring of teachings on regarding how the devil tempts and to what extent is his temptations and how we can trample him down just as what Christ did against his enticements.

Although this scripture reading is not lengthy so as to show how the devil operates, all the same, I believe, that this reading is so great and so enough so as to sense temptations and how are we to do in overcoming them.

To begin, let us background ourselves on what a temptation is and what it is not. Temptation is an attack of the devil against us humans in order to keep us away from God and to cut-off our relationship with Him by sinning. It is a test for us to sin against God or not, so, temptation in itself is not a sin but it may lead us to sin or it may lead us to be more attached to God.

Moving forward to the first temptation, the devil is accustomed to tempt Christ in a manner which basically lies on the primary need of all human beings to sustain their life and that is bread, or food for the body. What can we draw out from this temptation?

The devil knows our need for the good of our body and he also knows that humans are inclined of course to look after food. God also knows this. But in Jesus Christ, He silenced the enemy by saying that “man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Because Christ is indeed hungry after a fast of forty days and forty nights, in Him, in His hunger, we found strength and what are we ought to look after which is the Word of God both in scripture and in Mass more than bread for the body. This temptation is so great for the enemy is after the satisfaction of the stomach that never satisfies. In Christ, we found that what satisfy are the words that come forth from God’s mouth. The excitement of the devil is so strong that even stones were to be turned by Christ into bread as what he said for Christ to do. It is evident here that this temptation goes to the extent that Christ was seen by the devil as a God who is desperate for bread. But our Lord's greatness was revealed for what really satisfies and what is most important to Him are the “words that come forth from the mouth of God.”

The devil as we must see here is an enemy that sees humans as people desperate for food. He just knows that we humans cannot live without becoming desperate for what satisfies the stomach. And we see the effect of this temptation even today. People crave in desperation for what satisfies the stomach. The problem is that the stomach was never satisfied and so are the humans who are after food alone. This temptation of the devil measures humans in these points: What are humans after? What makes humans desperate and what must make them desperate? What things can satisfy a human flesh? Another point I want to emphasize is that this temptation is not all about food, it can also pertains to what are humans after more than food, that in desperation of us humans, we are going to turn stones into cell phones, laptops, etc.

In this first discourse of the three-fold discourse I am in to, it is a valuable lesson for us what must make us really satisfied, and that is the Word of God in scripture and in Mass. Of course we need things such as food, shelter, clothing (and any other necessities connected to these), nevertheless, what we must be after is what really satisfies and it is God alone. For if Christ is after the food that really satisfies the soul, what then are we supposed to be after? Are we after the stones that we must turn into bread showing to the devil how desperate and pathetic we humans are? Then let us follow the footsteps of Christ into settlement of the soul in what satisfies us truly, the Word of God. Then the bread for the body will definitely follow according to our need.

Mary H. Distributist

The Holy Spirit Confronts and Shames the Devil's Person

Note to the reader : This is not my article. And I am not in association with the writer. I shared this because it featured a priest-exorcist, and I am a fan of him. Fr. Michell Joe "Jojo" B. Zerrudo is the official exorcist of the Diocese of Cubao. Here is the link where the article originally lies. http://thepinoycatholic.blogspot.com/2013/11/when-atheist-tries-to-be-smart-against.html - Mary H. Distributist

When an atheist tries to be smart against an exorcist

This is a classic discourse and I asked Fr. Zerrudo's permission to share this.

Thanks to my nephew RJ for the screencap.  :)

Atheists like this smart-aleck guy think everything is like the Tooth Fairy and
Santa Claus.

But when they are confronted with the grim reality that they too will die, and they too
will have to face something in the other side, a reality that their brains never ever comprehended,
spooks them to, well, DEATH.  (pun intended).

And when they got confronted with the reality that atheists like them are actually under
the influence of their "imaginary" hero the Devil, they get stumped!

Next time you debate an atheist, tell them that even if they do not believe in the Devil,
the Devil believes in them, in fact, they own him!

Pray for these misguided atheists.

They think that reasoning with logic and science, their own gods, makes them cool.
And that fighting the Catholic Church is cooler.

Kudos to Fr. Jojo Zerrudo for sharing his experience.

He stared the Devil in the eye, so he knows what he is talking about.

PS:  That atheist student who hates the Catholic Church studies in a Catholic university.
Ironic?  No.  I'd like to call it idiotic for someone who worship Knowledge and Freethinking.

Fortune-Tellers Indeed Defile! (A True Story)

"Do not go to mediums or consult fortune-tellers, for you will be defiled by them. I, the Lord, am your God." (Leviticus 19:31)

"Should anyone turn to mediums and fortune-tellers and follow their wanton ways, I will turn against such a one and cut him of from his people." (Leviticus 20:6)

"When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the peoples there. Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghost and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord, and because such abominations the Lord, your God, is driving these nations out of your way." (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

This account is a true story.

She told me that her mother with a companion was once consulted a fortune-teller who uses cards. The fortune-teller told her mother that she will die before she celebrates her birthday that year. To the mother's companion the fortune-teller predicted that on that year of a certain month, one of her loved ones or close to her will die.

Then the day of misfortune came. The mother's companion had a great horror and the prediction became real when her daughter died alone in a building. The daughter was left in a room who does not know at that time that the building she is in is in flames. But when she's trying to save her life, she choose to escape by riding an elevator. In this elevator she died. When the authorities found her inside the elevator, she was found petrified, burned to death. Her own arms was stretched out as if she's pushing something in front of her. She is the only one who did not survived the tragedy. The fortune-teller was right.

But not in the case of her mother. Her daughter is the one who recounted this story to me. Because the prediction of the fortune-teller did not worked. Because the mother on that same year celebrated her birthday - contrary to the fortune-teller's prediction that she will die one month before the day of her birthday.

So the family became at rest for the prediction did not happened. They were relaxed that the mother celebrated her birthday that year. But they did not expected that on that year, this mother will die.

The mother died on a plane accident. The airplane was shattered into pieces while on air and so its passengers. They were really shocked that this mother , this member of their family died - she died after one month after her birthday celebration.

On asking further the sharer whom I know personally, also told me that the fortune-teller was not only using cards or tarot cards, she also held or examined the palm of the two who consulter her.

I asked her if there was a thing they brought with them that was given by the fortune-teller and she said their was nothing.

I asked her if aside from palm examination and card reading, do the fortune-teller did strange things beside these and she said no, there's none.

And I asked her a few more questions. Then she and I came into conclusion (an opinion perhaps for we are not persons in authority when it comes to extraordinary phenomena) that the fortune-teller has a demon who is powerful in sending curses to those persons who consults this fortune-teller. Just the words or predictions of her can take away a person's life, how is this fortune-teller now?

According to the sharer, her relatives also knew the fortune-tellers name. Her name is Baby Resma. Resma is the surname. I do not know if the "Baby" is her first name or just the nick name.

For study and catechetics :

Commission on Extraordinary Phenomena / Ministry of Exorcism 

G/F Lay Formation Center

San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex
EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City
E-mail: amoe.request@yahoo.com
Tel:  899-4971 Telefax: 896-7595
Minister/Assistant Exorcist: Rev. Fr. Jose Francisco C. Syquia
Exorcist: Rev. Fr. Mateo Goldaraz, OFMCap
Deliverance Minister: Rev. Fr. Roberto D. De la Cruz
Coordinator: Ms. Rowena Delos Reyes

ADMG

Mary H. Distributist

Effective, Powerful Praying With Blessed Virgin Mary

Let us not fool ourselves. The praying of the holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is really the hardest prayer to pray for not only the words of it were one and the same, it is also far more different to other prayers who have "variety of words and expressions which keeps us alert, prevents our imagination from wandering, and so makes it easier for us to say them well." - The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort.

Now, let me share you a subjective, biased discovery and experience of mine while praying the holy Rosary (yes, subjective and biased for it's my personal experience and I do not want to impose this method to anyone. But you can do it also, if it is effective and fitting for you. But if not, pray that God, with the help of Mama Mary, show the most effective way of praying it).

Listening! Listening is the key in order to fight distractions and to still our lurking imagination when praying the holy Rosary!

What do I mean by this?

An inspiration (insight while praying) came into my mind that it is listening. And a thought also added in me : "How can you become a good spiritual director if you are not good in listening?"

Whoa! That's it! It is listening! In order for me to enjoy more fully and attentively the holy Rosary I must listen!

This is what I discovered also.

When I started to pray, I started with the sign of the cross, then next is the Rosary Confraternity prayer (which our "opening" prayer as members of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary), then next is what I want or desire to pray for (what we call "petitions"), and then I will begin the holy Rosary proper : kissing the crucifix then making the sign of the cross, then the Creed (Apostle's, sometimes Nicene), then as usual, passing the beads in my thumb and index finger with respect to the bead's corresponding prayer.

Then I listen to the words I pray - by the way, it starts on the beginning of your praying of course. I reiterate! It is listening! Listen to the words you say for those words are the Word of God and it's Jesus Christ Himself! The Word who became flesh!

The Our Father or the Lord's prayer came from Jesus Christ's own mouth. The Hail Mary or the Angelic Salutation came also from God and the messenger is just St. Gabriel. Savor every words of the holy Rosary. Savor it by listening! Just listen! And savor the words!

Now, listening and imagination must go hand in hand here. It is important to meditate (think over) about the sacred mysteries of the holy Rosary. As you listen to the Hail Mary's, imagine the sacred mysteries by, of course, your mind. My imagination has a very important role when praying. Here, I exercise the command of our Lord. "Love God...with all your mind."

The listening and imagining must get along with each other, making a harmonious exaltation of both mind and heart. The words are for listening, while the sacred mysteries are the word's soul and meaning.

While saying the Hail Mary, listen to the words. Then at the background, let the sacred events pass or play in your mind. Pay attention to everything - savor everything. Make an exercise now!

The holy Rosary is the second highest prayer next to the Holy Mass and devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament of our Lord. Please remember that.

So the elements present in praying the holy Rosary are the following :
1.) Listening
2.) Saying
3.) Imagining

May you love the holy Rosary everyday just like me.

Go and set the world on fire!

ADMG

Mary H. Distributist

Blessed Virgin Mary : The "First Woman Exorcist"

"The Blessed Virgin Mary has only two missions. The first is to bring God to humanity. The second is to bring the humanity to God." - Bro. Marwil N. Llasos O.P.

Who and what is an exorcist? According to Fr. Jose Francisco "Jocis" C. Syquia in his book, Exorcism : Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult, an exorcist is simply a man whom the Lord uses as his instrument in order to liberate victims from the clutches of Satan's extraordinary activities.

Mama Mary is also an exorcist just like she can also become a priest for she has the right claim to say, "This is my Body" and, "This is my Blood" for the Son of god's humanity came from her and she is his mother.

The Blessed Virgin Mary consented to the conception of the Son of God, the Word of God in her womb and thus becoming obedient to God, she destroyed and made new the disobedient Eve who obeyed the serpent and not God, therefore Mama Mary did an exorcism - she summoned out the devil by becoming obedient to God.

The Blessed Virgin Mary also received the Word and the words of the angel of the Lord Gabriel with great humility and reverence thus becoming trustful to the messenger and to God and not relied on her own and destroyed the fear in her for "fear is the lack of trust in the Lord"(as said by Fr. Michell Joe "Jojo" B. Zerrudo), Mama Mary did an exorcism - she summoned out the fear out of her and trust reigned in her thus she destroyed and renew the Eve who trusted the serpent instead of God and relied on her own instead of relying on God, trusted the words of the serpent instead of trusting the words of God. 

Indeed, Mama Mary can also be counted as an exorcist for in her "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" [John 1:14].
Thus Mama Mary has her share in the salvation planned by God no wonder it is truly right and just to call her Co-Redemptrix. Mama Mary has also her share in "speaking" the Word of God to all of humanity by giving  way to him to manifest himself to the whole world. Mama Mary became also the mouth of God for in her Jesus Christ the Word of God was born therefore Mama Mary made an exorcism - in her was born the Word of God thus starting the first summoning out of the devil by the Word of God who liberate victims from the claws of the devil's works. "Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil" - 1 John 3:8

The Blessed Virgin Mary simply the preacher of the "full of grace and truth" [John 1:14] in a greatly inexplicable way. She is preaching Jesus the Word of God from the beginning of her earthly life, and even God preached about her even before she was born. She preached Jesus, giving birth to him, thus Mama Mary is the first human preacher who said in silence but the loudest! "The Kingdom of the Lord is at hand!"

God started it.
The angel Gabriel sent the message from God and the receiver of the message is an unassuming virgin Mary.

The first message is this : 

"Chaire, kecharitomene, ho kurios meta sou."

In Latin, "Ave, gratia plena. Dominus tecum."

In english, "Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you."

Luke 1:36-38

So the, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." are the words of God spoken by the angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that started our salvation from sin and from the devil's works. 

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the first woman exorcist.

Hail Mary!

Mary H. Distributist

How's The Smoke of Satan in the Church Now?

"Taong 1999, nirebisa ang ilang bahagi ng eksorsismo sa Roman Ritual 1614. Ang reporma ay sinimulan ng Vatican II. Layunin nito na iakma ang eksorsismo sa diwa ng makabagong panahon. Ngunit para kina Fr. Syquia at Fr. Zerrudo, mas matapang pa rin ang Roman Ritual 1614 kaya ito pa rin ang kanilang ginagamit. Ito rin ang opinyon ni Fr. Gabriele Amorth, ang exorcist ng Rome. (In the year 1999, some of the parts of exorcism in the Roman Ritual 1614 was revised. The revision was spearheaded by the Vatican II. The purpose of the revision was to suit the exorcism on the spirit of modern times. But for Fr. Syquia and Fr. Zerrudo, the Roman Ritual 1614 is stronger and much more powerful hence they remained on using this.) [from I-Witness, "Exorcist", documentary of Jay Taruc, GMA channel 7]

30 Days magazine (June 2000) carried an interview of Father Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome and the most famous exorcist in the world. Fr. Amorth said that the new rite of exorcism is "a farce. An incredible obstacle that is likely to prevent us from acting against the demon." He observes that the new exorcism rite forbids exorcisms on people who have been reportedly subjected to evil spells. Fr. Amorth exclaimed, "Absurd. Evil spells are by far the most frequent causes of possessions and evil procure)d through the demon: at least 90% of cases. It is as good as telling exorcists they can no longer perform exorcisms." He also noted that it also "solemnly declares that one should not carry out exorcisms if one is not certain of the presence of the devil. This is a masterstroke of incompetence: the certainty that the devil is present in someone can only be obtained by carrying out an exorcism." He considers the new rite "a blunt weapon. Efficacious prayers, prayers that had been in existence for twelve centuries, were suppressed and replaced by new ineffective prayers."

About Rome and the hierarchy, Fr. Amorth lamented, "We have a clergy and an episcopate who no longer believe in the devil, in exorcisms, in the extraordinary evil that the devil can cause, nor in the power that Jesus has given us to drive out demons." Explaining why he and other exorcists were denied an audience with the Pope, he warned, "The smoke of Satan has entered everywhere. Everywhere! Perhaps we were excluded from the audience with the Pope because they were afraid that such a large number of exorcists might succeed in chasing out the legions of demons that have installed themselves in the Vatican."

When asked by the reporter for 30 Days if he had made a joke, Fr. Amorth replied: "It may seem like a joke, but I do not believe it is. I have no doubt about the fact that the demon tempts the authorities of the Church especially, just as he tempts every authority, those of politics and industry."

Food for Thought! On the Existence of the Evil One

Those people who do not want to have a head-to-head combat with the devil by forgetting about him and believe that we should focus only on God are cowards, putting themselves in a very dangerous disposition, not detecting and educating themselves about the evil that is everywhere and invisible but real. They fear the devil but they do not fear God who is greatly feared by the devil - the only One who deserves to be feared by all creatures. These people cannot be considered as followers of Jesus whose entire ministry was composed of one-third of healing, deliverance and exorcisms. They are also victims of Satan, the evil one who wants everyone to believe that he does not exist. - Jesus Mary Hao

"God allowed Satan to have maximum freedom even to Judas."

"If we are aspirants of these modern times to become holy as God is holy, there is no other way than to imitate the saints, who are evident persons in imitating Christ."

"No part of the Gospel is not written down otherwise those are of no purpose and of no importance."

"Science cannot prove spiritual realm. Fr. Candido Amantini(+), and Fr. Gabriele Amorth who is the official exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, visited mental hospitals. They had done deliverance and exorcism on the patients. Half of them went home."

"Do you want proof about the devil's existence? Bring me a man who do not believe that the devil exist and you will have proof." - Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman

"Christians nowadays are the more persecuted than the Christians of old."(Because Satan uses institutions so that his presence will not be detected.) - one of Pope Francis' Homily.

"We should not attack one another. Rather, we should stand united and attack the one who is evil and toying us to attack each other."

"If you are a true follower of Jesus and is under attack by the devil and his demons, then, that's a good sign! This shows that we are a threat to him. But if not, then, something is wrong and in this state, he will not for now 'rock the boat' until he has full power over you."

"If we are real followers of Jesus, we are under attack by the evil one."

"Do not keep them (Christians) away from spiritual combat but protect them from the attacks and snares of the enemy."

"The early pagans before baptism undergoes exorcisms every week. Their God-parents were exorcist themselves. These pagans were believers of Grecko-Roman religion."

"The favorite method of the devils is idolatry."

"Islam is the heresy of the early Church in the 7th century. Mohammed just snatched or robbed a bible of the early Christians and changed many details of it on his own."

"St. Ignatius of Loyola is known as Master of Discernment."

"In Folk Catholicism : Inculturation is all right but it should not consist of anything that is pagan in origin or those beliefs, actions, rituals, prayers, and the like that should be condemned; these are not compatible with the Church' teaching and cannot be used as means for adoring, glorifying, and worshiping God. We can preserve the cultures that is compatible with religion and for God and avoiding contamination."

"Many Filipinos avail the sacraments and use the sacramentals of the Church together with the use of things or actions that were not used by the early Church nor of the saints of their time. The sacraments and sacramentals for many Filipinos were for good luck and not devotion."

"Blessing and grace of God is enough."

"Demons can predict but are out from the existing and present things or events. They do not know the future. That's why manghuhulas or fortune-tellers do not engaged in lottery or if engaged, with no winnings at all."

"Charismatics must be discerning when it comes to 'gifts'. It is questionable now if they are charisms from the Holy Spirit, or psychic powers that are demonic. For many 'charisms' are used that are demonic."

Material faculties of Man that the Devil can play with :
1.) the five senses
2.) imaginations
3.) emotions (feelings)
4.) psychic faculties

Sometimes where we are most psychic :
1.) Sleep
2.) Near-death
3.) childhood

What he cannot play with are the spiritual faculties such as :
1.) Will
2.) Intelligence

"Devils attack people who are religious and spiritual, if it is so, then that's a good sign!"

"Superstition will put you to a fear and anxiety based disposition."

"Don't say your prayers. Pray your prayers. No lip service." - Fr. Jose Francisco 'Jocis' C. Syquia

"New Agers believe that God is  life force."

"The real angel will never point to himself; He will not desire to be the center or attention of everyone. That's why they do not appear to us for they know there is a danger of worshiping them and we may forget whom we must only worship."

'Good luck' Catholics actions, bad, paganistic inculturation examples:
1.) Scapular side-by-side with anting-anting
2.) Novenas side-by-side with orasyon
3.) Devotion to the angels side-by-side with having an 'alagang duwende' or white dwarfs as cared companion.
4.) Sacred Heart Statue side-by-side with Buddha
5.)Image of the Child Jesus side-by-side with Good luck figurines (popular is a golden-colored cat who waves its one hand back and forth.)
6.) House blessing side-by-side with 'padugo' and feng shui (geomancy) that leads to house' infestation.
7.) St. Benedict's Medal side-by-side with saying 'Tabi-tabi po' (a Filipino incantation that is used to excuse oneself from the elementals such as dwarfs giving them respect out of fear and anxiety of Filipinos and by doing so, they will not be attacked and punished by them.)

Some Current Filipino Occult Practitioners
1.) Albularyo
2.) Mangkukulam
3.) Mambabarang - Its expertise is the use of fungus beetles or insects to send curses
4.) Magtatawas
5.) Manghihilot (with bulong, or whispering)
6.) Mananambal
7.) Manghuhula

"Know that God is a jealous God."

"We are against cosmic powers."

Some of the text were quoted from Ministry of Liberation Talk on Exorcism and Deliverance by Fr. Jose Francisco 'Jocis' C. Syquia, Santuario de San Jose Greenhills Mandaluyong City, August 17, 2013.

"Ite inflammate omnia!"

Spiritual Warfare : My Spiritual Battles Against Lust and of All Temptations

When I saw these words from the diary of the Apostle of Divine Mercy St. Faustina Kowalska, it came to a point that I wrote it on the back pages of my 2012 book planner. I wrote it down so that I will always feel to review it, and besides, I feel that I am really the one who wrote it part. But the last photos deal with sins (Not from the diary. I am reviewing it and studying it as of now how to find "cure" and on how to fight and conquer these sins.) and the very last photo is an addition, of and from the virtues of Mama Mary according to the teachings of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, in his classical book, True Devotion to Mary and the pious practices that the Confraternity of Mary, Queen of All Hearts   (which is now renamed Statuary Group of Mary, Queen of All Hearts. Although I'm not a member of this and actually inquired about it because I'm interested to join but I was not able to, I am blessed to be a member of another Marian ancient confraternity, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary.) highly recommends to its members especially these prayers are conformable to the spirit of the Confraternity. I am sorry for my hand-writing. Patience, my dear reader, patience. :) Smile! :) I may say that these meditative lines from the Diary can help a person to fight all temptations. As of now, I remain my article here. 

It is by battle against hell and by resistance to temptations that we give God fruits of our love. St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests, experienced many troublesome temptations and even physical attacks from the devil.

Let us all be vigilant in fighting temptations! May these help you!

How To Have Good Confession (Good Confession)

It is important to confess one's own sins to the priests but some of the penitents do not know what are the important dispositions to make and to take before making a confession. Are you one of those "some"?

My comrade, kindly consider some of the dispositions that a penitent must undergo before making a confession.

First, the penitent should start with a prayer before examining his/her conscience. This is an important element that should be considered first. The penitent is seeking and pleading light from God to know how he/she is helpless in his/her state of being in darkness of sin and ignorance and, this is to show that the penitent cannot really help him/herself in admitting his/her own faults but totally depends on the help of the merciful God who felt the hurt of his/her sins committed against Him.

Here are the prayers you may consider in your preparation and before the sacramental confession(kindly take note that the prayers differ from each other. The first is a preparation prayer meaning, you are taking down (in writing as much as possible so that you will not forget the sins you will confess and to save the time of the priest, and will help you to have a clean and good confession. I personally write all my sins to a piece of paper and, after my confession, I tear the paper to bits), by the help of God, the sins that you had committed before your examination of conscience while the other one is prayed before meeting the priest or prayed before you enter the confessional or, prayed before the priest (but first, as much as possible, try to pray before meeting the priest. In my opinion, it is, I think, the priest will start exclaiming prayers for you before the confession but consider that it is the priest's introductory prayers and are different from your own which (I lovely hope) came from a penitent heart.).

Second, the interior dispositions of the penitent must be present before, during and after the sacramental confession. The penitent must be truly humble and repentant, making him/herself little before God whom he/she had injured by sins, truly blaming him/herself for one's sins he/she had committed. And this is accompanied by a child-like, unshakable trust in God, solid faith, high hope, real love, and full confidence that he/she will receive pardon from the offenses that he/she had committed against this ever merciful God.

Third, the penitent must do penance given by the priest-confessor (and/or, if you are really moved, one may consider a self-destruction in addition to the penance received such as a consumption of just a one full meal for one day, less water intake or if you love, flagellation by a leather belt, wearing an itchy or uncomfortable shirt and/or dress, etc.).

Fourth, the last but not the least, the penitent must strive not to commit those sins again (all mortal sins) and strive greatly not to commit those venial sins again. Mortal sins are serious sins committed with full knowledge or consent or awareness or knew before hand (or even not) that such sins are declared by the Church as mortal sins (like pornography, masturbation, abortion, murder, stealing, etc.) while venial sins are sins committed with not so much knowledge or not knowing its gravity or less grave and do not totally separate a person from God but affects  negatively the relationship between God and the person (like "white" lies (I do not honor a lie regardless of the given color), cheating in quizzes of 5 items (a child exam perhaps?), etc.). Amending his/her ways, not to hurt God as much as greatly as possible.
Here is the Act of Contrition. And I will show you my own copy (that I bring along while in the sacramental confession) of it because I must confess to you, as of now, that I do not yet memorized this prayer. How sad. Pity me.

Let us proceed to the guides that will help us to better examine our conscience. These is one of my "sin reference" but if many of my sins are not listed here, I will try my best to dig it in the deepest part of my conscience so that all must be confessed. Please forgive me that I do not take time typing these here and just posted it as photos and some of the lines were being doubled on the shots. Kindly take patience. Thank you.
Smile.

 These photos contain the important (very,very,very) important facts we must consider. Again, we must.

 The other reference. It came from a little book of 1930's, "My Daily Missal", The other one is not posted here because I gave it away but you can buy it at all St Pauls Outlets. It is a gray folded pamphlet titled, "How To Make A Good Confession" (I do not know exactly the title) and its price is less than 25 cents. Please just ask the people of St Pauls for more infos. They will not bite you.

Here are some of the elements that is present in the confession (as I remember. But you can take pauses, especially if you are crying.)
Make the Sing of the Cross at the start of the confession ( follow the priest please.).

Begin with, "Father, my last good confession was on (state here when was your previous confession, it is not necessary if you do not remember the exact date. Just say like last month, last two months and so on) .... And since then, I have committed the following sins....

Now, confess first the most embarrassing and mortal sins (if you've committed) and go on until you went on to the lesser sins by saying the gravity of the sins and how frequent you do these sins like this that I do (I'm pertaining to the pattern on how I write it in the paper).

-I hurt my cat badly and mercilessly for sometime. ("badly and mercilessly" are the gravity factors of the sin other than hurting the cat and "for sometime" indicates the frequency of the sin committed. Question - is it okay to ignore these elements? Answer - As long as you learned these, It is up to you if you will follow your conscience who is pushing you to consider these considerable elements and so essential if you love to have a good confession. Besides, an exorcist of the Diocese of Cubao, Fr. Michell Joe "Jojo" B. Zerrudo said to me that next time, I should say how frequent are my sins. (when he heard my confession and knows that I still lack elements for a good confession).
-I lied for so many time.
-I always teased my baby sister.
-I became lazy for a time.
-I didn't respond to my household chores for sometime.... And so on....

And after the "litany of your sins", say this that I'm saying (but you can do or make your own.)

And the priest will continue to the formula of the absolution and so on....
Then, take the advices or the sermons of the priest for you (do not worry, priest won't bite you, ever!)
Then, receive the blessing He will give and join the priest in saying the "Amen".

May we all have a very good confession!

Spiritual Warfare (Part 4) : Lesser Forms of "Godlessness"

Becoming a religious is the greatest direction of life of the early Catholics.

When the Kingdom of God was announced victoriously for almost 2,000 years ago, and the fresh birth of the children of God was aflame by a burning desire in their own hearts to proclaim to all nations that "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand", the baptized Christians were battled by the devil  and his minions and his instrument to destroy the growth of the Church and the proclamation of the promised salvation and eternal life. The instrument that Satan used was the Roman Empire who were living in the darkness of paganism or animism. 

The Roman Empire then was a nation or a state that had so many gods. Polytheism was the reigning belief then. And on the coming of the Christians, they stand solidly in evangelizing the pagans that there is only One living God, and those gods that the Romans worship then in particular were not really gods at all. At this, the Romans became furious, for such proclamation were ultimately against the living law of the Roman Empire - gods must be served by rightful ceremonies, rites, rituals, offerings, sacrifices in accordance with the law, there are proper ways to deal with these gods, based on their observation on how to "control" these gods and be favorable to the Romans appeals or wishes.

So the Christians were considered as criminals, deserved to be put to death, and now bloody persecutions began.

But the killing of thousands of Christians didn't help to stop the spreading of the Christian Faith. 

How so?

Because the killing of the Christians, the living, strong and solid faith of Christians facing persecution even unto death, the martyrs who endured the cruel persecutions with  indescribable patience and faith in God and His words, the love and hopes that lives in the Christians hearts and always seen in their works or deeds in the Christian community and to the Gentiles, the victory of the God of Christians over "gods" or demons, were flourished altogether. And on these main reasons, the many exorcisms done by Christians was one of the factors that, the Romans believed when they saw then how the God of the Christians subdued and rebuked those demons that the Romans worshiped as "gods", and, how the Holy Name of Christ drove out all those evil spirits who were pretending and hiding themselves in the form of "gods".

The Roman Empire were now truly convinced to the authenticity and the Power of the God of Christians over their "gods", and after seeing these marvels of Christians, Romans received the Catholic Faith and established it as the official religion of the state. Catholicism quickly spread to the neighboring lands of the Roman Empire.

By that time, becoming a religious is the greatest direction of life, so Catholicism is full of grace of women and men then, and the "fashion" of themselves was to become a monk, an hermit, a nun, a religious sister, a religious brother who prepared themselves to serve God and to win souls for Him. The "popular modes" then was going to a deserted place somewhere or being in a community (monastery or convent) enjoying and living in solitude, silence, being in the presence of God and the focus is almost God alone, fighting the temptations of the devil and fighting him head-on, destroying his holds on the people of God and so on.

I think that they must be envied by us modern people of these modern times. How greatly different they are to us! I pity myself. Let me show you why.

In these modern times we see how people live nowadays, all bodies are so abundantly enjoying the deliciousness of the inventions of man and its fruits which the purpose is to develop and give easy and comfort to man's needs (and too many wants) in its day-to-day living. Now, God is mostly, mostly forgotten by billions of people because these material things' brings so much delicious comfort and are so swift on attending people's needs (and so many wants) rather than prayers to God. We are greatly surrounded by these things that always and always catches our attentions. So in addition to this, these inventions or things, as I typed, are so great in number that we focus only to these material things. Wherever a person goes elsewhere, there is always things that gives him/her comfort and entertainment (like from televisions, radios, air-conditioner, electric fan, cellphones, computers, laptops, iphones, ipads, etc.). These worldly material things are now Satan's instruments to keep us away from God and His presence in us, little by little we end up to these and after that we plunge ourselves to be completely unrelated to God. These may serve as doorways of the devil and his demons to us, in the form of these things that brings lesser form of "Godlessness".

Of course, it is super easy to listen to always available music on the music player (like ipods) rather than spend a 30-minute silence in prayer and or, reciting the Holy Rosary of five decades and or, reading spiritual books and or, studying catechism and or, reading the Holy Bible prayerfully and or, attending to one's own pious practices and devotions, etc.

It is so easy to click on the television button or having a remote control(er) just in hand for so many fancy channels offering so many shows.

It is so easy to relax in a comfortable bed while the head of the electric fan is just 12-inch away from your head giving you fresh air (one of the roots of laziness?).

It is so easy to on your hi-tech music players while eyes closed, waiting for the crows to become swans.

It is so easy to use the Internet and open so many windows as you like, bringing so many virtual realities: games, videos, movies, etc. Of course, Internet is a doorway to another world, the virtual world, full of infinite excitements and fun!

And many more...

Now the presence of God on the person will vanish little by little because the heart and mind of the person were so much so occupied by these material things. How the holy people of old were so always recollected! They were the people who "walked their feet on earth but their hearts were always in heaven."

Let us all strive to become SAINTS!

Spiritual Warfare (Part 2) : Paganism And Superstition Were So Intact To Us

May I present to you some of the reasons why paganism in the Philippines is still existing, and is still strongly alive.

There are people who make themselves "wise" to the things that especially pertains to the world of the spirits or it can also known as, in Catholic literature, the world that is invisible. Those "wise and knowledgeable" people do not even know if those things they are sharing to others were true, or they do not even know if it is not true, and much worse, if those things exist at all, or not.

It can be said that these people where always and always driven by pride that they go and share to the world
and stand up as true witnesses on what they "know" about the existence of such reality, but actually they do not know, or even if they know something  about such reality of its existence, they knew just a bit of it, and most badly, they make-up these by their own stories that were not true at all.

So now we have different versions from different places, different beliefs, different opinions that were so much so contrary to the Catholic Faith. It can be said that it is a culture that can never be forgotten or be thrown away, or they did not ever received a proper or right catechesis about such topics or realities, or, even if they received catechesis, they will be hard-headed people as ever, continues to mix these practices came from both the Catholic Faith and the paganism and superstition.

Catholic Faith has its own mysteries and explained by the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and pagan culture and New Age Movement also has its own mysteries but the difference is these - while Catholic
Faith's mysteries were certainly, surely, or cannot be changed once all of these mysteries were declared as truths, paganism and New Age Movement's mysteries were living in false freedom of their own, depends on people or group of people who are in it, no problems when it comes to authority, the teachings can be changed, added, and/or subtracted.

Now these witnesses who were sharing these stories telling on what they saw, heard, and felt were saying the truth but these truths were just based on the context on the phenomena of what have just they saw, heard, and felt and these were not addressed on the only authority who knows on dealing and answering such phenomena or occurrences, the Catholic Church. That is why some phenomena and occurrences were not "cross-examined" by the authority were now receiving approval to a vast audience as truths even if it were not truths at all.

On these situations were spiritual phenomena or occurrences were sighted, heard, felt or recorded, the Catholic Church must and only the consultant of all, who will examine and give explanation or answer to such phenomena, because She, the Church, has the Fullness of the Truth of God, nothing more, nothing less.

And sadly, the worst of all, many people of our times are so ignorant because they believe quickly on a given account not telling themselves if it is true or not. This is one of the many weaknesses we inherited after the Fall of our first parents. We people were so easy to believe to the "truths" of men - not realizing if it is really true or not, but if men or women of God is speaking or telling the truths or Divine Revelations to us, we are so hard to get on believing.

Spiritual Warfare (Part 3) : Presenting the Ordinary Satanic Activity or Temptation

 Ladies and gentlemen, let us take a look at the tools or instruments of Satan in His "ordinary" activity.

We have three spiritual foes: 1.) the flesh; 2.) the world; 3.) the Devil. The flesh is often called “concupiscence,” which is the inclination to sin deep within us. The world and the Devil are external to us, but also very powerful threats to our true and lasting happiness.

1.) We base our description of the flesh on the famous passage of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist (+ circa 100 A.D.) in his First Letter (2:16): “For all that is in the world, the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.” Therefore, the spiritual foe we term the flesh may be further divided into: A.) the concupiscence of the flesh, which is the inordinate love of sensual pleasures; B.) the concupiscence of the eyes, which is all unwholesome curiosity and inordinate love of the goods of our earth; C.) the pride of life, which is excessive self-love and is accompanied by vanity.

2.) The world signifies “not the whole number of men upon the earth, among whom are found both choice souls and irreligious men; but the sum-total of those who oppose Jesus Christ and are the slaves of the threefold concupiscence.” Identified as such are unbelievers, the indifferent, hardened sinners and those who believe and even practice their religion but do so sinking in a moral neglectfulness.

3.) The Devil is representative of Satan and the Fallen Angels. The Devil was jealous of the contentment experienced by Adam and Eve and so tempted them to sin. Ever since he was successful in the Garden of Eden, the Devil has continued his efforts against men and women, boys and girls with the hideous goal of leading all human persons away from their beloved and loving Creator.

Ordinary Satanic Activity—Temptation

Temptation comes to us from the flesh, the world and the Devil. Father Adolphe Tanquerey, in his classic The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology, defined temptation as “a solicitation to evil on the part of our spiritual foes.” God allows us to be tempted so that we will merit Heaven, but He does not tempt us directly. Temptation is a means of purification and an instrument of spiritual progress. By temptation, we grow in humility and love of God.

Some persons are tempted frequently and intensely (I do not know if I'll be happy or not because I am included in this category), while others are tempted less and without being deeply agitated.

The great Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Bishop and Doctor of the Church, taught that there are three distinct but related phases in each temptation: A.) suggestion, which is the proposal of some evil; B.) pleasure, which happens when after the moving towards the suggested evil, there is some attendant delight; C.) consent, which is when the will delights in the pleasure, willingly enjoys it and yields to it. Sin occurs only when there is consent.

When we overcome temptation, our souls are aided remarkably. A magnificent triumph results when temptation is shunned. Father Tanquerey isolated three things that we must do to conquer temptation: 1.) anticipate temptation; 2.) battle against it; 3.) thank God after a victory and rise quickly after any fall.

1.) Vigilance and prayer are required to anticipate temptation. Regarding vigilance, we assert: presumption that compels us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the midst of temptation must be avoided, as must vain terrors which increase the danger and harmful occasions of sin—persons, places, things and events. When prayer is added to vigilance, in the words of Father Tanquerey, we become “invincible. God is concerned in our success, for it is He Whom the Devil assails in us, it is His work which He would wreck in us.”

2.) Resistance against temptation is indispensable. Serious temptation must be confronted: A.) ready or immediately, without hesitation; B.) energetically, with determination and strength; C.) perseveringly, with toughness; D.) humbly, which “attracts grace, and grace gives us the victory.”

3.) Temptation vanquished means that the blessed person must render gratitude to Almighty God, for from Him derives the conquest. Sin surrendered to is an invitation to the repentant sinner “to humble himself sincerely before God, to acknowledge his incapacity to do any good, to place his trust in God, to be all the more cautious, and return to the practice of penance. A fault thus repaired will not establish a serious obstacle to perfection.”

We do not throw ourselves headlong into temptation without real necessity; however, neither do we fail to see that when God permits us to be tempted, amazing spiritual progress is possible.

Conclusion

Satan is indeed active in our world by way of temptation, but when we pray daily, receive the Sacraments (particularly Confession and the Most Holy Eucharist) worthily and often, perform acts of charity and self-denial, avail ourselves of the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and the Angels and Saints and avoid the near occasion of sin, we increase in Sanctifying Grace and overcome the temptations emanating from the flesh, the world and the Devil.

Such a happy result glorifies the Most Blessed Trinity and speeds us along the challenging path that will end for us in Paradise.

Source: http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=5143&page=1

I saw Satan Fall, available at all St Pauls Bookstore. Price - P155