Ok so I won’t wait to tell of our encounter with the demonic.
Pentecost 2020, we were celebrating vigil Mass at the Cathedral in Pittsburgh with Praise Nation and our friends, Joy and Patrick Campbell, as well as a couple hundred brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our daughter was in the hospital. She had been struggling for several days with a flare up.
I received a text for her that she hated suffering and wanted it to end. I replied positively about the power of suffering and that we’d pray and see her in the morning. She replied immediately with more dark thoughts of her situation. I replied and bang – she replied with a lengthy text about hating her life. I told my wife, and bang bang three more fast texts of the same. My wife sensed something more of these. The texts were too quick to be normal. We stopped replying though the texts kept coming. Darker and more sinister feeling.
We pulled Patrick and Joy aside for prayer. We explained what was occurring. Joy immediately replied there felt to be demonic connections here. We prayed further and Patrick reminded me of my authority as her father. Fathers have full authority over their children in image of THE Father.
We went home and I went to my box of religious stuff. I pulled out my Marian prayer book from St. DeMontfort, a ceramic hand cross, a piece of blessed Easter candle from the prior year and a crucifix that held blessed items in the ends. I grabbed a bottle of holy water and some Blessed Salt and we went to the hospital, praying the whole way.
We entered the room, she was lying in bed, ‘asleep’ and rapidly breathing. Her boyfriend and my mom were there. We mentioned the texts from the prior night asking if he noticed the dark suicidal thoughts. He said there was no way she could text at all, let alone that quickly. Her hands were trembling too much from the steroids they had given. Connie and I gave each other a knowing glance.
Shortly later, everyone left to head home, leaving my wife and I.
Connie closed the door as I sealed the room with the Blessed Salt. I bent over our daughter, Connie on the other side of the bed and started praying. I invoked our Blessed Mother and my patroness St Faustina. I prayed aloud that I have authority as her father in image of our Father in Heaven. We prayed a Hail Mary and St. Michael prayer. I asked our Guardian Angels to bring the power of the Father. I told the demon that as her father it had no right nor power to stay and told it by the power of the Holy Name of Jesus to get out. Immediately, she convulsed. The small hand cross and crucifix set on a nearby table flew off and broke on the floor. The coverings over the blessed articles in the arms of the crucifix broke and the articles within – vanished. My wife and I looked at each other, shrugged and continued our prayers.
Our daughter woke 5 minutes later calmer, breathing normally. She remembered nothing of the prior 24 hours nor the texts. I took her phone, wiped the history of texts and said a binding prayer over it.
A few minutes later, the doctor and nurse came in for rounds, God ‘sealed’ the room for just long enough for our prayers. Our daughter grew stronger by the minute.
Our daughter had opened doorways. These doorways and her despair over her illness allowed a demon to enter and try to establish its power over her. But, thanks be to God for bringing the Campbell’s into our lives, introducing us to the charismatic aspects of our faith. God gave me a great faith in that moment that I never wavered or doubted that in His Name, I had power to cast this demon away. Granted, as I’ve learned in the following years, this had to be a lesser demon who wasn’t established. Anything more should have been given to the Church and a priest. My authority as father helped immensely.
“And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in Your name” – Luke 10:17
Stay away from any portal that could open yourself or loved ones to the demonic. Prevention is easier.
Any thought or feeling of “fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)” or “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth” – Colossians 3:5,8 – need to be addressed immediately in prayer and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Any dealings with the occult, horoscopes, tarot, pornography etc must be renounced immediately and forever in the Name and Blood of Jesus.
I know now this demon errored in its nature – it couldn’t resist bringing despair to its victim and impulsively gloating over its vicious, sadistic nature. The biggest asset of demons is to stay hidden in the background. They can’t resist their evil nature though. So, go on the offensive. Renounce attachments, slam closed portals, pray, rest in the Bible and frequent the Sacraments – especially Confession and the Eucharist. Spend time regularly in Eucharistic Adoration.
You may roll your eyes or scoff at this experience, but I’d recommend not to do that. Demons and Hell are real and they are hell bent to get you.
You have authority over the demons in the Name and power of Jesus. We have nothing to fear. His power wraps us and comes out of us when we trust and have faith. Jesus is the Victor which is why Hell hates His Name and can’t say it.
Patrick and Joy have a great ministry which addresses healing in spiritual warfare. Find them on YouTube at JoyfulHope TV – JoyfulHope TV