On a personal note, one thing that has helped me in the priesthood is the ministry of exorcism. Why?

• First, it reminds me that in the world that we live in, there is the seen and the unseen.
• Second, as St. Paul said, what is happening in the unseen is the greatest battle – the battle between good principalities (God, the saints and angel) versus the bad principalities – Satan and the fallen angels.
• Third, the reality is that the desire of Satan and his fallen angels is to move us away from God.

In the Gospel, the disciples were filled with fear. First they thought their boat was going to capsize. Then they thought they would drown. Then to make things even more difficult, they saw Jesus walking on water and thought it was a ghost.

For those experiencing unexplained events in one’s house, their office, or in certain places: three things we remember:

• First, there is the reality of people who are spiritually sensitive. They see spirits, they hear voices, they have sleep paralysis, they have premonitions, they can do divination and healing. In other words, their third eye is open. This is not a gift from God. It is an occult power. Many of the people we encounter have this sensitivity passed down from one generation to the next. This means that a spirit is attached to the family line.
• Second, avoid making your home or office conducive to spirits.
  • Spirits are attracted to places that are dark and have clutter
  • They are attracted to places wherein there is a tragedy
  • They are attracted to places where they have been conjured through occult practices
  • They are attracted to places wherein sin proliferates
  • Spirits are attracted when there is disunity and fighting among the residents of a place
• Third, avoid bringing curse objects to your home and office. Be very careful when bringing into your house objects that you do not know their history. We have cases where the source of infestation originated from occult objects, old furniture, antiques, eastern religious objects, paintings, or objects that have been used in a crime.

May we always remember the words of Christ: “Take courage it is I, do not be afraid. One of the hardest battles is when you are dealing and fighting the unseen.”

• Do not be afraid. Although we are in the midst of the greatest battle; God is in control and good will always prevail.
• Do not be afraid. Hold on to the power of prayer and the sacramentals in blessing your home.
• Do not be afraid. As the bible tells us, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”