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Anonymous Soraya wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • How do we know if we are being attacked from the evil of depression, anger, and lies?
  • How can I ask for help?

My husband is suffering from depression and everything is going down and affecting my family as well as myself.

I am praying the Rosary and reading about evil spirits, and I think they are attacking us. I need prayers because I am not in peace. This feeling is not coming from God.

Thank you for your help.

Soraya

  { How do we know if we are being attacked from the evil of depression, anger, and lies? }

Eric replied:

Soraya,

Typically, you would work with a doctor (and/or) psychologist to rule out an organic cause, because these things can come from natural sources. If that hasn't worked, I recommend your husband and you attend this session tonight: 

and see if that helps.

Eric

Bob replied:

Dear Soraya,

Keep praying the Rosary, your enemies want you to stop so they will attack a bit more to try to convince you to give up, all the while they know they are losing.  

This is spiritual warfare.  Persistence is the key and, through that virtue, you will prevail.  Do check out the link that Eric sent you, and we will pray for you as well.

Peace,

Bob Kirby

Soraya replied:

Hi guys,

Thank you I will continue with my prayers. It gives me comfort.

My husband wanted to kill himself last year. He just retired from the military and his name is Joe. We need all the prayers we can get!

He got therapy and medication, but he was better and now he is different. It is affecting everything: myself, my kids, money problems, my kid's health, my daughter is violent and saying bad words in a bad way. I know every time we say bad words, we open doors to evil.

My husband is cursing more than normal and getting very angry like never before. It is like something stronger than me is making me say words I don't want to say. I know that evil uses our weakness to attack us even more. I consecrated myself and my family to the Virgin Mary and, since then, it is getting worse. I am losing my patience more.

We all went to Confession Saturday and after that everything went downhill: violence, screaming, bad words, my daughter punching me in the face, and my husband screaming. My desire was for all of us to be in a state of grace because I know we are stronger receiving the sacraments, but it didn't seem to help. I am desperate and not in peace. 

My husband thinks he is a failure all the time and is doing nothing to help himself. He is receiving thoughts that are not coming from God.

I am scared and very worry.

Thank you for your answers. I will check out Eric's link.

May God bless you.

Soraya

Bob replied:

Soraya,

One other thing: if you can get your husband to lead the family in the Rosary that would be even better.  Tell him that he has special rights and privileges as the head of the household and that if he is engaged in seeking God's help and protection the demons have much less power.  There is also a booklet for deliverance prayers that could be prayed as well. (link below.)

The things you point out do sound like diabolical oppression, and you all should get on the same page and fight back.  With God this can be overcome.  Also, ask your guardian angels for protection, they have a role to play as well.

Peace,

Bob K.

Soraya replied:

Thanks Bob,

I will do that. I just bought the book.

I was listening to Father Ripperger, and he was the one who made me think more serious about this.

I will pray to my angel more.

Blessings.

Soraya

Eric replied:

Soraya,

Please keep us posted on the outcome!

Eric

Soraya replied:

Thank you,

I will keep you posted. One thing I don't understand is:

  • Why does God allow the bad angels to do things to us?
    • Is it to make us closer to Him?
    • to pray more?
    • to test our trust in Him?

I heard that sometimes God will order our guardian angels not to help us because he wants a specific purification from us.

  • If God knows everything, does He know how all this ends?
  • God's Will, will be done anyway whether I like it or not, right? 

I am scared that I will fail this test.

  • Does God already know if I will fail? 

I am so confused and need so many prayers.

Thank you again,

Soraya

Mike replied:

Soraya,

First, for those (visitors and readers) who are not quite familiar with the reality of angels, this is what the Catechism says on the topic:

I. The Angels

The existence of angels - a truth of faith

328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls angels is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.

Who are they?

329 St. Augustine says: Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is spirit; if you seek the name of their office, it is angel: from what they are, spirit from what they do, angel. (St. Augustine, En. in Ps. 103,1,15: PL 37,1348) With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven they are the mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word. (Matthew 18:10Psalms 103:20)

330 As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness. (cf. Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis: DS 3891; Luke 20:36Daniel 10:9-12)

Christ "with all his angels"

331 Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels: When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. . . (Matthew 25:31) They belong to him because they were created through and for him: for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16) They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)

332 Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation

  • announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan:
  • they closed the earthly paradise;
  • protected Lot;
  • saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham's hand;
  • communicated the law by their ministry;
  • led the People of God;
  • announced births and callings; and
  • assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples. (cf. Job 38:7 (where angels are called sons of God); Genesis 3:24; 19; 21:17; 22:11; Acts 7:53; Exodus 23:20-23; Judges 13; 6:11-24; Isaiah 6:6; 1 Kings 19:5)

    Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself. (cf. Luke 1:11, 26)

333 From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God brings the firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him.' (Hebrews 1:6) Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church's praise: "Glory to God in the highest!" (Luke 2:14) They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been. (cf. Matthew 1:20; 2:13-20; 4:11; 26:53; Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43; 2 Maccabees 10:29-30; 11:8) Again, it is the angels who evangelize by proclaiming the Good News of Christ's Incarnation and Resurrection. (cf. Luke 2:8-14; Mark 16:5-7) They will be present at Christ's return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment. (cf. Acts 1:10-11; Matthew 13:41; 24:31; Luke 12:8-9)

The angels in the life of the Church

334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels. (cf. Acts 5:18-20; 8:26-29; 10:3-8; 12:6-11; 27:23-25)

335 In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .[May the angels lead you into Paradise. . .]). Moreover, in the Cherubic Hymn of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).

336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. (cf. Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:22; Psalms 34:7; 91:10-13; Job 33:23-24; Zechariah 1:12; Tobit 12:12)

"Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life."

(St. Basil, Adv. Eunomium III, I: PG 29,656B)

Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.

You said:

  • Why does God allow the bad angels to do things to us?
  • Is it to make us closer to Him?
  • to pray more?
  • to test our trust in Him?

There is God's Divine or Providential Will and His Permissive Will.

These postings from our database should explain them well and answer these questions:

You said:
I am scared that I will fail this test.

  • Does God already know if I will fail?

Don't be scared. I grew up under the papacy of Pope St. John Paul II and one of his predominant phrases to the world was:

          Be not afraid!!

Yes, (God/Jesus) knows everything. He is outside of time and sees everything as an "eternal now" but remember Jesus (Second Person of the Trinity: God.) was a man like us in all things but sin. He knows about our struggles, understands our struggles, and if something bad happens in our lives, it is only to bring a greater good out of it.

He is madly in love with all the members of His Church and throughout Christendom, all the time, during the tough times, when we struggle with all types of sin, as well as the easier times.

Like Bob said, just keep praying your Rosary and if possible, do a the Stations of the Cross (also known as the Way of the Cross).

Mike

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