Reminder - Prayer Before a Crucifix: The Plenary Indulgence You Can Gain Each Friday During Lent
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WHEN DARKNESS KNOCKS:
A Catholic Spiritual Battle Plan Against Toxic and Wicked People
“Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
1. KNOW THYSELF OR BE DESTROYED: The Spiritual Mirror of Self-Examination
Before you point a finger outward, point it inward. Demonic forces often manipulate our wounds, weaknesses, and blind spots.
Satan loves when we misdiagnose the real source of the disturbance. He thrives when we ignore our pride, impatience, or rash judgment.
Ask yourself in truth:
If your conscience is clear, and the fruit of this person’s presence is confusion, rebellion, sin, or disruption—you are not imagining the battle. You are in it.
“The first step towards perfection is to know oneself” (St. Teresa of Ávila).
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31).
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
2. FORGIVE—BUT ARM YOURSELF: Mercy Does Not Mean Naivety
To forgive is to hand the person over to God’s justice. It is not to excuse wickedness or enable manipulation.
Forgiveness does not mean proximity or reconciliation in every case—it means you are spiritually free.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12).
“If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:15).
“You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well" (St. Lewis B. Smedes).
Yet after forgiveness, set boundaries. Do not give what is holy to dogs, nor pearls to swine (Matthew 7:6). Evil manipulates mercy when the faithful are spiritually unarmed.
3. CLEANSE YOUR SOUL: Make a General Confession
In this battle, your soul must not have spiritual infection. Go to confession, not casually, but deliberately, extensively, and humbly. Confess the number and type of sins. Ask the priest for healing prayers and deliverance.
“In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You" (St. Augustine).
“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
This act of humility pulls down the fortress of the enemy within. When your soul is clean, no demon can enter unless you invite them again.
4. FORTIFY WITH FIRE: Receive Holy Communion Worthily
The Holy Eucharist is not a symbol. It is divine fire that burns every impurity and reveals every hidden enemy. It fortifies your inner man. The devil cannot stand before a soul filled with Jesus.
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" (John 6:56).
“The Eucharist is the secret to my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service" (St. Teresa of Calcutta).
Receive Jesus with awe, kneeling if possible. Adore Him. Receive only in a state of grace. Otherwise, you eat judgment upon yourself (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).
5. DRAW YOUR SWORD: Pray the Holy Rosary Every Day
The Rosary is not optional. It is your daily exorcism. It binds the devil, pierces lies, and brings the light of truth into your home.
“The Rosary is the weapon for these times" (St. Padre Pio).
“In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph" (Our Lady of Fatima).
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes" (Ephesians 6:11).
6. INVOKE THE MOTHER OF WAR: Call Upon Our Lady of Sorrows
Mary is not only tender—she is fierce. Our Lady of Sorrows has suffered every kind of betrayal, pain, and injustice. She knows. And she wins.
When someone is influencing your family, disturbing your business, or spiritually infecting your space, invoke her title as Mother of Sorrows. Ask for revelation, deliverance, and protection.
“A sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35).
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did" (St. Maximilian Kolbe).
Short Deliverance Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O Most Sorrowful Virgin Mary,
Mother of the Crucified Savior,
I come before you with a wounded heart and a troubled spirit.
I welcome You, Holy Ghost.
Come into my heart—enlighten me, sanctify me, guide me, and defend me.
Replace confusion with clarity, pain with peace, and fear with strength.
I expect Your holy movement, Holy Ghost—act now in my life through Our Lady’s powerful intercession.
Mother of Sorrows,
I ask you to pray on my behalf before the Throne of God.
Reveal to (Name) the truth of his/her actions and sins.
Open the eyes of my family.
Remove all unhealthy emotional ties and spiritual blindness.
By the Most Precious Blood of Jesus,
Place every evil spirit operating through deceit, fraud, pride, manipulation, or occultism
at the foot of the Cross, never to return.
Let your Sorrowful Heart crush the serpent,
And may the peace of Christ reign in our home and hearts forever.
O Holy Ghost,
Come as fire, love, and truth.
Transform me. Deliver me. Enlighten me.
Through the Seven Sorrows of Our Blessed Mother, let victory be Yours.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
7. PURGE YOUR CIRCLE:
Choose Your Companions with Discernment
In war, who stands next to you matters. Your friends, workers, partners, and house guests either bless your home or curse it.
Look for:
“Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future" (St. John Bosco).
If you tolerate snakes in your garden, do not be surprised if your children get bitten. Ask Our Lady to reveal and remove every wolf in sheep’s clothing.
CONCLUSION:
Turn Disturbance into Deliverance
Evil always overplays its hand. Use every attack as fuel to go deeper into prayer, purer in love, sharper in discernment, and stronger in battle.
You are not called to be naïve. You are called to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).
If someone is disturbing your peace, family, or business—especially those not immediate family—respond not in the flesh but in the Spirit.
Use the sword of truth, the shield of faith, and the fire of prayer. And you will see darkness flee.
I am a daughter of the Most High and of His Catholic Church. I introduce myself that way because I am so grateful for that! I have been married to Dan for 36 years and we have three young adult children - Brett, Nicole and Eryn - and three grandchildren - Cash, Bowie and Indy. I was employed as the Adult Faith Formation Coordinator at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, Georgia for 14 years from December of 2008 to January of 2023. I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology from Catholic Distance University and a certificate as a Catholic Spiritual Mentor from the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program.
I left fulltime ministry in the parish to concentrate on organizing events. I would like to extend my outreach to other parishes and organizations who would like to host a wonderful Adult Faith formation event but might not have the experience or confidence to do that on their own. I offer various services including but not limited to (fees are charged hourly for most services):
+ Event Planning: event planning from start to finish,
+ Consultation: consultation about an event,
+ Consultation about running a successful Adult Faith Formation Program.
+ I also offer different Adult Faith classes and courses that can be accessed by an individual or a group or can be taught by me via zoom or locally in person.
Website https://www.catholiceventplanning.com/ or www.redemptivesuffering.net
