How To Protect Yourself, Your Family,
YOur Workplace and Your Home
1. Become A Catholic |
2. Have A Blessed Crucifix In Your Home, At Your Job, In Your Car and On Yourself/On Family
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3. Wear A Blessed Brown Scapular and Be Invested In It Immediately
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4. Wear A Blessed St. Benedict Medal
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5. Pray The Holy Rosary
Every Day |
6. Use Holy Water When Needed
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7. Wear A Blessed Miraculous Medal
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13. Don't Believe In Numerology or In Any Superstitions
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14. Learn How To Discern Spirits
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15. Spiritual Warfare
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16. Attend Catholic Mass
Every Week Unless Sick and Receive the Eucharist Regularly |
17. Do Penance For Your Sins
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18. Believe That You and Others Are Children of God
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1. Becoming A Catholic
It is important that if a person or a family really wants to protect themselves fully, they should consider becoming a Catholic. Being baptized as a Catholic, initiated by the Catholic RCIA program, is the first step in uniting yourself fully into the Catholic Church which is the only true Church that Jesus Christ started Himself. All other Christian Churches were started by various leaders but not by Jesus Himself. It is not difficult to become a Catholic. One need only attend classes at the local Catholic Church in your city for instruction into the Catholic faith. At the end of the classes, the person is baptized into the Catholic faith.
2. The Crucifix
Every Catholic home should have a blessed Crucifix of Our Lord Jesus in the home, in your car and on yourself and on each of your family members. It is important that we wear the crucifix of Our Lord because Jesus is the Son of God whom we worship. It is also a sign of our faith. The crucifix is very powerful and can ward off evil in the home, at your job, in your car and on your person.
3. The Brown Scapular
The Brown Scapular of Our Blessed Mother is very important to wear over your shoulders because Our Blessed Mother promised that whoever wears the Brown Scapular "shall not suffer eternal fire" and when we wear the scapular, we are identifying that we belong to the Blessed Mother. She also protects those who wear the Brown Scapular their entire lives. Once a person puts on the Scapular, it should never be removed except when bathing. Do not use the medal type scapulars because they are not protected under the Blessed Mother's promise. It is important to remember that if a person has committed serious mortal sins (breaking any of the 10 commandments of God), the Brown Scapular promise may not be fulfilled unless one immediately confesses their sins to a Catholic priest. Therefore, it is always adviseable that a person stays in the state of grace at all times by confessing their sins right away.
It is extremely important that you enroll yourself and your family in the Brown Scapular right after you buy the Brown Scapular. Enrolling yourself and your family in the Brown Scapular means that you and your family must be invested into the Scapular by a Catholic priest. You need to make an appointment to see the priest for the enrollment. During the Enrollment ceremony, you are asking the Blessed Mother to protect you fully from Satan and to protect you at the time of your death. Therefore, if you are taken to a hospital, it is important that you tell your family and medical staff to leave your Brown Scapular on at all times. It is never to be taken off, even at the time of death and after you die. You must also be buried with it.
4. St. Benedict Medal
St. Benedict of Nursia was a priestly monk who started the monastic life. He initially was a hermit but then was the head of the monastery in Italy. He was never defeated by the devil and for that reason, his medal is very powerful against evil. A large blessed St. Benedict medal should be place in the home and a small blessed St. Benedict medal should be worn on a chain around the neck.
5. The Holy Rosary
Every Catholic, and in some cases Non-Catholics, should recite the Holy Rosary once daily. It is a powerful weapon against evil. Many miracles have been attributed to the Holy Rosary. People who have been sick sometimes are miraculously healed through the Rosary. Wars and battles have been won through the Rosary. For example, in the Battle of Lepanto, the enemies of the Catholic faith tried to invade the Catholic territories in 1571 but the Catholics were able to defeat them through the Holy Rosary. In the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, Our Blessed Mother told Lucia that people should pray the Rosary every day for peace in the world and for the conversion of sinners.
6. Holy Water
Every home should have a large bottle of holy water because when it is sprinkled around the home, it blesses the home and helps to remove any evil that may be lingering in the home. Every person or family should have a Catholic priest bless a house that they purchase in order to remove any evil that may be in the home. If, after the home is formally blessed by a priest, a person or family feels that there is still some uncomfortable evil presence in the home, just sprinkle holy water around the home, with the Sign of the Cross, to make sure that it is permanently removed from the home. You can also use the holy water to bless you and your family once a day. There are holy water fonts that you can place in the inside entrance of your home to contain the holy water so that it is easily accessible to bless yourselves with the Sign of the Cross before you enter the inside of your home.
7. The Miraculous Medal
In 1830, Catherine Laboure stated that on the eve of the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, she was awaked by a child calling her to go to the chapel located in the convent. The Blessed Mother then appeared to Catherine and told her, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world." On November 27, 1830 Catherine reported that the Blessed Mother returned during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe. She wore many rings set with gems that shone rays of light over the globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous ("O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee"). As Catherine watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. Asked why some of the gems did not shed light, Mary reportedly replied, "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask." Sister Catherine then heard the Virgin Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions, and saying "All who wear them will receive great graces.".
8. Picture or Statue of the Blessed Mother
It is very important to have a blessed picture or statue of the Blessed Mother in every Catholic home. She should then be honored and loved in the home by everyone. She is our Heavenly Mother and She wants the best for us. She prays for us and protects us whenever we ask Her to. We should pray to Her daily for protection from evil for our family, for ourselves and for our own intentions. There is no problem that is too difficult for Our Blessed Mother to solve, unless what we want may not be good for us at that time. She intercedes for us to Her Son, Jesus, and begs for mercy for sinners. Our Blessed Mother asks that people pray for lasting peace for this troubled world, for the conversion of sinners and for our own intentions. It is important that people do penance after they commit a sin. This penance can be done by making sure to dedicate your entire day to the Blessed Mother's Immaculate Heart for your own sins, for your family and for whatever else Our Blessed Mother chooses to use it for.
9. Use Votive Candles in Your Home
In every Catholic home, there should be a Catholic altar that is set aside on a table where the family can spend time to pray to Jesus, to Our Heavenly Father and to Our Blessed Mother. On this altar, there should be blessed votive candles. You can buy these candles online and have them blessed by a priest. The lighting of votive candles is used oftentimes to ask for special petitions/favors, for a loved one or for yourself.
10. Pray Daily To St. Michael For Protection
It is important to pray daily the St. Michael Prayer: "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls." St. Michael is our sure protection against hell. There is an invisible battle that goes on in the world between good and evil. It is a very good idea to say this prayer often throughout the day/evening to ward off any evil.
11. Confess All Mortal/Venial Sins Right Away
All Catholics commit some type of sin, unless you are already a saint. Therefore, it is necessary that these mortal and venial sins are confessed right away. It is not advisable to wait too long to confess your sins because one never knows what can happen in one's life. Some people die suddenly from heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, car accidents, fatal falls, etc. Mortal sins are sins that are committed against the 10 Commandments of God. If mortal sins are not repented, they may cause a soul to be condemned to hell because they cause separation from God. Venial sins are lesser sins that do not entail separation from God and do not cause damnation of the soul. But, an accumulation of venial sins can cause a soul to eventually commit greater, mortal sins if not repented and confessed.
12. Never Believe In Numerology or In Any Superstitions--Ever!
Numerology is a superstitious belief in numbers that people should never consider or believe in--ever! Also, people, especially Catholics, should never believe in any type of other superstitions like in horoscopes, tarot cards, tea leaves, fortune tellers, seances, communicating with the dead, etc. because it is considered divination, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, 'All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance (mental telepathy), and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2116) and idolatry which is directly against God and against His Commandments. The devil has many conniving tactics that he uses to throw people off guard and he uses various forms of deception to keep us away from our belief in Our Heavenly Father, in Our Lord Jesus, in Our Blessed Mother, in the 10 Commandments and in the teachings of the Catholic Church. People need to stick to the tried and true belief in Our Heavenly Father, in Our Lord Jesus, in Our Blessed Mother, in the saints, in the heavenly angels, in the 10 Commandments of God and in the teachings of the Catholic Church at all times. Even though the Bible does contain numbers, like 40 and 7, that does not mean that we may exactly ever know what these numbers really and truly mean. Even great Catholic theologians cannot ever say for sure what these symbolic numbers mean. Therefore, it is better not to have any type of belief in numbers or in any type of other superstitious beliefs at all. Belief in numbers and in other superstitions can cause God and Our Lord Jesus to punish people who believe in this idolatry because it breaks the 1st Commandment of God which states, "I Am the Lord, thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me." It is important to note that if you know of any person that engages in any of these false beliefs, you should advise them that it is very dangerous to believe in these idols and it breaks the Commandments of God.
13. Learn How To Discern Spirits
If some type of spirit is trying to communicate with you or with someone you know, it is a good idea not to communicate with it at all. At first, these "communications" may seem harmless, but if something keeps bothering you, it is more than likely something evil. It is important that Catholics learn that evil spirits may try to communicate with them but it is never a good idea to start opening up conversations with any type of spirit because once you do, it is very difficult to get rid of them. If something like this is happening to you or to someone you know, it may be a tell-tale sign that you are living with unrepentant mortal sin on your soul that needs to be confessed to a priest immediately. When our souls are in the state of grace (which happens after we have confessed all of our sins, when we regularly attend the Catholic Mass and when we frequently receive Holy Communion ), you will find that these "spirits" will more than likely disappear. If they do not leave, once you have confessed your sins, gone to Mass and received Holy Communion, then it is possible that your lifestyle is not in agreement with God's Laws. For example, if you are living with your boyfriend/girlfriend and having relations with him/her, or if you still believe that abortion and same sex unions are fine or breaking other Commandments of God, then you are still living with sinful beliefs/behaviors and are not really repenting of your sins. In other words, even though you have confessed your sins, attended Mass and received Holy Communion, you still have no intention of changing your life toward God and you still will probably be breaking God's Laws. God sees our hearts and knows what we are thinking. We cannot fool God.
Therefore, it is important to make positively sure that we are, at all times, living our lives in compliance with God's Commandments of God, and with the teachings of the Catholic Church. If something evil keeps bothering you or if some spirit is trying to communicate with you once even though you have confessed your sins, attend Mass regularly, receive Holy Communion, follow the 10 Commandments, follow the teachings of the Catholic Church and try to do everything with God and with Our Lord Jesus in mind, then it is time to talk with your local priest or bishop about it so that you will know what further actions need to be taken to get rid of these unwanted visitors.
14. Spiritual Warfare
We all know that saints have battled with evil spirits from time to time in the past but you do not have to be a great saint to occasionally do battle with evil. If something evil is bothering you, your family members or someone you know, it is time to do battle with it. That means using every means that the Catholic Church uses to get rid of evil such as Holy Water, incense, prayers, having Masses said for someone who is being bothered by evil, confession, Catholic laity prayers of deliverance from evil (many times done by a Catholic priest), wearing holy sacramentals, wearing a crucifix, attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion, reciting the Holy Rosary, obeying the 10 Commandments of God, wearing the Brown Scapular, following the teachings of the Catholic Church at all times and everything that has already been mentioned previously in this article. There have been evil times and punishments from God throughout our history and due to the increasing evil that exists in our days and times (such as abortion, pornography, sins of the flesh, same sex unions, euthanasia), it is no wonder that we may be experiencing unprecedented forms of evil now. So, we must learn how to arm ourselves with approved Catholic beliefs/practices that will deter and remove any type of evil and we must always be sure that we are individually, and as a society, living by the Commandments of God and by the teachings of the Catholic Church which was founded by the Lord Jesus Himself. If we continue to break God's Laws and continue to do evil in God's eyes, God will not bless us individually or as a society. Therefore, if we continue to offend God and break His Commandments and do not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, it may very well be possible that evil times and punishments may continue to persist in our future.
15. Attend Mass Every Week Unless Your Sick and Receive Holy Communion Regularly
It is very important to attend Catholic Mass every week, unless you are sick or ill (in that case you can watch it on TV). It is important that individuals and families attend Mass every week. It is a serious mortal sin not to attend Mass because it breaks the 3rd Commandment of God. A mortal sin is when we are separating ourselves from God. In order to be reunited with God again, a person or a family who does not attend Mass every week, must go to confession before they can receive Holy Communion (you must be in the state of grace before you can receive the Eucharist). The Holy Mass is very important because it not only fulfills our weekly and very important obligation to God but it also allows us to receive the Body of Christ which is union with Jesus.
The Eucharist is the most important aspect of the Holy Mass. " Jesus said to them, "I Am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (John 6:35) "Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.' " (John 6:53-58) If one does not regularly receive the Holy Eucharist, then they will not have life within them because they are not united with Christ. "Jesus said to them, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) So, be sure that in order to have everlasting life, you and your family must go to Mass every week and receive Holy Communion while in the state of grace. Confession, attending Mass every week, receiving the Holy Eucharist, obeying the 10 Commandments of God and living by the teachings of the Catholic Church will not only feed your mind and your souls but also protect you and your family from eternal damnation.
16. Do Penance For Your Sins
It is important to always and immediately go to confession to confess your sins to a Catholic priest. Before absolution of your sins, the priest will tell you what penance you will need to do in order to outwardly express your repentance to God and to Jesus. In order to be absolved from your sins, you must do whatever penance the priest tells you to do (unless it is against your conscience or against God). In addition to our confessional penance, it is also advisable to do extra penances by yourself or as a family in order to mitigate (lessen the seriousness and gravity) of serious mortal sins that you and your family have committed against God throughout your lives. The reason that these extra penances are a good idea is because whatever sins have not been "paid for" during life, you will have to pay for after your death. Hopefully, Catholics follow all the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Commandments of God throughout their lives but even the slightest sin must be "paid for" in purgatory before we will be admitted into Heaven. "I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Luke 12:59)
Penances that can be performed are: fasting, reciting the Rosary, cleaning the Catholic Church, serving the poor and homeless, praying for the holy souls in purgatory, getting rid of bad habits/addictions, eating fish on Fridays throughout the year, giving money and food to the poor, taking care and visiting the sick, the disabled and abandoned, evangelization of the Catholic faith to others, etc. Anyone can practice these penances in their lives but you should consult a physician before you think about fasting because it may not be advisable for children or for those who have underlying health issues to fast. If you cannot fast for any reason, there are plenty of other ways that you can perform penances in your life.
St. Therese of Lisieux, the saint of the "Little Way", "translated 'the little way' in terms of a commitment to the tasks and to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel; she served in the refectory and in the laundry room; she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. Above all, she tried to show a love for all the nuns in the community. She played no favorites; she gave of herself even to the difficult members. Her life sounds so routine and ordinary, but it was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no breakdown. It is called a little way precisely by being simple, direct, yet calling for amazing fortitude and commitment. In living out her life of faith she sensed that everything that she was able to accomplish came from a generous love of God in her life. She was convinced that at the end of her life she would go to God ... because all was accomplished in union with God." (taken from the Society of the Little Flower)
Therefore, we can express our love for God, not only by doing penances for our sins but also by offering to live our lives and doing our good, ordinary, daily duties (for ourselves, for our families and for others) by dedicating our penances, our entire day and duties to Our Heavenly Father, to Our Lord Jesus and to Our Blessed Mother. We must always be sure that we are maintaining goodness, holiness and purity, within ourselves and with others, when we are performing our penances, and our daily duties for God.
17. Believe That You and Others Are Children of God
Since God loves us, who are we to say that we and others are not children of God? "What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God." (John 1: 12-13) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26) “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18) It is always necessary to believe that you yourself and others are children of God, especially if you and others believe in God and in Jesus Christ. But, it is also necessary that if you or others are causing yourself or others to sin, it is imperative to admonish (correct) yourself and others. This is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Also, the 8th Commandment says, "You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor" which means that we are not allowed, by God, to talk about others in a detrimental manner or place "evil labels/lie" on any person. If someone is doing evil to you or to someone you know, then it is necessary that you report it to your local parish priest or to the local authorities so that it can be corrected. If evil titles are placed on people by a society, it can cause God to punish people and places.
It is important that if a person or a family really wants to protect themselves fully, they should consider becoming a Catholic. Being baptized as a Catholic, initiated by the Catholic RCIA program, is the first step in uniting yourself fully into the Catholic Church which is the only true Church that Jesus Christ started Himself. All other Christian Churches were started by various leaders but not by Jesus Himself. It is not difficult to become a Catholic. One need only attend classes at the local Catholic Church in your city for instruction into the Catholic faith. At the end of the classes, the person is baptized into the Catholic faith.
2. The Crucifix
Every Catholic home should have a blessed Crucifix of Our Lord Jesus in the home, in your car and on yourself and on each of your family members. It is important that we wear the crucifix of Our Lord because Jesus is the Son of God whom we worship. It is also a sign of our faith. The crucifix is very powerful and can ward off evil in the home, at your job, in your car and on your person.
3. The Brown Scapular
The Brown Scapular of Our Blessed Mother is very important to wear over your shoulders because Our Blessed Mother promised that whoever wears the Brown Scapular "shall not suffer eternal fire" and when we wear the scapular, we are identifying that we belong to the Blessed Mother. She also protects those who wear the Brown Scapular their entire lives. Once a person puts on the Scapular, it should never be removed except when bathing. Do not use the medal type scapulars because they are not protected under the Blessed Mother's promise. It is important to remember that if a person has committed serious mortal sins (breaking any of the 10 commandments of God), the Brown Scapular promise may not be fulfilled unless one immediately confesses their sins to a Catholic priest. Therefore, it is always adviseable that a person stays in the state of grace at all times by confessing their sins right away.
It is extremely important that you enroll yourself and your family in the Brown Scapular right after you buy the Brown Scapular. Enrolling yourself and your family in the Brown Scapular means that you and your family must be invested into the Scapular by a Catholic priest. You need to make an appointment to see the priest for the enrollment. During the Enrollment ceremony, you are asking the Blessed Mother to protect you fully from Satan and to protect you at the time of your death. Therefore, if you are taken to a hospital, it is important that you tell your family and medical staff to leave your Brown Scapular on at all times. It is never to be taken off, even at the time of death and after you die. You must also be buried with it.
4. St. Benedict Medal
St. Benedict of Nursia was a priestly monk who started the monastic life. He initially was a hermit but then was the head of the monastery in Italy. He was never defeated by the devil and for that reason, his medal is very powerful against evil. A large blessed St. Benedict medal should be place in the home and a small blessed St. Benedict medal should be worn on a chain around the neck.
5. The Holy Rosary
Every Catholic, and in some cases Non-Catholics, should recite the Holy Rosary once daily. It is a powerful weapon against evil. Many miracles have been attributed to the Holy Rosary. People who have been sick sometimes are miraculously healed through the Rosary. Wars and battles have been won through the Rosary. For example, in the Battle of Lepanto, the enemies of the Catholic faith tried to invade the Catholic territories in 1571 but the Catholics were able to defeat them through the Holy Rosary. In the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, Our Blessed Mother told Lucia that people should pray the Rosary every day for peace in the world and for the conversion of sinners.
6. Holy Water
Every home should have a large bottle of holy water because when it is sprinkled around the home, it blesses the home and helps to remove any evil that may be lingering in the home. Every person or family should have a Catholic priest bless a house that they purchase in order to remove any evil that may be in the home. If, after the home is formally blessed by a priest, a person or family feels that there is still some uncomfortable evil presence in the home, just sprinkle holy water around the home, with the Sign of the Cross, to make sure that it is permanently removed from the home. You can also use the holy water to bless you and your family once a day. There are holy water fonts that you can place in the inside entrance of your home to contain the holy water so that it is easily accessible to bless yourselves with the Sign of the Cross before you enter the inside of your home.
7. The Miraculous Medal
In 1830, Catherine Laboure stated that on the eve of the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, she was awaked by a child calling her to go to the chapel located in the convent. The Blessed Mother then appeared to Catherine and told her, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world." On November 27, 1830 Catherine reported that the Blessed Mother returned during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe. She wore many rings set with gems that shone rays of light over the globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous ("O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee"). As Catherine watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. Asked why some of the gems did not shed light, Mary reportedly replied, "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask." Sister Catherine then heard the Virgin Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions, and saying "All who wear them will receive great graces.".
8. Picture or Statue of the Blessed Mother
It is very important to have a blessed picture or statue of the Blessed Mother in every Catholic home. She should then be honored and loved in the home by everyone. She is our Heavenly Mother and She wants the best for us. She prays for us and protects us whenever we ask Her to. We should pray to Her daily for protection from evil for our family, for ourselves and for our own intentions. There is no problem that is too difficult for Our Blessed Mother to solve, unless what we want may not be good for us at that time. She intercedes for us to Her Son, Jesus, and begs for mercy for sinners. Our Blessed Mother asks that people pray for lasting peace for this troubled world, for the conversion of sinners and for our own intentions. It is important that people do penance after they commit a sin. This penance can be done by making sure to dedicate your entire day to the Blessed Mother's Immaculate Heart for your own sins, for your family and for whatever else Our Blessed Mother chooses to use it for.
9. Use Votive Candles in Your Home
In every Catholic home, there should be a Catholic altar that is set aside on a table where the family can spend time to pray to Jesus, to Our Heavenly Father and to Our Blessed Mother. On this altar, there should be blessed votive candles. You can buy these candles online and have them blessed by a priest. The lighting of votive candles is used oftentimes to ask for special petitions/favors, for a loved one or for yourself.
10. Pray Daily To St. Michael For Protection
It is important to pray daily the St. Michael Prayer: "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls." St. Michael is our sure protection against hell. There is an invisible battle that goes on in the world between good and evil. It is a very good idea to say this prayer often throughout the day/evening to ward off any evil.
11. Confess All Mortal/Venial Sins Right Away
All Catholics commit some type of sin, unless you are already a saint. Therefore, it is necessary that these mortal and venial sins are confessed right away. It is not advisable to wait too long to confess your sins because one never knows what can happen in one's life. Some people die suddenly from heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, car accidents, fatal falls, etc. Mortal sins are sins that are committed against the 10 Commandments of God. If mortal sins are not repented, they may cause a soul to be condemned to hell because they cause separation from God. Venial sins are lesser sins that do not entail separation from God and do not cause damnation of the soul. But, an accumulation of venial sins can cause a soul to eventually commit greater, mortal sins if not repented and confessed.
12. Never Believe In Numerology or In Any Superstitions--Ever!
Numerology is a superstitious belief in numbers that people should never consider or believe in--ever! Also, people, especially Catholics, should never believe in any type of other superstitions like in horoscopes, tarot cards, tea leaves, fortune tellers, seances, communicating with the dead, etc. because it is considered divination, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, 'All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance (mental telepathy), and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2116) and idolatry which is directly against God and against His Commandments. The devil has many conniving tactics that he uses to throw people off guard and he uses various forms of deception to keep us away from our belief in Our Heavenly Father, in Our Lord Jesus, in Our Blessed Mother, in the 10 Commandments and in the teachings of the Catholic Church. People need to stick to the tried and true belief in Our Heavenly Father, in Our Lord Jesus, in Our Blessed Mother, in the saints, in the heavenly angels, in the 10 Commandments of God and in the teachings of the Catholic Church at all times. Even though the Bible does contain numbers, like 40 and 7, that does not mean that we may exactly ever know what these numbers really and truly mean. Even great Catholic theologians cannot ever say for sure what these symbolic numbers mean. Therefore, it is better not to have any type of belief in numbers or in any type of other superstitious beliefs at all. Belief in numbers and in other superstitions can cause God and Our Lord Jesus to punish people who believe in this idolatry because it breaks the 1st Commandment of God which states, "I Am the Lord, thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me." It is important to note that if you know of any person that engages in any of these false beliefs, you should advise them that it is very dangerous to believe in these idols and it breaks the Commandments of God.
13. Learn How To Discern Spirits
If some type of spirit is trying to communicate with you or with someone you know, it is a good idea not to communicate with it at all. At first, these "communications" may seem harmless, but if something keeps bothering you, it is more than likely something evil. It is important that Catholics learn that evil spirits may try to communicate with them but it is never a good idea to start opening up conversations with any type of spirit because once you do, it is very difficult to get rid of them. If something like this is happening to you or to someone you know, it may be a tell-tale sign that you are living with unrepentant mortal sin on your soul that needs to be confessed to a priest immediately. When our souls are in the state of grace (which happens after we have confessed all of our sins, when we regularly attend the Catholic Mass and when we frequently receive Holy Communion ), you will find that these "spirits" will more than likely disappear. If they do not leave, once you have confessed your sins, gone to Mass and received Holy Communion, then it is possible that your lifestyle is not in agreement with God's Laws. For example, if you are living with your boyfriend/girlfriend and having relations with him/her, or if you still believe that abortion and same sex unions are fine or breaking other Commandments of God, then you are still living with sinful beliefs/behaviors and are not really repenting of your sins. In other words, even though you have confessed your sins, attended Mass and received Holy Communion, you still have no intention of changing your life toward God and you still will probably be breaking God's Laws. God sees our hearts and knows what we are thinking. We cannot fool God.
Therefore, it is important to make positively sure that we are, at all times, living our lives in compliance with God's Commandments of God, and with the teachings of the Catholic Church. If something evil keeps bothering you or if some spirit is trying to communicate with you once even though you have confessed your sins, attend Mass regularly, receive Holy Communion, follow the 10 Commandments, follow the teachings of the Catholic Church and try to do everything with God and with Our Lord Jesus in mind, then it is time to talk with your local priest or bishop about it so that you will know what further actions need to be taken to get rid of these unwanted visitors.
14. Spiritual Warfare
We all know that saints have battled with evil spirits from time to time in the past but you do not have to be a great saint to occasionally do battle with evil. If something evil is bothering you, your family members or someone you know, it is time to do battle with it. That means using every means that the Catholic Church uses to get rid of evil such as Holy Water, incense, prayers, having Masses said for someone who is being bothered by evil, confession, Catholic laity prayers of deliverance from evil (many times done by a Catholic priest), wearing holy sacramentals, wearing a crucifix, attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion, reciting the Holy Rosary, obeying the 10 Commandments of God, wearing the Brown Scapular, following the teachings of the Catholic Church at all times and everything that has already been mentioned previously in this article. There have been evil times and punishments from God throughout our history and due to the increasing evil that exists in our days and times (such as abortion, pornography, sins of the flesh, same sex unions, euthanasia), it is no wonder that we may be experiencing unprecedented forms of evil now. So, we must learn how to arm ourselves with approved Catholic beliefs/practices that will deter and remove any type of evil and we must always be sure that we are individually, and as a society, living by the Commandments of God and by the teachings of the Catholic Church which was founded by the Lord Jesus Himself. If we continue to break God's Laws and continue to do evil in God's eyes, God will not bless us individually or as a society. Therefore, if we continue to offend God and break His Commandments and do not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, it may very well be possible that evil times and punishments may continue to persist in our future.
15. Attend Mass Every Week Unless Your Sick and Receive Holy Communion Regularly
It is very important to attend Catholic Mass every week, unless you are sick or ill (in that case you can watch it on TV). It is important that individuals and families attend Mass every week. It is a serious mortal sin not to attend Mass because it breaks the 3rd Commandment of God. A mortal sin is when we are separating ourselves from God. In order to be reunited with God again, a person or a family who does not attend Mass every week, must go to confession before they can receive Holy Communion (you must be in the state of grace before you can receive the Eucharist). The Holy Mass is very important because it not only fulfills our weekly and very important obligation to God but it also allows us to receive the Body of Christ which is union with Jesus.
The Eucharist is the most important aspect of the Holy Mass. " Jesus said to them, "I Am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (John 6:35) "Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.' " (John 6:53-58) If one does not regularly receive the Holy Eucharist, then they will not have life within them because they are not united with Christ. "Jesus said to them, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) So, be sure that in order to have everlasting life, you and your family must go to Mass every week and receive Holy Communion while in the state of grace. Confession, attending Mass every week, receiving the Holy Eucharist, obeying the 10 Commandments of God and living by the teachings of the Catholic Church will not only feed your mind and your souls but also protect you and your family from eternal damnation.
16. Do Penance For Your Sins
It is important to always and immediately go to confession to confess your sins to a Catholic priest. Before absolution of your sins, the priest will tell you what penance you will need to do in order to outwardly express your repentance to God and to Jesus. In order to be absolved from your sins, you must do whatever penance the priest tells you to do (unless it is against your conscience or against God). In addition to our confessional penance, it is also advisable to do extra penances by yourself or as a family in order to mitigate (lessen the seriousness and gravity) of serious mortal sins that you and your family have committed against God throughout your lives. The reason that these extra penances are a good idea is because whatever sins have not been "paid for" during life, you will have to pay for after your death. Hopefully, Catholics follow all the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Commandments of God throughout their lives but even the slightest sin must be "paid for" in purgatory before we will be admitted into Heaven. "I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Luke 12:59)
Penances that can be performed are: fasting, reciting the Rosary, cleaning the Catholic Church, serving the poor and homeless, praying for the holy souls in purgatory, getting rid of bad habits/addictions, eating fish on Fridays throughout the year, giving money and food to the poor, taking care and visiting the sick, the disabled and abandoned, evangelization of the Catholic faith to others, etc. Anyone can practice these penances in their lives but you should consult a physician before you think about fasting because it may not be advisable for children or for those who have underlying health issues to fast. If you cannot fast for any reason, there are plenty of other ways that you can perform penances in your life.
St. Therese of Lisieux, the saint of the "Little Way", "translated 'the little way' in terms of a commitment to the tasks and to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel; she served in the refectory and in the laundry room; she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. Above all, she tried to show a love for all the nuns in the community. She played no favorites; she gave of herself even to the difficult members. Her life sounds so routine and ordinary, but it was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no breakdown. It is called a little way precisely by being simple, direct, yet calling for amazing fortitude and commitment. In living out her life of faith she sensed that everything that she was able to accomplish came from a generous love of God in her life. She was convinced that at the end of her life she would go to God ... because all was accomplished in union with God." (taken from the Society of the Little Flower)
Therefore, we can express our love for God, not only by doing penances for our sins but also by offering to live our lives and doing our good, ordinary, daily duties (for ourselves, for our families and for others) by dedicating our penances, our entire day and duties to Our Heavenly Father, to Our Lord Jesus and to Our Blessed Mother. We must always be sure that we are maintaining goodness, holiness and purity, within ourselves and with others, when we are performing our penances, and our daily duties for God.
17. Believe That You and Others Are Children of God
Since God loves us, who are we to say that we and others are not children of God? "What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God." (John 1: 12-13) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26) “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:18) It is always necessary to believe that you yourself and others are children of God, especially if you and others believe in God and in Jesus Christ. But, it is also necessary that if you or others are causing yourself or others to sin, it is imperative to admonish (correct) yourself and others. This is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Also, the 8th Commandment says, "You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor" which means that we are not allowed, by God, to talk about others in a detrimental manner or place "evil labels/lie" on any person. If someone is doing evil to you or to someone you know, then it is necessary that you report it to your local parish priest or to the local authorities so that it can be corrected. If evil titles are placed on people by a society, it can cause God to punish people and places.
