Wed 15 Feb 2006
The Greatest Trick the Devil Ever Pulled…
Posted by Devman under Saints and Angels
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…was convincing the world that he didn’t exist.
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Specifically, why do even we Christians discount that demons and Satan himself attack us? For example, when we are afflicted with evil thoughts that even lead to temptations, isn’t it plausible and even likely that this is a demonic attack?
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I have explained such things away in the past as being consequences and remnants of evil things I used to do before I was given my new life in Christ at Baptism. And perhaps they are, but perhaps they are also avenues that demons use to assault me.
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My mom had an interesting point about this that she learned when listening to an exorcist-priest give a talk about what he does: Demons often don’t need to attack evil people because those people are already so twisted that they don’t need much instigation to continue their evil ways, so demons prefer to attack Christians who are striving to live virtuously in their lives.
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When we discount the Devil and his demons, we fail to believe in the very real spiritual battle going on each day where our human souls are the battlefield and the prize. Wouldn’t it be nice if you were in a battle and the enemy didn’t even take the field against you because they didn’t think you were real, and so they lounged lazily while you came upon them armed and ready for combat? That would give you a great advantage, and it is one that we give demons when we don’t recognize their reality.
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Jesus said he saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. The Devil is real, and so are his evil underlings, and they hate you and me. Let us stay awake and not let our homes be broken into by these thieves, allowing God to equip us with His mighty armor so that we can stand with him on the evil day when we are assaulted.

February 16th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
If you have a chance, you should read the book, How to Win the Culture War by Peter Kreeft. He addresses this very thing!
He also reminds us of how the prayer of St. Michael came about. In the late 19th century, Pope Leo XIII had a vision that Satan had one centtury to do with worst damage here on earth and he chose the 20th century. Pope Leo fainted after his vision and when he woke up he composed the prayer to St. Michael, and the Church began praying it after every high mass. With the second Vatican Council, that practice became no more. Coincidentally (or not) at about the same time, abortion was make legal in the U.S. and the “sexual revolution” began destroying families.
The Rosary and the Prayer to St. Michael are the best weapons we have in this spiritual battle!