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The Devil Made Me Do It
Discerning Issues of Mental Health from the Possibility of Demonic Oppression

I. Introductory video clip: Closing Defence from The Exorcism of Emily Rose
http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/the-exorcism-of-emily-rose/is-it-possible?play=1

II. What is Demonic Oppression?

  • Fr. Mike Driscoll’s book “Demons, Deliverance, Discernment: Separating Fact from Fiction in the Spirit World”
  • “Although we may not face the more dramatic demonic attacks, the devil tempts everyone - he even tempted our Lord. We would be mistaken if we acted as if demonic possession were commonplace. We would be equally mistaken, however - as well as foolish - to ignore the presence of the devil and to neglect the means of resisting his activity in the world.” (Introduction, 2)
  • a lower form of evil influence wherein the subject is not completely overtaken by evil but is significantly impacted by it- a form of spiritual bondage

III. Where the Devil hides

  • the truth of mental illness is a foregone conclusion (rightly so)
  • in biblical times, much more was explained away as obviously spiritual versus mental pathology
  • in modern times, too much is explained away as exclusively mental illness and never identified as spiritual - this is a tactic of the enemy: darkness

IV. Signs for a spiritual director/confessor of mental illness

  1. General presumption that a therapeutic intervention would always promote health and never harm;
  2. Directee/penitent manifests harmful or tragic past experiences that have gone unaddressed;
  3. Suicidal ideation becomes obsessive or compulsive; dealt with by destructive coping mechanisms (substance abuse, pornography, excessive sleep, etc.).

V. Signs for a clinician of demonic oppression

  1. Therapeutic interventions repeatedly only take a patient so far;
  2. The patient volunteers in conversation their own religious beliefs and struggles in persevering in a spiritual life;
  3. Forgiveness towards an aggressor is acknowledged as good but impossible (either because of persistent hurt feelings or fear of letting that go);
  4. Despite advances made in boosting self-confidence, the patient remains convicted of his/her general guilt or unloveableness.

VI. The most intense demonic oppression: UNFORGIVENESS

  • the crippling effects of resentment
  • forgiveness is an act of the will not a feeling
  • forgiveness is a process and not a one time experience (it must be renewed often)
  • true liberation comes from freeing ourselves from the belief that the person who has hurt me either:
    • meant to hurt me
    • doesn’t care that he/she hurt me
    • is glad that I am suffering

…but rather, more than likely does not even know that he/she hurt me or that I am still suffering as a consequence of that previous pain

VII. To whom shall we go, Lord?

  • as spiritual directors/confessors, we are indebted to Catholic mental health professionals who will provide good therapy alongside respect for spiritual interventions;
  • as clinicians, be prepared to share faith with your patients (to the extent that you are professionally able)- be surprised that most hurting people will welcome a spiritual intervention;
  • DO NOT INDICATE YOUR PERSONAL OPINION OF DEMONIC ACTIVITY!
    • someone who comes to us at the recommendation of their therapist that “they’re possessed” will narrowly direct what care they expect to receive.
  • to those who show openness, suggest that praying with a priest might bring them some comfort; for those whom you know are Catholic, never be afraid to recommend making a good confession;
  • have multiple priests in mind whom you trust (one cannot take them all on);
  • when possible and appropriate conspicuously display a comforting religious image (ex. Madonna and child) in your office which might provide a subtle opening for a patient to feel safe to bring up the spiritual perspective with you.
  • UNBOUND PRAYER