The following day, we covered the anointing of the sick and the gift of counsel. Counsel is a tricky one for me. I have prayed to understand
Attacked By Witchcraft: Chapter 18 Part 1
July 4, 2023Wendy
The following day, we covered the anointing of the sick and the gift of counsel. Counsel is a tricky one for me. I have prayed to understand it, and I just haven’t. But I am beginning to see that this whole book has been written through the gift of counsel because these words, well, it is insane that they came out of me. But I think God has shown me that we all have something to teach each other through the experiences He has given us. It does not mean we are superior in any way, only that we have shared what we have learned with others to hopefully impact their lives in a positive way. The use of witchcraft against me almost destroyed me. It was the darkest period in my life, but oddly, also the most enlightening. It was a time when the Lord loved me so much that He allowed me to suffer, not only for myself, but so I could help others one day.
It is interesting how things sometimes just unfold before your eyes. I was at Mass the other day, and the priest gave a homily that fit perfectly with what I had been writing about earlier in the week. The following scripture is part of the gospel from that Mass: “On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them” (Mark 1:29–31). What struck me most about Father’s homily was what he said at the end: “It is after she is healed that she begins to serve the others.” Yes! He is right. It has been years that I have been writing, and years that Jesus has been healing me, and now I know that it is time to go into the world and share what the Lord has shown me.
I have been struggling with the fact that this book focuses a great deal on suffering, and in all truth, I am a little concerned about how that will come across. But God reminded me that my story was born out of suffering. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks, only that I do what I can to help others. When I was suffering from the attacks of witchcraft, no matter where I turned, there was no consolation, there were no answers. I was just completely lost and afraid. Knowing that other people are going through that right now, even at this very moment, rips my heart out. So I will write the words and pray that God will bring them to each person who needs to be loved, comforted, and encouraged, and also to those who are at their breaking point. Those who have recoiled so deeply into themselves that they can no longer bear it. I know your pain, and my prayer is that you will find peace and healing, just as I have. This did not happen overnight, though, I think because the process bids us to run to our Savior. It rids us of those earthly attachments that tie us to this world, and keep us from completely surrendering ourselves to God.
Through these sufferings, I have discovered that we learn a great deal in our weakest state because that is when we are vulnerable and the most open to God. When we come to see that we are unable to change our condition, that is when we cry out to the Lord for help. That is when we begin to surrender. Once we have come to know what God has done for us through our suffering, our openness to Him broadens because we now see the effects of the work that has been done in us. Now we begin to participate in this work in a whole new way. And with great fervor and humility, we approach Jesus with a more loving, obedient heart. Now the suffering seems to be more tolerable. That does not mean that it has ended, only that we are more equipped to bear it.
This brings me to the anointing of the sick. I think we are all on a continual path of healing because we are always being injured through sin, our sin, and the sins committed against us by others. We are imperfect beings, and so Jesus has given us different paths for healing, some of which include the Eucharist, confession, and the anointing of the sick. We know that we receive grace through the sacraments, and grace translates into strength and power. Many people receive the anointing of the sick because they are physically ill, but they receive no physical healing. Does that mean Jesus has forgotten them? No. It means He has given them the strength to endure their suffering and has deeply touched their spirit. I believe we will only see what Jesus has done for us in its fullness on the other side of this life.
I would like to remind you of my time in Medjugorje with Father Marko and ask you to recall when he anointed me and I slipped into that mystical heavenly place. Actually, I would like to ask you to reread that experience before moving on with this chapter. It will help put you in the right frame of mind I need you to be in now to continue.
Good Counters Evil I need to go back to a time before I knew Jana to describe what had been happening in my life leading up to the times in
Attacked by Witchcraft: Chapter 1
June 16, 2023Wendy
Good Counters Evil
Ineed to go back to a time before I knew Jana to describe what had been happening in my life leading up to the times in question. I had been going to daily Mass for a few years, and the same groups of people were usually there. One day, a woman named Annette started coming to church. And frankly, I noticed her because she had some strange behaviors. She was a tall heavier woman with short blond hair, and she always sat in the front row with her legs crossed and her head down. One of the reasons I noticed her was because she moved her head up and down very slowly during the Mass. It was distracting but also attention-getting. The priests at that church always asked the people to pray their intentions out loud. That was something I never experienced before in a Catholic church. Annette took that invitation to a level that was frustrating for everyone there. Her intentions were always very long and intellectual, and she didn’t just offer her prayers once but several times. The priests usually cut her off so that they could move on with the Mass. When it came time to shake hands, Annette would hug people for a long time. It was just so out of the ordinary. She made me feel so uncomfortable that I never sat by her. She went out of her way to be noticed or to stand out, and if that was her goal, she definitely accomplished it!
A few of my friends and I decided to pray a rosary after Mass one day. Annette saw us praying and asked if she could join us. I know it sounds bad, but we had no choice but to say yes. She just made people feel so uneasy that everyone avoided her. Once we started to pray the rosary, she immediately started telling us how to pray and what to say. Annette, like Jana, had many intentions, and it took a long time before we finally prayed the rosary. My friends and I decided not to pray after the Mass again, which was a shame. After that encounter with Annette, I started to have a lot of problems concentrating when I was at church. Terrible thoughts flooded my mind, and no matter how hard I tried, they would not go away. Eventually, the thoughts escalated into unholy images of Jesus. I did not understand what was wrong with me. I had never had anything like that happen to me before, and I didn’t know what to do. I just kept going to church and hoping it would go away.
One day, I brought my daughter Meaghan to church with me. She was about seven at the time. After church, Annette rushed over to us and asked if she could hug Meaghan. I was a bit flabbergasted and didn’t know what to say, and before I knew it, she had her. I should have stopped her but it all happened so fast. Annette held her tight for way too long. I finally grabbed Meaghan, and we made our escape. After that encounter with Annette, Meaghan started having night terrors. She had never had problems sleeping before that incident. She was so afraid that I had to stay with her at night until she fell asleep. Then I started having problems sleeping. As soon as I would start to fall asleep, I would begin to shake, and that shaking stopped me from falling into a deeper sleep. That happened over and over again throughout the night. I was not exactly sure what was going on, but I knew I did not like it. One night the shaking was so bad that I told my husband I felt weird. A few seconds later, Meaghan screamed, “Mommy, Mommy, I feel weird.” My eyes flew open and I ran to her room. I stayed with her all night and she was able to sleep. The next day I started a novena to Saint Joseph. A novena is a prayer that is prayed for nine consecutive days for your intentions. I prayed for Meaghan to be freed of the night terrors. I also had my house blessed by a priest, since we suddenly started having these problems. Thankfully, Meaghan’s night terrors went away, although I still had problems sleeping. If that is the way it had to be to protect my daughter, then I was okay with that. I know now that Annette was responsible for all of that. And I believe she is a witch.
During that time in my life, Marian/Medjugorje conferences were very popular. Medjugorje is located in Bosnia, and it is widely known, especially to Catholic believers, as a place where the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing for more than 40 years now. The conferences I went to were like mini-retreats. They were wonderful. There was always daily Mass, adoration, and opportunities for confession. The speakers gave their testimony on the experiences they had in Medjugorje. I miss those conferences. Because these conferences and the two pilgrimages “overlapped” in time with the other events and the spiritual attacks I was dealing with in those years—I have included highlights about them and the gifts the Lord gave me through them. These experiences have changed me and have had a very positive impact on my life, as they were part of how the Lord built me up internally to deal with the spiritual attacks.
There were a lot of speakers at the first Marian conference I attended, which was many years ago. I was drawn to attend mainly by the presence of two of the visionaries from Medjugorje, Vicka and Ivan. They shared their stories and also had their daily apparition of the Blessed Mother before all of the people. I was excited. I had no idea what to expect. There were a lot of us from my church there, and we all sat together during the conference. I felt very blessed to have the opportunity to be present during an apparition. On the first day of the conference, while I was listening to one of the speakers, I was suddenly overcome by the smell of roses. I looked around to see if anyone else was reacting, but everyone looked normal. I thought maybe I was crazy, and then my friend Sharon said, “Does anyone smell roses?” I turned to her and said yes, and then I was completely engulfed in the scent of roses. It was so intense. As I breathed in, the smell came into me somehow. It was tangible. I could feel it, and my heart was filled with such love that I started to cry. I leaned forward and put my head in my hands. I wanted to cover my face from the others and sink into that incredible love. It was hard to comprehend at the time, but that was more love than I had ever experienced in my entire life.
I was able to compose myself as the smell of roses started to dissipate. I tried to place my attention back on the speaker, but one of the doors on the side of the building kept flying open and then slammed shut again. It was distracting, but I resisted the urge to get up and close the door. Someone finally shut the door but it still kept opening. I went upstairs during the break to go to Adoration. I wanted to thank Jesus and the Blessed Mother for all the beautiful graces they had given me that morning. By the time I got there, the room was filled with people. All of the chairs were taken, and there were people lined up against the walls. They were even sitting on the floor. Luckily, I was able to find a spot against the wall in the back. I started praying and I got very hot. I tried to forget about it, but I couldn’t. So, I told Jesus I was sorry, and I left. When I returned to my seat, one of my friends from church told me that the miracle of the sun was happening outside. Then she pointed at the door that had been flying open during the last session.
I looked over to see a huge crowd of people trying to push their way through the door. I didn’t even think about it, I just walked over there, stooped down, and squeezed my way through the people and out the door. Once I was outside, I looked up and saw the sun pulsating like a heartbeat. Each time the sun pulsed, its color changed. I saw orange, green, blue, pink, and purple. They were the most beautiful pastel colors I had ever seen. It was really something. If you picture a shade being pulled side to side rather than up and down, you will have an idea of what I was seeing. With each pulse, one color slowly replaced another. I felt like I was staring into the face of God. I had read about the miracle of the sun, but to experience it was truly amazing.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the earth nations will be in anguish, distraught at the roaring of the sea and the waves. Men will die in fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth. The powers in heaven will be shaken. After that, men will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with great honor and glory. When these things begin to happen, stand erect and hold your heads high, for your deliverance is near at hand.”
Later that night, when it was getting close to the time of the apparition, Ivan and Vicka came out on the stage and led us in the rosary. We were all anticipating the coming of the Blessed Mother. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. Curious to find out what was going to happen but a little afraid too. About halfway through the rosary, the visionaries fell to their knees and looked up. They were shaking their heads and smiling. Everyone in the auditorium fell silent, and we all kneeled. I closed my eyes and imagined the Blessed Mother walking among us and blessing us. It was at that moment when the smell of roses returned. A great calm came over me, and I was filled with peace and love.
After the conference ended, I was quiet within myself. I needed to take it all in and digest what had happened. It was a new beginning. It is hard to explain, but when you are on a journey toward God, it is as if there are a series of beginnings. Whenever you think you have reached that “height,” you find that there is so much more to discover. It is an amazing wonder-filled journey, and I hope I have a million more beginnings.
The following year, I went to another Marian conference in September. My mom and I were going to Medjugorje together in October for the first time, so it was a nice preparation for the trip. There was a healing service that Friday night and the presiding priest was a very tall round man who bellowed when he spoke. He was funny and filled with such joy, it was infectious. I brought Meaghan with me that night, not realizing how long it would be for her or how hard it would be on my body. She fell asleep on my lap around the time the healing service began. My back ached so bad I could hardly sit there.
I had chronic lower back pain for most of my life due to a childhood illness. During the healing service, Father asked all of us to stand up. That was difficult for me, but I did it. As I stood there holding my daughter, I wondered how I was going to make it through the rest of the night, let alone the rest of the conference. Then Father said, “There is someone out there with severe lower back pain.” My first thought was that he could be talking about anybody. He said that this person was going to be healed. I didn’t think he was talking about me. I just figured it was someone else. He continued with the healing service, and in the end, explained that the healing may take some time, and we may experience some burning and pain in the area that was being healed. Then the conference closed for the night and I headed home.
The pain in my back was excruciating. All I wanted to do was go to bed. I put Meaghan down and climbed into bed hoping to fall asleep right away, but I couldn’t. My mind was in overdrive as I considered the possibility that maybe God would heal me. I was kind of afraid to want it because if it didn’t happen, then I would be disappointed. I finally decided if it happens, it happens, and I fell asleep.
The next morning, I got up and ran downstairs. Then it hit me: I had just run down the stairs! For years my pain was so bad that I walked down the stairs backward one step at a time, but that day I ran right down the stairs like it was nothing. I could not believe that this could happen to me. I was worried about how I was going to be able to make the long journey to Medjugorje with my back problems, but I didn’t have to worry about that anymore. God touched me again. It was another beginning. I am so thankful that God loves me so much, He freed me from the pain I had lived with most of my adult life.
The following post is the introduction to my book Attacked by Witchcraft, Journey to Love Through Hope. I wanted to give you a preview or sa
Attacked by Witchcraft-Introduction
May 16, 2023Wendy
The following post is the introduction to my book Attacked by Witchcraft, Journey to Love Through Hope. I wanted to give you a preview or sample before the book comes out, which I am praying will be this summer. I will also post the first chapter in the near future. This is a little longer than a typical article, but I didn’t want to split it into two posts. Thank you for all of your prayers and support concerning the book and the website. I truly appreciate it.
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. Although the dragon and his angels fought back, they were overpowered and lost their place in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent known as the devil or Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out; he was hurled down to the earth and his minions with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: Now have salvation and power come, the reign of our God and the authority of his Anointed One. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who night and day accused them before our God. They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. So rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, earth and sea, for the devil has come down upon you! His fury knows no limits, for he knows his time is short.
This passage from the Book of Revelation became very meaningful to me some years back, and how it became meaningful is the subject of this book. At the time in the early 2000s, I joined what I thought was a Catholic prayer group. I had never done that before, and I wasn’t sure it was for me, but I decided to join anyway. There were five people in the group, but I only knew three. Jana, whom I didn’t know, led the group at her house on Wednesday evenings. She always started the conversation and led the prayers. Jana seemed to know a lot more about the Bible than the rest of us did, so we looked to her for direction. There was a kind of excitement about her, and it appeared all she wanted to do was help us grow in our faith.
We always talked for a while before praying the rosary, and when we finished, Jana always prayed her intentions out loud and asked us to do the same. Initially, I was uncomfortable with that so I just listened. But after a while, I felt more comfortable offering some intentions. While I liked Jana, it was also true that from the moment I met her, I just couldn’t figure her out. She was different. When we prayed, she was always slumped over with her head hung down and her hair covering her face. There were long pauses between her intentions, which made things very uncomfortable and confusing. And what made it even more awkward was when Jana whispered the words “sick” or “gross” while at the same time hanging on each word. I wondered what was going through her mind that would prompt her to say such things. But I never said anything to her. The only way we knew she was finished praying was when she looked up and smiled. It was kind of a relief. She always looked tired after we prayed, which added to my confusion. I knew deep down that something was wrong, but I just figured she was eccentric and ignored it. I could have saved myself years of torture if I would have followed my instincts.
My friends stopped going to the prayer group fairly early on, but I continued to attend because I thought Jana could teach me something, and I was eager to learn all I could. We prayed together for a few months, and during that time I got to know her a little better. That is when I started noticing how different she really was. We couldn’t just have a normal conversation; it always had to be spiritual. If I told her I had a bad dream, she’d tell me it was demonic and I needed to pray a certain prayer. It didn’t matter what we talked about; she always said it had something to do with demons. Another strange thing about her was that whenever she told a story, she’d get very close to my face and tilt her head to the side while hanging on her words. I assumed that was for effect and just accepted her for who she was.
By this time, Jana knew she had earned my trust. And she used it to get me to reveal intimate details about my life, my family, and issues I never thought I would discuss with her. She later used that information to inflict great harm on me and my family. However, in the early days, I put her on a pedestal, thinking she was spiritually superior to me, and through that spirituality, she would be able to help me to grow closer to God. But I was wrong. She lured me into a trap. I was so blinded by my desire to learn more about God that I unknowingly allowed her to manipulate me.
It is important to note that people who are on a spiritual journey tend to be searching for God in such a profound way. We learn about God in many different ways—through the Mass, the sacraments, religious conferences, books, and of course, through other people. By the time I met Jana, I had been going to daily Mass for about three years. I also attended a few Marian conferences, where I grew closer to God and received physical and spiritual healing. Through those experiences, I grew in my faith and had a conversion of heart. I knew then, and I know now, that faith is a continual process of growth, and we must always be searching to learn more. Although my focus was on God, I placed too much emphasis on Jana and what I thought she could teach me. Without really knowing who she was, I had placed my trust in her. And that was a mistake I will never make again. My intuition had been telling me that something was wrong, but I ignored that warning and suffered the consequences for years. But I grew closer to Jesus through those sufferings, and oddly, the person who sought to push me away from God put me on a clearer path toward Him. This outcome reminds me of this verse from Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Our supposed friendship lasted about two years before I ended it, and it was another two years before God led me to the answers as to why He had allowed this to happen in my life. During those years, my life spiraled out of control, and I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Nothing made sense, and I thought I was going crazy. I isolated myself from everyone and everything, except God, and I struggled to pray and go to Mass. I experienced intense feelings of fear and anxiety, but I didn’t know what was causing them. I was distracted all the time, especially at Mass, and I couldn’t come to a peaceful place. After church, I’d go home to pray so I didn’t have to be around other people. As time passed, I became depressed and confused, which was definitely out of character for me. I was being attacked from all directions, while I was awake and while I was asleep. There was no rest. I often thought that God had abandoned me, and I even believed He hated me. I was afraid and alone. It was a never-ending cycle, and I started to think that my life would be that way forever, and I just needed to accept it.
I was going through a great deal of suffering that I didn’t understand, and because of that, I started to depend much more on God. Even though I thought I was lost and alone, I knew deep down that God would never leave me. Jesus was the only One I could trust, the only One who could save me. I spent a lot of time in adoration, begging God for help. It was the only thing I could think to do. I never stopped searching for God because I knew He was my only strength. Without Him, I wouldn’t be able to get through a single moment.
In addition to the emotional and spiritual sufferings I endured, strange things started happening in my house. I saw black shadows on the walls in my bedroom at night and heard eerie noises in the house. I had terrifying dreams, and light bulbs were bursting. These were all things I was totally unprepared to deal with. I was terrified and eventually considered the possibility that these things could be demonic. But I never knew that demons could affect me so literally. I never even thought about demons. I knew they existed, but I didn’t think they could attack me in such a real or physical way. I was afraid. I prayed to Saint Michael constantly and sprinkled holy water all around my house every night before I went to bed. When I look back now on what was the darkest period in my life, I don’t know how I would have survived without my Catholic faith.
After years of suffering unimaginable torment, I found out through a friend that Jana was a witch. As difficult as that was for me to believe, I finally came to know that it was the absolute truth. It is an enormous struggle to put all of this down on paper, but I believe that I have a responsibility to share what happened to me with other people who may be suffering in the same way. I realized that I needed to bring awareness to the fact that witchcraft exists and has the power to destroy the lives of innocent people. I know this is true because I lived it and thankfully survived to tell my story. As long as people remain uneducated about the power of witchcraft, then it can and will destroy the lives of those who are attacked by it. I could completely relate to the intense physical, mental, and faith-related sufferings of Job:
Yet when I looked for good, then came evil; when I expected light, then came darkness. My soul ebbs away from me; days of affliction have overtaken me. My frame takes no rest by night; my inward parts seethe and will not be stilled. I go about in gloom, without the sun; I rise up in public to voice my grief. I have become the brother of jackals, companion to the ostrich. My blackened skin falls away from me; the heat scorches my very frame. My harp is turned to mourning, and my reed pipe to sounds of weeping.
I wanted to bring attention to a couple of websites/podcasts I found on Spirit Daily in the last year or so. I follow both websites since they focus on deliverance and healing. And also because there is a great deal to be learned from them. I never had anything like this available to me when I was sufferings demonic attacks. I had to research and read everything I could find on the subject to understand what was happening to me. It was like a thirst I could never quench. It was time-consuming, but I learned so much. There is still more to learn. These websites are incredible resources that can help educate people in spiritual warfare. And that can only help them become better opponents in the battle against evil.
The first website is The Saint Michael Center For Spiritual Renewal. Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti is a Catholic Exorcist who offers deliverance prayers for people who suffer spiritually and need healing. Having access to the knowledge of an exorcist is, without a doubt, extremely valuable to anyone, most especially for people who are experiencing any kind of demonic influence or spiritual attack. Father Rossetti offers live “deliverance prayer sessions” online for anyone who feels they can benefit from them. I know that for me, everything was hard when I was being attacked spiritually. I knew I needed a priest, but I didn’t have the courage to ask for help. So having this kind of option out there for people is wonderful. I also want to make a very important point. Some people will be concerned that the prayers may not be effective because they are not being prayed over the person directly. Don’t burden yourself with that. God is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-merciful. If He has led you there, then He has a reason. Trust in Jesus, and He will do all the rest.
Dave VanVicle is highly educated on the subject of spiritual warfare. He has worked with exorcists for years and has a lot of knowledge to offer people. His website is The Catholic Truth About Angels, Demons, Ghosts, Exorcisms, and Hauntings. There are some articles and a few videos that will give you an idea of what to expect from Dave. But his Podcast, Patreon, is where you’ll get the meat and potatoes of what he has to offer. I joined Patreon last year for a nominal fee. There are tons of videos on all kinds of subjects, most spiritual warfare-based. The videos are about an hour or so, followed by a question and answer session. Anyone attending the live session has the opportunity to have their question answered, but If you can’t join the live broadcast it’s okay. All of the videos are posted on the Patreon page so members can view them anytime. Sometimes a simple thing like asking a question can be very hard for people who are spiritually sick. You won’t need to worry about that in this setting. No one knows who you are, so you can ask any question you want, without fear. These videos are very informative. I believe they can help all Catholics learn more about their faith and their advisory. To gain access to the links please visit open link below.
Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, and I’d like to honor my angel and those of my family members by sharing a few encounters we’ve had with them over the years. These happenings weren’t obviously miraculous, but there was always a sense of mystery surrounding them. We didn’t always know the people we met were angels right away, but the circumstances surrounding the events were just too peculiar to come to any other conclusion. The following accounts show how simple and unassuming angels can be. They never said too much they just got right to the point. It is good to be reminded of how attentive angels are to our needs and how diligently they watch over and protect us in this life.
The first meeting happened years ago after I left morning Mass. I was in my car waiting to turn left on a busy street. There were shops along the road, so there were wide sidewalks for people to walk safely. As I sat at the stop sign, a woman caught my attention. She was running down the sidewalk waving her arms and yelling. I couldn’t hear what she was saying because she was so far away. I wasn’t sure if she was calling out to me or someone else, but she seemed to be looking right at me, so I waited for her. Once she reached me, she ran right up to my car window and told me she needed to get to the post office right away to send her daughter a telegram. I told her I would take her, but I didn’t know where the post office was. She told me it was only a few blocks down, which made me wonder why she needed a ride. She could have been there in a few minutes. When I got there, I parked and told her I would wait and take her home. She thanked me but told me she’d get home on her own. So I left, and that’s when I realized she didn’t have anything with her, no purse, no keys, nothing. It was very strange. I thought about this encounter throughout the day, and I believe I met my angel in human form most likely to prevent an accident.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that means some have entertained angels, without knowing it.”
The next angel encounter was similar. I got in my car to run to Walmart one day, and when I pulled onto the main road in our neighborhood there was a long line of cars waiting at the stop sign. There have never been more than two cars at that stop sign in all the years I’ve lived here. Once again, I noticed a woman walking along the sidewalk. She had yellow poofy hair, which made her stand out. When she got closer to my car, she walked up to my passenger door, poked her head in the window, and asked me if I could take her to Walmart. I thought it was strange that she passed all the other cars by and came right to mine. But I told her I was going there so I would take her. We chatted for a few minutes on the way to the store, and when we got there I mentioned I’d wait for her, but she said no. I told her it wouldn’t be a problem, and we went our separate ways. I finished shopping and started to look for her. I searched the whole store, but she was nowhere to be found. I paid for my groceries and saw that it was pouring down rain outside, so I waited by the door for her for about a half-hour. She never showed up, so I went home. It didn’t take me long to ponder whether she was an angel. The whole thing was just too odd. I think that meeting was also to prevent a car accident.
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to serve those who are to inherit eternal salvation?”
Another account happened several years ago while we were on a family vacation in Yosemite National Park in California. It was a hot July day and we set out on a hike. After an hour or so, my husband and son went ahead of my daughter and me. We hiked alone for a long time and eventually ran out of water. I knew my husband wasn’t coming back until they made it to the summit, so I wondered how I was going to find water for us. A short time later, we came upon a large open area. I saw a man and woman hiking down some wooden stairs pretty far away from us. As we got closer to them, the man looked at me and pointed toward a thin stream of water running down the mountainside. He said, “That water is flowing. You can drink it.” I wondered how he knew we needed water? I thanked him, and we exchanged a few words, then they were on their way. We went over and got a drink, and I can honestly say that was the best water I ever drank. It was so cold and pure. It tasted wonderful. My daughter and I sat down to rest and have a bit to eat. Then we refilled our water bottles and were on our way. That was pretty amazing when you think about it. We hiked for seven hours that day, and without that water, we would have been in deep trouble.
“For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
I have one more angel encounter that took place while my family and I were on vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado. We were hiking one day when some clouds rolled in. It was getting kind of dark, and it was clear a storm was coming. It is common for it to rain or storm in the afternoons in the mountains, so we knew we needed to head back, and that was going to take a while. About an hour later, we came to an area on the path that I remembered. One trail led deeper into the mountain toward the water, which I knew was the wrong way. The other trail moved away from the water. That was what we needed to do, but my family wouldn’t listen to me and insisted on going toward the water. At that point, I noticed three people. An older man was leaning against a tree holding an umbrella, which was crazy because of the potential lightning from the storm. A younger man stood next to him, and then there was a woman sitting on the ground which didn’t make sense since it was raining. They were all so still and just stared at us. Then the woman pointed to the trail leading away from the water and said, “This is the right path.” I thanked them, and everyone turned around, and we were on our way. I told my daughter they were angels and she said, “Yes, and the woman was my angel.” It doesn’t matter whether she was my daughter’s angel or not. It is just nice to know that our guardian angels are always there and will even come in the form of a human person to guide and protect us.
The following prayers are from the book Saint Michael and the Angels.
Memorare to Our Guardian Angel
Remember O holy Angel, that Jesus, the eternal Truth, assures us you “rejoice more at the conversion of one sinner than at the perseverance of many just.” Encouraged thereby, I, the last of creatures, humbly entreat you to receive me as your child and make me unto you a cause of true joy. Do not, O blessed Spirit, reject my petition, but graciously hear and grant it. Amen
Aspiration to Our Guardian Angel
O my dear Angel Guardian, preserve me from the misfortune of offending God.
Prayer to Our Guardian Angel
O Angel! who by God’s goodness has charge over me, who assists me in my necessities, who consoles me in my troubles, who obtains for me continually new favors, I thank you most sincerely, Gently Guardian, continue your charitable care; defend me against my enemies, put away from me all occasions of sin, make me obedient to your inspirations and faithful to follow them, especially in my present difficulty (here mention your request). In the presence of Jesus Christ and the whole court of Heaven, I choose you for my protector, my defender, my guide, and my advocate. I beg you to govern my whole life: my memory, understanding, will, inclinations, and desires. O Holy Angel, I love you and wish to love you always. A thousand times I bless the Lord for the heavenly gifts with which He has adorned you, for the graces with which He has sanctified you, and for the glory with which He has crowned you. Guard and guide me now and at the hour of my death. Never leave me unprotected until you have brought me safe to Heaven. Amen
Spiritual direction can deepen a person’s relationship with God, help them see more clearly how the Holy Spirit communicates with them, and make them more aware of God’s presence in their lives. It can also help a person see more clearly what God’s will is for them, thus encouraging them to form their thoughts and actions accordingly. A spiritual director can be a priest, religious, or layperson, but God is the One who directs the person. He works through the spiritual director, so you must choose a director wisely. I wasn’t looking for a spiritual director, and I didn’t want one. But the Holy Spirit kept bringing it to my mind, so I knew I needed to consider it. I spent a lot of time in prayer and discernment before making a decision, and then everything just fell into place. It is interesting how the Holy Spirit places within us the very thing He wants us to do and then waits for us to respond to His call.
Many of the articles I’ve written are directed toward people who have or are experiencing spiritual attacks or dryness. The content provided in them applies to anyone who is seeking to expand their relationship with God. All Christians can benefit from spiritual direction no matter what their situation. I’m focusing on my experiences because it is the only way I know how to communicate these things to others. When I was under a spiritual attack, I was severely oppressed and isolated myself from most people. I lived in fear, anxiety, and confusion, and struggled with feelings of doubt, discouragement, and despair. I believed the Lord had deserted me, and I didn’t know how to change my life. I was afraid and questioned my sanity every day. Because of that, I didn’t tell anyone what was happening to me. I kept every spiritual assault and temptation from the devil a secret, and that’s exactly the way he wanted it.
What I needed to do was take everything that I hid in darkness and expose it to the Light, which meant I had to give it all to Jesus. We need to participate in our own healing and spiritual growth. There are ways to accomplish this. Regular confession is necessary and extremely important, but time is limited there. I am in no way downplaying the sacrament of confession, just pointing out that it takes a great deal of in-depth work to break free from evil and the effects it can have on one’s life. A few minutes in the confessional doesn’t take the place of that work but gives a person the grace to embark on it. There are more extensive ways a person can do this, like journaling and spiritual direction. Journaling is writing down your deepest thoughts and concerns to God. It is telling Him everything that comes to mind, keeping nothing from Him. This builds intimacy and trust between you and God and defeats the devil’s plan to keep you bound. I journaled for a long time because I wasn’t ready to talk about the things that had happened to me with anyone else, and that was okay. My trust was damaged, and the Lord needed to restore that in me before I could take the next step.
Once I started journaling and writing down my story, the Lord began to heal me. But it took a long time. Years actually, but I finally started to feel more confident, and that is when the Holy Spirit placed the thought of spiritual direction in me. Over time, God drew my attention to a particular priest and showed me how we had a similar spirituality. I was still unsure and very apprehensive, but when our paths crossed on some very difficult life events, my trust in him increased. I had requirements for a spiritual director after what had happened to me. The person had to be a priest because a priest gives the Holy Spirit. He had to believe in the existence of the devil because I needed him to understand the things I was going to have to tell him. I wanted a priest who was versed in spiritual warfare and firmly believed in his priestly power to cast out demons. I also needed someone who could pray a minor exorcism over me. A layperson can’t do that. Only a Catholic priest has that kind of power. This is why for me, going to a layperson wasn’t going to happen. A minor exorcism is different from an exorcism in that the priest casts out demons that influence or harass people. An exorcism is done only by priests appointed by the bishop and is for people who are possessed. Meaning a demon or demons have taken over the whole person.
Now, I want to share something that happened to my husband and me a few years ago that will help show how important a spiritual director can be. One day out of the blue, I became very anxious and couldn’t calm down. I felt like I did when I was being attacked by witchcraft. I prayed my rosary and deliverance prayers as usual, but it didn’t help at all. Things just got worse. I started hearing footsteps upstairs when no one was there. I prayed and used holy water, but they didn’t go away. At the same time, my husband suddenly became very short-tempered and snapped at everything. Our lives and our relationship changed overnight. All this went on for about a month before I connected it to a spiritual attack. Once I figured it out, I called my spiritual director and told him what was going on. We already had a spiritual direction appointment set up, but he decided it would be best if he came to the house instead of me going to his office. We talked for a long time, and I explained everything that was happening. He could see I was frantic and sensed the evil. After our talk, he prayed a minor exorcism over me and blessed the house with an exorcism blessing. The whole atmosphere changed, and by the next day, everything was normal again. My husband was fine, I was no longer anxious, and the footsteps went away. This was a disturbance that I couldn’t solve on my own. I needed the help of my priest and spiritual director.
It doesn’t matter whether a person starts with private journaling or spiritual direction. It only matters that they begin. Every person and every situation will be different. If you need time to heal from whatever it may be, journal everything. You may not notice any changes in your life at first, but over time you will gain strength and find courage. Try to go to confession often. It is a safe place to express your spiritual sufferings and receive forgiveness for your sins. And that includes anything the devil uses to pull you away from Christ and into despair. A priest will sometimes give counsel in the confessional but not always. If that is something you’re looking for, go to different priests until you find one who offers some spiritual guidance in the confessional. You can get a good indication of a priest’s spirituality in confession, and it may end up being where you find your future spiritual director. When the idea of spiritual direction starts flooding your mind, the Holy Spirit may be calling you to it. Pray a lot, and wait longer than you think you need to before making a decision. Journal about it, listen to what the Lord is communicating to you, and wait for confirmation. All that means is that the Lord will reaffirm what He has been showing you more concretely. Maybe through scripture or a sermon. But He will make it clear, and then you will know. Once you find a spiritual director and they agree to see you, pray for them. It will greatly benefit him and you.
To read more articles go to: https://www.conquerthedevil.com/
How to obtain Grace and Spiritual Protection: The Sacramentals
Sacramentals are objects that have been blessed by a priest. It is the prayer and action of the priest that makes the objects holy. Some examples of a sacramental would be religious medals, rosaries, scapulars, crucifixes, statues, relics, and also salt, water, olive oil, and candles. You can buy them anywhere and have them blessed by a Catholic priest. I make sure to have my items blessed with an exorcism blessing because it makes them very powerful in the fight against the devil. The priest prays a particular prayer over each object. The blessing over salt is specifically for salt, water for water, candles for candles, and so on. Sacramentals give grace to those who use them with faith. That means a person must believe in the blessing, or the grace received from them will be lessened and maybe even lost altogether.
“Sacramentals are holy things or actions of which the Church makes use to obtain for us from God, through her intercession, spiritual and temporal favors.”
BALTIMORE CATECHISM 469
It is important not to attach any superstition to sacramentals. They aren’t magic, they carry the blessing of the Church, which is what makes them holy and so effective against evil. Nor are they idols as some may think, but holy objects that help us grow closer to God. Demons don’t want to be around anything sacred. That makes sacramentals necessary in the life of every Christian. I have a lot of sacramentals. But there are a few that stand out for me; the rosary, scapular, Miraculous Medal, Saint Benedict Medal, and of course, the crucifix. I wear a chain every day with Saint Benedict and Miraculous Medals and also one of the Holy Spirit. I believe they protect me from evil and any influence the devil may have over me. When we wear the brown scapular, we are draped in the Blessed Mother’s love and protection. It is a sign of our love for her. She said that “Whoever dies in this garment shall not suffer eternal fire.” That’s a big promise.
You should be enrolled in the scapular, which any priest can do, and then you are part of the Confraternity. What that means is, “Once invested in the Scapular, a person automatically becomes a member of the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular. What is meant by the Confraternity is that having been enrolled in the Scapular, you belong to a spiritual family whereby you have the privilege of being affiliated with the Carmelite Order, participating in the merits of the Carmelite Fathers and Religious in life and in death, as well as receiving the promises of Our Lady through the Scapular.” There are different types of scapulars, but the Brown Scapular is the most known. I have a Purple Scapular of Benediction and Protection that I bought after learning that it protects us and our families from natural disasters and in the event of chastisements. I also have rosaries all over the house, in my car, and in my purse. I pray the rosary daily. It is essential to stay close to the Blessed Mother, especially in these times. She hears our prayers, intercedes for us before God, and crushes the head of Satan. The devil hates Mary, so it makes perfect sense to stay close to Her as we journey this life.
“The sacramentals obtain favors from God through the prayers of the Church offered for those who make use of them, and through the devotion, they inspire.”
BALTIMORE CATECHISM 470
Blessed (exorcized) salt, oil, and candles are a staple in my home. I use them daily, and I use holy water when it’s needed. I bless myself with the oil in the morning and the evening before bed. I just trace the sign of the cross on my forehead and ask God to protect me and my family from evil, accidents, and illness, specifically covid. I am confident that the Lord hears my prayers, and I am at peace. You can pray a prayer that is specific to you and your family. I cook with blessed salt every day. It’s my secret ingredient. I also sprinkle it around the house and yard periodically. You can use holy water any time, but I use it if there is some kind of trouble at home. You can’t always know if they are spiritual, but they could be, so spraying holy water around the house can solve the problem. I burn a blessed candle before an image of Our Lady of Medjugorje whenever we are home. It honors Her and causes demons to flee. It is important to remember that demons influence people, so using these holy weapons the Church gives us is a simple and effective way to protect ourselves and our families.
“The chief benefits obtained by the use of the sacramentals are actual graces; the forgiveness of venial sins; the remission of temporal punishment; health of body and material blessings; protection from evil spirits.”
BALTIMORE CATECHISM 47
There are promises attached to certain sacramentals, like the rosary, which can be very encouraging for people. The Blessed Mother gave saint Dominick the rosary in the 13th century, and she also gave 15 promises to those who faithfully pray the rosary. I just want to mention three of the promises. The fifth promise is, “The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.” So you will not go to hell if you pray the rosary. The seventh promise states, “Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.” That is so vital since the sacraments are how we gain heaven. It means if you are able, you can receive Jesus in the Eucharist one last time, or obtain absolution for your sins through the sacrament of confession before your death. The last Rites forgives you of all sin so you will not suffer the fires of hell. These are all-merciful graces falling upon that dying soul from heaven. And the eleventh promise is, “You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.” For this promise, I am asking for the conversion and salvation of my family and friends. What could be more important than that? And that is only three of the promises attached to the rosary.
I was looking for something for an article I am writing, which I will post soon. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find a prayer meditation I have kept for years. It is called I Thirst, by Mother Teresa. Some of you may already be familiar with it, but others will be experiencing it for the first time. I pull it out now and then and listen to what the Lord is trying to say to me. With all the difficulties in the world and our lives, this meditation is a comfort and also an invitation to open ourselves to Jesus, so He can give us peace and transform our lives. You can watch the video or just close your eyes and listen. Whatever helps you to rest, see how deeply Jesus loves you and yearns for you to love Him in return. I have also included a link here to the written meditation since some people may prefer to sit quietly and read it rather than listen.
Anyone can be attacked by the devil whether they know God or not. But I believe God mercifully allows these attacks because they have the power to convert souls. God strips you of everything and calls you to Himself. Someone who didn’t know God before the attacks will come to know Him through them. While those who know God will suffer greatly at the loss of Him. In both situations, each person will grow in love and fidelity for the Lord their God, and everything in their lives will change. In this article, I want to show how people either knowingly or unknowingly invite evil into their lives. Sin opens the door to demons. But many people today pay no mind to sin, even though they know the difference between right and wrong. But without religion, they don’t necessarily connect those wrong choices to sin and thus aren't consciously aware of the effects of their actions. Therefore, they open a door to evil without realizing it. Christians know what sin is and that they have free will to choose for or against it. They also know that there are eternal consequences to sin. They might push that knowledge aside, but they know what they are doing is against God’s will. However, they most likely don't know how literally that sin can open the door to evil. Other people open the door by mistake. In my case, I trusted someone I didn’t know very well, and she used witchcraft against me. That means I was the victim of her sin. The devil doesn’t care how he gains access to a person, only that he does. She is an example of someone who intentionally set out to hurt another person, knowing full well what she was doing. She knows God is real and is aware of His power and presence in the world but chooses instead to serve Satan by harming others.
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.” Matt 22:37-38 But few people love God as they should. They don’t see sin as sin but diminish its severity to their detriment. In this way, they follow the spirit of the world and cooperate with demons. The world is contrary to everything Christ is and everything He teaches. It glorifies evil and celebrates immorality. Many people follow the way of the world. They live sinful lives with no regret. They don't understand that Jesus died for them and they owe Him everything. All of their love and thanks, their praise and adoration, their breath, and their very life. Everything good comes from God, and everything else comes from the devil. When God made us, he carved out a space within us that only desires to be filled with Him. But not everyone understands that, so they seek to fill that space with false gods (demons) that can never fill the void but only make it bigger. And in doing so, they open numerous doors to the enemy.
Occult and New Age “spiritualities,” as people call them, are not of God. They are a deception of the devil, and anyone who practices them is guilty of the sin of idolatry. Some people know they are serving the devil and are happy to do his bidding. The person who used witchcraft against me had incredible powers. She used them to attach demons to me, to torment me, and to destroy my life. The thing is, the demons she summoned to attack me (and other people) will eventually turn on her. And she will become the victim. Other people are drawn to the occult by the excitement of it all. They are intrigued by the possibility that they can make something happen by casting spells, using magic, making potions, and so on. They think they obtain these powers from the earth or some form of energy. But any power they receive always comes from the devil. It is not just adults that get involved in the occult. Teenagers think it’s cool, or they’re too afraid to speak up, so they go along to fit in. Either way, they opened the door. Younger kids get sucked in by games like Charlie Charlie or Magic The Gathering, which are both very dangerous and opens them up to demonic influence.
Occult and New Age practices are vast and always portals to the enemy. Here are some examples to make them easier to identify. New Age practices include psychics, guided meditation, guided past life regression, angel card readings, crystal energy, numerology, aura energy, energy healing, and hypnosis. Occult practices are darker and include the Ouija board, Satanism, witchcraft, voodoo, boho magic, astral projection, necromancy, sex magic, and many more. I strongly advise against researching any of these since that can open a door to the demonic as well.
Other sinful behaviors that invite demons into people’s lives are things like addiction, drugs, sexual sins, abortion, unforgiveness, resentment, blasphemy, and hatred. Addiction, for example, enslaves people. It steals their freedom, destroys their relationships, jobs, finances, and eventually, the person’s health and self-worth. The spirit of addiction opens the door to more demons. Like all sin does. Remember, demons work together to destroy people. It isn’t hard to figure out who the demos are. All you have to do is pay attention to the state of the addicted or sinful person. They will have negative emotions like loneliness, depression, hostility, despair, anger, guilt, and shame. They may even contemplate suicide. Life is miserable when a person lives outside of God’s plan for them. Sin leads people away from God and prevents spiritual growth.
Everyone has weaknesses, and the devil exploits them to entice people to sin. But he won’t make it obvious. He is very sly. He secretly increases their desires until they become insatiable. Then they cooperate with sin because they want to. I think the first step in closing the door to evil is being honest enough to admit you’re a sinner. If you can do that, then you can change your life. Turning away from sin is essential if you want to shut the door to evil. You do that by living a holy life. The sacraments are a gift, and we receive grace and strength through them. Once I decided to change my life, I knew I needed to go to confession. It was hard, and the devil tried to stop me. But I did it, and now I go to confession regularly. The devil has been convincing people not to confess their sins from the beginning. Don’t listen. Run to God’s mercy as often as you need to. It defeats all evil. The Mass is indispensable. It is the highest form of prayer, and it is where we receive Jesus into our body and soul. There is this invisible encounter between heaven and earth, between you and the living God. There is nothing more important in this life than the Mass. Prayer is imperative in the fight against evil. Pray even if it is hard because prayer is the beginning of a deep relationship with God. Empty yourself, and open your heart to the Lord, and He will fill you with His love. The more open you are, the more He will fill you. And then you will be happy in this life and the next.
Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace, has been appearing there for 40 years today, June 25th, 2021, sending us messages from heaven. Thanks be to God. I couldn’t let this day pass without honoring Our Lady by writing a few words about this holy place. I was blessed to be invited to Medjugorje twice by Our Lady. For me, Medjugorje was like leaving the turbulence of the world behind and entering into absolute peace. The peace found in Medjugorje is felt physically in the soul. It is real and it affected me deeply. So much so that my whole life has changed. After visiting Medjugorje, I wanted to love God more and give Him more of myself. The Blessed Mother is coming to this world to bring us back to God. Her messages are so positive and uplifting. But in the last several years, her messages have been more pleading with us to return to God and to “pray for our shepherds,” the priests. Millions of people know about Medjugorje, but there are so many more that don’t. It is so important to get the messages out there since this world is so full of darkness. This is an easy way for me to participate in that.
There is so much to experience there, and it is all God’s gift to us. I climbed Mount Krizevac and Apparition hill with people from all over the world. Everyone was so kind and elated to be there. A lot of people prayed the rosary or the stations of the cross on the way up. I saw people carry the sick on stretchers up the mountain so that they could experience it too. It’s just the most wonderful place that brings out the best in people. Something the world lacks today. I met a young man when I was there who hadn’t practiced his Catholic faith since he was a kid. He said he came with his aunt because she didn’t want to go alone. She obviously had a plan for her nephew. We sat at a table with another stranger and talked for a long time. He was amazed at the peace he felt and wanted more. We prayed divine mercy together and it was amazing to share that with him.
I was able to be present at more than one apparition, and the excitement was palpable. There were so many people you couldn’t move from the spot you occupied. It didn’t matter that we all spoke different languages, there was unity among us. We wanted to be in Our Lady’s presence, to receive her blessing and hear her message. We offered our petitions silently, in our hearts, and we knew she would carry those prayers to her Son and that He would answer them according to His will. We came to Medjugorje to express our love and gratitude to our beautiful Mother. We wanted to experience heaven on earth, to receive graces and healing for ourselves and our families. And we truly did.
It is hard to narrow down what the most wonderful part of Medjugorje was because everything was wonderful. But if I have to choose, it would be adoration. I’d been going to adoration for a long time, but I never experienced it as I did in Medjugorje. Adoration was in the church, and many people gathered there. Once the pews were filled, people sat on the floor and even on the steps going to the altar. The Priest came out and exposed Jesus in the monstrance and everyone knelt and all was silent. There was a time of quiet prayer and then music that was sung in different languages. We were united in prayer before the Lord in such a profound way and it was beautiful. Each person was touched by God in the way they needed to be. There was an incredible love and joy that flowed through us all. It was something I can’t wait to experience again.
A few years after the pilgrimage, I was searching YouTube for videos of adoration in Medjugorje. I needed to find that peace again. I found a video that brought me to tears. It was like I was there again. I think it is the best way I can share what it felt like to be in Medjugorje with those who have not yet had the experience. So I will add the video here. If you’ve never heard of Medjugorje, or you have, but you don’t follow it too closely, click the highlighted links to read Our Lady’s messages and learn about the incredible graces the Lord has been bestowing on the world these past 40 years. You won’t be disappointed.
