Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church recognizes demonic obsession as a form of demonic activity, which involves a bombardment of thoughts, images, voices, and visions into a person's mind. This internal diabolical assault can cause a person to lose control and live in a perpetual state of prostration, desperation, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts. Demonic obsession is believed to occur when a person opens doors to the demonic through occult dealings, pornography, or other sins. It is considered a more severe form of demonic attack than oppression but less severe than possession, in which a demon gains control over the body but not the soul. While demonic possession is rare, demonic obsession is estimated to affect a significant portion of the population, particularly due to the widespread use of pornography. The Church emphasizes the need for prudence in discerning between demonic obsession and mental illness, as the symptoms can sometimes overlap.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of demonic activity | Oppression/obsession |
| Definition | A personal extraordinary attack on a person |
| Occurrence | When a person opens doors to the demonic through occult dealings, pornography, or other sin |
| Symptoms | Sudden attacks, at times ongoing, of obsessive thoughts, sometimes even rationally absurd, but of such nature that the victim is unable to free himself |
| Other symptoms | Perpetual state of prostration, desperation, and attempts at suicide |
| Other symptoms | Bombardment of thoughts, images, voices, visions |
| Other symptoms | Influence on dreams |
| Other symptoms | Physical nature (noises, movement of objects, frightening apparitions, violence) |
| Other symptoms | Psychological nature (fixed ideas, anguish) |
| Obsession leading to possession | Demons lure the person into communication, offering success, power, money, protection, or something the person thinks they need |
| Demons dictate what the person can and cannot do | |
| Demons never give what they promise | |
| Diabolical obsession | Intense suffering, perhaps caused by demonic hatred, becomes a kind of "false god" |
| An irrational obsession with suffering can become a diabolical psychological and spiritual compulsion allowing no room for the presence of God | |
| Diabolical subjugation or dependence | People fall into this form of evil when they voluntarily submit to Satan |
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What You'll Learn
- Demonic obsession is a result of occult dealings, pornography, or other sins
- Obsession is an internal diabolical assault, involving a bombardment of thoughts
- Demons lure people into communication by offering success, power, money, etc
- Demonic obsession can be differentiated from mental illness by an expert
- Diabolical obsession pushes God out as the centre of our existence
Demonic obsession is a result of occult dealings, pornography, or other sins
According to Catholic teaching, demonic obsession is a form of demonic activity and attack on a person. It is distinct from demonic infestation, oppression, and possession. Demonic obsession occurs when a person's imagination and inner faculties are disturbed to an extraordinary degree. This can manifest as a bombardment of thoughts, images, voices, and visions that are sometimes rationally absurd, but which the victim is unable to free themselves from. Obsession can also influence dreams and cause perpetual states of prostration, desperation, and suicidal thoughts.
Demonic obsession is believed to be a result of a person opening doors to the demonic through occult dealings, pornography, or other sins. This can include black magic, spirit communication, or other violations of the First Commandment. Demons typically lure people through deception, offering them something they desire, such as success, power, or protection. Once the person is dependent on the demon, it begins to dictate their actions, leading to a deeper relationship that can result in possession or even suicide.
It is important to note that demonic obsession can be difficult to distinguish from mental illness, and only an expert and well-trained eye can identify the crucial differences. However, some symptoms may be inconsistent with known illnesses, pointing to their evil origins.
In addition to occult dealings and pornography, demonic obsession can also result from an irrational obsession with suffering, which displaces God and becomes a diabolical psychological and spiritual compulsion. This can include excessive worry, which undermines prayer and trust in God.
Finally, demonic obsession can also be a result of sins such as idolatry, witchcraft, and the willful submission to Satan, as in the case of blood pacts or consecration to Satan.
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Obsession is an internal diabolical assault, involving a bombardment of thoughts
According to Catholic theology, demonic obsession is one of the types of extraordinary demonic activity, along with demonic infestation, oppression, and possession. Demonic obsession is when a person's imagination and inner faculties are disturbed to an extraordinary degree. This can occur when a person opens doors to the demonic through occult dealings, pornography, or other sins.
Demonic obsession is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. It is a form of attack on a person that can lead to possession if left unchecked. Demons typically start with a con game, pretending to be a dead loved one or a holy angel, for example. They lure the person into communication and offer something the person desires, such as success, power, or money. As the relationship deepens, the demon starts dictating what the person can and cannot do, and it becomes a form of torture.
It is important to note that obsession can also be linked to virtue and can be salutary. For example, the "obsessive" medical search for a vaccination against polio or the British hunt for the German battleship Bismarck in World War II. However, obsessions can also be corrosive to the soul, displacing God. Sports enthusiasm, hobbies, and even suffering can become excessive and push God out of our lives.
In conclusion, obsession in the context of demonic activity is a serious and dangerous matter that can have severe consequences for the individual. It is an internal assault on the mind, involving a bombardment of thoughts and sensations that can lead to loss of control and even suicide. Distinguishing between demonic obsession and mental illness requires expertise, and seeking appropriate help is crucial.
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Demons lure people into communication by offering success, power, money, etc
In Catholic theology, demonic obsession is considered a personal extraordinary attack on a person. It is believed that demons first try to lure people into communication by pretending to be a dead loved one, a holy angel, or a spirit in distress. They then offer success, power, money, or protection—things the victim desires or needs. As the person gets drawn in deeper, the demon starts dictating their actions. This relationship becomes torturous, with the only way out being possession or suicide.
Demonic obsession is one of the steps after demonic temptation, which is the normal way demons interact with humans. It occurs when a person's imagination and inner faculties are disturbed to an extraordinary degree. This can happen when a person opens themselves to the demonic through occult practices, pornography, or other sins.
Obsession can manifest in various ways, including as a bombardment of thoughts, images, voices, or visions into the person's mind, causing them to lose control. It can also be physical, involving noises, movement of objects, frightening apparitions, or violence. The obsessed person often lives in a perpetual state of prostration, desperation, and may attempt suicide.
It is important to note that demonic obsession can be difficult to differentiate from mental illness. Only an expert and well-trained eye can identify the crucial differences. In any case, the Church advises prudence in discerning whether one is dealing with an evil presence or an illness. Medical and psychological evaluations should be conducted to rule out mundane explanations before considering exorcism.
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Demonic obsession can be differentiated from mental illness by an expert
The Catholic Church defines three types of extraordinary demonic activity: infestation, oppression/obsession, and possession. Demonic obsession is where a person's imagination and inner faculties are disturbed to an extraordinary degree. It can occur after a person opens themselves to the demonic through occult practices, pornography, or other sins.
Historically, demonic obsession and possession were often used to explain mental illness. During the Middle Ages, behaviours we now associate with mental illness were attributed to demonic possession or obsession. However, by the 14th century, people began to move away from religious explanations and adopted medical terminology to describe mental illness.
Today, experts generally agree that mental illness accounts for the overwhelming majority of cases that were previously attributed to demonic influence. Nevertheless, some psychiatrists and mental health practitioners remain open to the possibility of demonic influence in rare instances. They argue that a careful appraisal of the facts is more logical than a blanket rejection of the possibility of demonic attacks.
Distinguishing between demonic obsession and mental illness can be challenging, and experts approach such cases with caution. Medical and psychological evaluations are conducted first to rule out any mundane explanations. Certain signs and behaviours may indicate demonic obsession, such as hidden knowledge of secret sins or the whereabouts of strangers. Additionally, the Church advises prudence in discerning whether one is dealing with an evil presence or illness.
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Diabolical obsession pushes God out as the centre of our existence
Diabolical obsession is a personal extraordinary attack that involves a bombardment of thoughts, images, voices, and visions into a person's mind. It is a phenomenon of a physical and psychological nature. The obsessed person lives in a perpetual state of prostration, desperation, and attempts at suicide. They experience a disturbance in their imagination and inner faculties to an extraordinary degree.
Demons lure people into communication by pretending to be a dead loved one, a holy angel, or a spirit in distress. They then offer something the person thinks they need, such as success, power, or money. As the person gets deeper into the relationship, the demon starts dictating what the person can and cannot do, and it becomes a form of torture.
Diabolical obsession can lead to an irrational obsession with suffering, pushing God out as the centre of our existence. This type of obsession becomes a spiritual compulsion that leaves no room for the presence of God. Excessive worry undermines prayer and trust in God, and can lead to a preoccupation with suffering that displaces God.
It is important to note that demonic obsession can be difficult to differentiate from mental illness. However, certain symptoms may be inconsistent with known illnesses and point to their evil origins. Only an expert and well-trained eye can identify the crucial differences.
God allows demons to tempt us, but they generally need our permission to do more than that. We give them permission by inviting a deeper relationship through black magic, spirit communication, or other violations of the First Commandment.
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Frequently asked questions
Demonic obsession is when a person's imagination and inner faculties are disturbed to an extraordinary degree. It is a personal extraordinary attack on a person and can occur after a person opens doors to the demonic through occult dealings, pornography, or other sins. It involves a bombardment of thoughts, images, voices, and visions into the person's mind, to the extent that the person, in some cases, loses control over it.
Symptoms include sudden attacks, sometimes ongoing, of obsessive thoughts, sometimes even rationally absurd, but of such a nature that the victim is unable to free themselves. The obsessed person lives in a perpetual state of prostration, desperation, and attempts at suicide. Obsession almost always influences dreams.
Demonic obsession is a phenomenon of a physical and psychological nature, whereas demonic possession is when a demon takes over either one part or the entire body of a person, speaking and acting without the knowledge or consent of the victim. Demonic obsession is a lower level of demonic attack than demonic possession.
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