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Flagellation of Christ by Caravaggio We received a late night text from the demons. They were taunting us: "You should have heard her scream. We are going to break her leg off." Then they blamed us, "It's your fault. You made us do it." "Jane" is possessed. She also has a bad left leg. That night, the demons attacked her and twisted her bad leg. It was awful. I knew they couldn't break her leg off; God would not allow it. But they could make her suffer and they did. The demons couldn't help jabbing us and trying to shift the blame: "It's your fault." I suspect their twisted minds actually believe it. Evil will never take the blame for its own sins and despicable actions. Satan is spending his eternity blaming God for all he himself has done. One of our gifted people had an intense encounter with some demons. She said what stunned her most was the absolute lack of even a drop of mercy or compassion. Thus, it was predictable they would exploit Jane's bad leg in order to inflict the maximum pain and fear. Demons are vicious and will always try to torture a person where it hurts the most. Our little team, I believe, feels God's response to such pain and torture. There arises in us a deep sadness, an intense compassion, and a desire to help. Our team rallied around Jane and doubled our efforts. Isn't that what Jesus does? He is God's compassion and one who ultimately saves us from such evil. Where does all the pain and suffering come from in this world? I know it does not come from God.

Daniel in the Lions' Den by Peter Paul Rubens "Julia” grew up in a good Catholic family. She went away to college and began dating a young man who was heavily engaged in the occult. She participated in these rituals and fell into other sinful behaviors as well. By the grace of God, she came in contact with a dynamic Catholic youth group at the University and it turned her life around. She broke up with her boyfriend. She started attending Mass and went to confession. Things were looking up. A few months after her conversion, she awoke one morning with horrible marks on her back. It looked like a beast had raked its claws down her back. Demons began to attack her. They nightly harassed and abused her. She had difficulty entering a Church or going to Mass. She knew her past had come back to torment her. Two of her female friends at the University wanted to help. They had entered her room at night and could see what was happening. They decided to sleep in her room and to be a support during the demonic attacks. Unfortunately, these young women, although well intentioned, were not spiritually ready for what they encountered. One fell into drug abuse and sexual promiscuity, and shortly thereafter left the University. The other became filled with rage, threatened suicide, and she, too, left the University. Julia’s family referred to her to an exorcist who began the Rite. Julia noted that when she went home to her family, the demons did not enter the house. The Father explained that their house had been blessed; it was filled with sacramentals including crucifixes, holy statues, and often sprinkled with holy water. The parents were fervent Catholics. Ephesians 6 says: “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” These two young women were not ready. The parents were. Faith in God and Jesus Christ are the armor that protects us. As faith slips away in these secular days, I worry that our homes and families will not be protected. As faith slips away in our nation, what will become of it?