leni robredo is interviewed while cooking by chef tatung sarthou (25 min)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgZIcM5RXI

25 mins

as a sequel to fr bu's article, here is official church teaching on the world of the spirit

Re: Spiritual Warfare Basics

Fr: Fr. Vincent Lampert, Exorcist of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (2021 Oct 20), youtube.com/watch?v=KGVyGe3pdO0 (1:33:31)

 

Intro: We may call ourselves Christians, but may be spiritually asleep – in a neutral or lukewarm place. We are either in a relationship with God or something else – the Devil himself. Our ultimate IDENTITY comes from our RELATIONSHIP with God & not apart from Him. Lack of faith in Him can lead us to a different direction.

 

One of our primary enemies is the misguided notion of FREEDOM, i.e. “I can do whatever I want!” thus, making us SLAVES to our passions & desires (cf: St. Pope John Paul II).

 

>To exorcise = “to bind with an oath” (from the Latin root word)

 

>2 Kinds of Exorcism

1. Minor Exorcism = use of Supplicating Prayer directed to GOD (can be done by anyone)

2. Major Exorcism = use of Imperative Prayer directed at the DEVIL (can only be done by a priest authorized by the bishop (who is THE exorcist in the diocese) or officially designated as an Exorcist in the Diocese)

--the Old Rite (1614 – 1998) was revised in 1999 (promulgated by JP II) now contains Minor Exorcism Prayers (2016 English translation)

 

>2 Kinds of Demonic Activities

1. Extraordinary

2. Ordinary

 

PART I. EXTRAORDINARY DEMONIC ACTIVITIES

 

>4 Kinds of EXTRAORDINARY Demonic Activities

1. INFESTATION = LOCATION or OBJECT, e.g. haunted house, voodoo doll, Sto. Niňo statue not blessed by priest dancing

2. VEXATION = PHYSICAL ATTACKS, e.g. bite marks, bruises

3. OBSESSION = MENTAL ATTACKS, i.e., literally, the devil is trying to get into someone’s head & everything they experience in life begins to be filtered through the presence of the devil

4. POSESSION = the devil or one of his demons will take CONTROL of a person’s BODY, treating it as though it was its own, e.g., eyes to see, mouth to speak, arms & hands for gestures, legs & feet to walk

NB: A clear distinction has to be made between the person and the demon using the body.

PS: OPPRESSION = a gift from God ALLOWING one to be afflicted by the devil as an opportunity to show FIDELITY to God & a way to grow in HOLINESS & VIRTUE

--Examples:

 àJob in the Old Testament (“The Lord giveth & taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”)

àSt. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan” sent to torment him to help him from becoming proud

àSt. Jean-Marie Vianney

àSt. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina – called the devil the “Old Blueberry” who kept him from sleep so he could not minster to the pilgrims visiting him in the morning

--Principle: My circumstances mean nothing when it comes to God’s rightful place in my life.

 

>4 Criteria in Evaluating Cases of Demonic Possession

[A. Mental]

1. Ability to speak & understand LANGUAGUES otherwise unknown to the individual

2. Elevated perception – KNOWLEDGE the person would not have otherwise have known

[B. Physical]

3. Superhuman STRENGTH

[C. Spiritual]

4. Aversion to anything of a SACRED nature, e.g. holy water, crucifix, sacred scriptures read, relics of saints

 

>Symptoms of the Demonic (cf: New Testament)

1. Bodily contortions

2. Voice change, i.e. deep, authoritative, & demanding

3. Physical appearance, e.g., eyes rolled back, mouth foam, growl & snarl like an animal

4. Unpleasant odors

5. Change in room temperature, e.g. colder

6. Uncontrollable laughter

7. Sarcasm, hiss, resemble movement of snake (e.g., slither across floor)

8. Levitation

 

 >Protocol Before Using Exorcism Prayers

--Attitude of Skepticism – exhaust all possible explanations c/o other things happening in the life of the person

--MORAL CERTITUDE – belief beyond doubt it is an “extraordinary demonic activity”

NB: False positive can possibly do more harm because it can prevent the person from getting the real need, e.g., MD, Mental Health professionals

 

1.    Psychiatric Evaluation – by qualified Psychiatrist

2.    Physical Examination by an MD

3.    Life History c/o Questionnaire (from Vatican) – demonic, mental health issue, physical

4.    NORMALIZE the Spiritual Life of the Person – exorcism involves two movements: (a) cast out (-), (b) invite God in – put the person in a RELATIONSHIP with God (+)

NB: No amount of exorcism can replace the central need in a person’s life to ACCEPT GOD & to live out their relationship with Christ in an INTIMATE, PERSONAL & COMMUNAL way

5.    Look for the 4 extraordinary signs of demonic presence – languages, strength, perception, aversion

 

>Sacred Scriptures Specific to the Deliverance Ministry

à Ephesians 4:27 “Do not give the devil a FOOTHOLD!”

è 1Pt 5:8 “Be SOBER, be VIGILANT because your adversary the devil is like a roaring lion who walks about seeking him whom he may devour.”

è James 4:7 “RESIST the devil & he will flee from you.”

NB: The situation now is not so much the devil increasing temptation as more people are willing to “play his game” (lack of faith).

 

>Dx: 8 Ways to Open the Doorway to Evil

  Rx: Close all Openings & Deepen Relationship with God

 

1.    Ties with the OCCULT [“occultus” in Latin means “hidden, secret”] – focuses on the PARANORMAL, e.g. palm reading, medium or psychic, Ouija board, tarot cards, pendulums, crystals, magic, horoscope, witchcraft, “knock on wood” (a Druid practice – belief that spirits live in the tress, asking the spirit in the wood to come to your aid & what you’re asking which is a violation of Commandment # 01. No substitute for God!)

 

2.    ENTERTAINMENT industry, e.g. holloween (2^nd biggest spending holiday in the US after Christmas; creates a FASCINATION with the devil), horror movies, TV shows, literature, games, computers, gadgets

NB: The devil plays on our MEMORY & IMAGINATION to instill FEAR.

 

3.    Being CURSED (opposite of blessing) – doing harm to another with help of the devil

NB: Only effective if we are WEAK on our faith because we can’t control what another does. But, we can make sure we remain FIRM in our commitment to God! – regardless of what someone does to us.

 

è Ephesians 6:10-20 “The Spiritual War”

 

[10] “Finally, grow STRONG in the Lord, with the strength of his power. [11] Put God’s ARMOR on so as to be able to RESIST the devil’s tactics. [12] For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in the world, the SPIRITUAL ARMY of evil in the heavens. [13] That is why you must rely on God’s armor, or you will not be able to put up any RESISTANCE when the worst happens, or have enough RESOURCES to hold your ground.

 

[14] “So stand your ground, with truth bucked around your wait, and integrity for a breastplate, [15] wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace [16] and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil one. [17] And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword.

[18] “PRAY all the time, asking for what you need, praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all the saints; [19] and pray for me to be given the opportunity to open my mouth and speak without fear and give out the mystery of the gospel [20] of which I am an ambassador in chains; pray that in proclaiming it I may speak as BOLDLY as I ought to.”

 

è Psalm 91 “I need not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow the flies by day!”

 

Conclusion: If we stand right before the eyes of God, then the devil is really nothing to fear.

 

4.    Being DEDICATED to a demon

NB: Anyone below the age of reason (7 years old: First Confession & Holy Communion) cannot bring evil upon himself because God would PROTECT & safeguard him. Those who have AUTHORITY over them bear the RESPONSIBILITY for that.

e.g. mother dedicated a child to Satan to get even with God for giving her a child she didn’t want when born became possessed [1^st 12 years subjected to Satanic rituals & abuses, run away & became a street child, BUT in late teens met an Exorcist, eventually became a NUN! & dedicated her life to God working with street children),

--Lesson: Use Satan’s ways against him! (turn around)

 

e.g. UNWANTED CHILD, post-abortion syndrome

 

5.    ABUSE à creates emotional wounds à seek HELP from the wrong sources

e.g. father begins to rape child at age 7 for 5 years (till age 12); then, father starts molesting younger sister; child begins to feel ABANDONED by God & goes to WITCHES (mangkukulam), witch doctors, shamans

 

6.    Life of HABITUAL SIN – not following the DIVINE WILL, not being able to call SIN a sin

--BUT keeping on confessing the same sin is a GOOD sign, i.e. “I’m still in the FIGHT!” because you can still call sin a sin [objective] vs. “I’m always just gonna do it, so why bother confessing it?!”

--Principle: Anything we can NAME & HAND OVER to God, we can do something about! Anything we DENY will ultimately CONTROL us!”

 

7.    BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

--Principle: We all deal with brokenness in our lives, but the way we DEAL with it does seem to matter.

--Dysfunctional in the FAMILY à ANGER, RESENTMENT, BITTERNESS, REVENGE. The devil feeds on this because he loves D I V I S I O N .

--vs. Christ came to create C O M M U N I T Y – to bring us TOGETHER. The devil always wants to divide & conquer! In Mark 5, the man possessed by the Gerasene demoniac, after deliverance, wanted to join Jesus but was told by Him “No, go HOME to your FAMILY!”

 

8.    Cultivating a relationship with a demon or INVITING a demon into your life

--Principle: Exorcisms cannot be performed on anyone against his or her WILL (FREEWILL – to choose for or against God!). We can pray for them, BUT ultimately, the person has to ask for help DIRECTLY.

PART II. ORDINARY ACTIVITIES OF THE DEVIL

 

>4-Stage Plan of Attack

1. DECEPTION

2. DIVISION

3. DIVERSION

4. DISCOURAGEMENT

 

Goal: to pull us further & further AWAY from God! à Loss of sense of IDENTITY

--Our IDENTITY: The human person is created in the image & likeness of God! We have the INNATE desire for God!

--St. Augustine: “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in You!

--The devil wants his LIES to become the TRUTH in the mind of the person!

 

1.    DECEPTION – inversion of reality (inside out, upside down)

--The devil puts us off track, then presents his inversion of the truth (lies). He speaks from his nature as a LIAR, the father of all lies. (John 8:44).

e.g. Genesis – Adam & Eve: “You will not die. You will be like God.”

Rx: GRATITUDE for the PAST, LOVE for the PRESENT, & HOPE & TRUST (vs. FEAR c/o need to control by knowing the outcome, no room for hope & trust) for the FUTURE.

 

2.    Dx: DIVISION – disunity

a.    From GOD

b.    From each OTHER

c.    From SELF

    Rx: Redemption: RECONCILIATION with God & share in the UNITY of the HOLY TRINITY

--The devil’s wish is for us to collapse with him into eternal death & everlasting ALIENATION from God c/o world of deceit & untruth.

--Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer: “That they may all be ONE as You & I are ONE so that the world may BELIEVE.”

--Christ’s mission: HEALING / UNIFY.

--vs. The devil wants to stymie, halt, paralyze us on our life’s journey of UNIRTY & COHERENCE to our existence so that we feel OVERWHELMED, out-of-reach beyond our capacity with the following effect that we GIVE UP, we FEAR, we WITHDRAW, we COMPARE self vs. others that we UNDERESTIMATE ourselves leading to CONFLICT & COMPETITION, leading to CONTEMPT, RESENTMENT, AVARICE, IMPATIENCE, AGITATION, DISSATISFACTION, short-circuit coping through DRUGS, ALCOHOL, PORNOGRAPHY, & other behavioral ADDICTIONS, leading to INFIDELITY, BREAK-UP OF FAMILY.

--Principle: We will FIND our life when we GIVE it back to God who gave it to us. (“He who saves his life will lose it & he who loses his life for the sake of God will find it.”) A life with UNITY, INTEGRITY & COHERENCE.

              : We need to have our lives in our HANDS if we want to give them back to our God.

--vs. The devil does not want us to put the PIECES TOGETHER.

--If our lives are FRACTURED, we surrender our lives to our God.

 

3.    DIVERSION – goal: to LOSE FOCUS, our sense of PURPOSE & DIRECTION away from the pathway to God [e.g. Simba, the Lion King] in SUBTLE ways

e.g. Israel à Promised Land: got distracted by creating the Golden Calf (IDOLATRY) = substituting a product of our OWN CREATION for the UNCREATED GOD

--If we are not CENTERD on God, something or someone else will give the sense of joy, meaning, happiness that only God can give.

 

4.    Dx: DISCOURAGEMENT – NB: the most dangerous threat to the spiritual life

--tired, joyless face

--In Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” the sign to hell says: “Abandon all HOPE [leads to suicidal ideations & actions], ye that enter in!”

--The decision to STOP TRYING, to pull back, to do something else, to halt results in DERAILMENT.

--Discouragement does not have to lead to depression.

--The capital sin of acedia (sloth, laziness especially re: religious obligations & practices) comes from the Greek word “acedeo” meaning “I don’t care!” c/o tired, feeling overwhelmed, intimidated

--analogy: At the CROSSROADS, you can choose either the way of death – spiritual & physical or discipleship – meaning, purpose, direction.

 

 Rx: When under attack:

a.    Maintain FIDELITY to God – don’t change course when under attack.

b.    Be PATIENT

c.    Exercise HUMILTY

d.    Have confidence in the HOLY SPIRIT who will lead, guide, direct

e.    Intensify SPIRITUAL PRACTICES – regular mass & holy communion, confess regularly, adoration, Marian devotions in daily routine, e.g., rosary [Remember that Mary is a POWERFUL ally vs. the forces of evil. In Genesis 3:15 the woman will “crush the head of the serpent” c/o OBEDIENCE to God vs. Adam & Eve’s disobedience. “FIAT” vs. “NO!”. other devotions: Divine Mercy, St. Joseph, the Terror of Demons, Patron Saints; SACRAMENTALS – hold water, sacred images, medals, & crosses around neck remind us of the PRESENCE of God!

f.     Ultimately, never give in to the LIES of the devil, e.g. “You have been abandoned by God!”

--Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.”

--The devil is weak & helpless when CONFRONTED DECISIVELY. He is essentially a COWARD – only attacks when met with weakness; when RESISTED, flees!

--analogy: The lion is weak when alone, away from the herd. He says, “This person is not worth it. I will try someone else.”

--analogy: The cockroach in a dark room scurries into cracks & crevices when you light a candle in the dark.

--NB: The devil always attacks at what he perceives as a WEAK point – the area to grow stronger in relationship with God.

--analogy: The wizard of Oz is only fearful for as long as his FAÇADE is undiscovered; but capsizes as soon as the dog pulls back the curtain & reveals the fact that it’s just an ILLUSION.

--Conclusion: Ultimately, the devil is not to fear!

Rx: REPENT

 

filipino animist (bulatao, 1978)

 Re: Filipino Spiritual World View

Fr: Bulatao, J. C. (1978). Filipino transpersonal world view. In Bulatao, J. C. (1992).

Phenomena and their interpretation: Landmark essays 1957-1989. Manila:

 Ateneo de Manila University, pp. 49-53 [caps mine for emphasis].

 

>2 Classification of World Views: Materialistic (only this world exists) vs. Transpersonal (a spirit world exists beyond this world)

 

>3 Models of Transpersonal World View: 1. Buddhist (one cosmic consciousness), Christian (human & divine), & Animist (the material world is occupied by spirits who are like humans vs. Christian view of spirit as either good or bad)

 

>”The transpersonal world view of the ‘Christian’ Filipino belongs fundamentally to the third paradigm [Aminist],,,, likewise found in modern Javanese, Sumatran, or Malaysian societies” (p. 50).

 

1.    GOD the Father is seen as a Filipino father who is the object of love, petition, gratitude when He grants things & anger and tampo when He withdraws favors. “Like a father with many children, He is VERY PERMISSIVE, pabaya, and at times not careful to check the evil or naughty deeds of the devil and other spirits” (p. 50).

 

2.    JESUS, “while a spirit, is assumed to have a DEFINITE FORM, usually as the Santo Niňo or as the Nazareno.

 

3.    “The SAINTS too have definite forms, like those in their statues and are related to as to members of one’s FAMILY” (p. 50).

 

4.    “Elemental SPIRITS (e.g., taong lupa, nuno sa punso, duende, etc.) abound in rivers, fields, balete trees, anthills. One asks PERMISSION when passing by a known dwelling of such a spirit or when pouring a basin of water outside the window. Such spirits have LIMITED LIFE SPAN, though much longer than man’” (p. 50).

 

5.    “Another class of spirits are the SOULS of dead humans. When restless, they make their presence known to living persons” (p. 50).

 

6.    “Many UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA are the works of the spirits. Sicknesses which the doctor’s medicine cannot cure are attributed to the work of the spirits; and the identity of the sickness-causing spirits can be determined through the use of RITUALS e.g., tawas is dropped and congealed in a basin of water. Such spirits must then be PLACATED through ritual offerings” (p. 51).

 

7.    “Other phenomena are caused by naughty DWENDE who throw stones or play tricks on people such as getting them lost in the forest, turning tress upside down, or tying a pant leg around the house post” (p. 51).

 

8.    “Protection from spirits and from other dangers can be obtained through the anting-anting and/or through SPECIFIC PRAYERS. These are powerful instruments in themselves (opera operato) capable of arousing the protective power. These prayers and rituals must be carried out with the utmost meticulousness; otherwise, the desired result is not obtained” (p. 51).

 

9.    “Certain persons have SPECIAL POWERS over spirits” – Catholic priest vs. devil; arbularyo vs. evil spirits (e.g. house blessings), faith healers (supposedly as instruments of God or the saints); however, ANY PERSON who says the correct formula or prayer may also have the same effect

 

10. “The trance state is the result of possession by spirits and is locally termed SAPI, langkap, sanib, or tuntong. The person so possessed, while seemingly conscious and even with eyes open, asks and speaks as though involuntarily driven. Unlike ‘possession’ in the West which is usually by evil spirits, the more common spirits in the Philippines are SAINTS: Santo Niňo, Nazareno, Mahal na Birhen (under varioius titles), Sagrada Familia (as one spirit), San Miguel, San Maritn, and others. LOWER SPIRITS also frequently possess humans: ENKANTO, ada, lamang lupa (p. 51).”

 

11. “Certain PLACES and DAYS of the week embody an abundance of spiritual power; thus, Quiapo on Fridays, Baclaran on Wednesdays, St. Jude on Thursdays. In general Tuesdays and Fridays are considered specially favourable for such spiritual workings as fortune telling, healing, or exorcism…

 

“In these special centers of devotion there is always a PARTICULAR SPIRIT who performs the works of wonders with whom one must somehow or the other be joined. In Quiapo, for instance, the devotees try their best to come to TOUCH the Nazareno, applying handkerchief to statue, pulling rope and carriage in procession. In the Grotto in Bulacan, water performs this function of JOINING spirit and human spirit” (p. 51).

 

“Around the main centers of devotion, on their fringes, can be found the FRINGE-SYMBOLS of the same spiritual power. Thus around Quiapo church one [51/52] can buy (besides medicinal herbs) talismans, images, medals. Embossed on them are PRAYERS usually of corrupt ecclesiastical languages: Crie Eleison, Matam MAtunm, Mitam, Salbame, San Zibar, etc. etc.

 

These side booths are indicative of a world view that is quite different from the official Roman theology being preached from the central pulpit within the church” (p. 51).

 

REFLECTIONS (by the Author)

 

1.    “As a belief system, it is so deeply rooted that it simply SUPERSEDES official Roman theology in spite of the fact that most of these people are Roman Catholics. Even among the well-educated class there is often a SPLIT between the CONCEPTUAL thought system which is learned in school and the EMOTIONAL awareness absorbed from the CULTURE. A professor at the University of the Philippines once put this feeling into words when she said: ‘I do not believe in ghosts but I am afraid of them.’

 

Here a Filipino might reflect in his own consciousness and ask: Is this transpersonal world view true?” (p. 52)

 

“… For instance, the phenomenon of sapi may be real, but it may be better understood as a DISSOCIATIVE REACTION. The phenomenon of souls speaking after death through a MEDIUM and revealing undisclosed properties may be real, but could also be understood as ESP.

 

Modern TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY may offer alternative ways of explaining the marvellous phenomena hitherto attributed to spirits. But in the Philippine situation, validated transpersonal experiences are so numerous that they cannot simply be cast aside as HALLUCINATIONS. One has to admit the existence of a TRANSPERSONAL REALITY. In this sense the CULTURAL EXPERIENCE is true (so the author thinks).”

 

2.    “… an awareness of the Filipino’s transpersonal world view may be a key to understanding his CHARACTER. The lack of a feeling for a tight CAUSE-AND-EFFECT, such as that which occurs in a materialist thought system, does have a wider effect on PLANNING and STEP-BY-STEP development.

The bahala na attitude is simply an acknowledgment that the results of action are not always within one’s control. On the positive side, such a conscious attitude prevents an overloading of RESPONSIBILITY on the individual ego. The individual can enter into action, with a PRAYER without being overwhelmed by a fear of the consequences of one’s actions” (p. 52).

 

     “Most of all, the belief in the providence of a BENEVOLENT FATHER-GOD lends

     meaning to one’s life. The SUICIDE RATE of the Philippines is about the lowest in

     the world. The feeling that one continues communicating with his beloved ones

     even after death creates an OPEN attitude toward death that is quite a contrast with

    those cultures where death is seen as the end of everything, where there is no

    hope.”