How Demons Actually Work

To clear up some misunderstandings regarding demonic activity, Fr. Mark-Mary offers a short crash course on the matter. There are four main kinds of demonic activity:

Temptation: when the devil subtly invites a soul to sin
Infestation: when there is demonic activity in a place
Oppression: when demonic activity starts outside the soul and enters within
Possession: when the demonic directly enters one’s internal will and intellect

This video does not go into detail about demonic activity, but simply aims to contextualize it, and show how the demonic confirms that the Catholic Faith is the true Faith.

Since an exorcist regularly visits his friary to confirm and strengthen the faith of the friars, Fr. Mark-Mary has witnessed demonic activity. He says it’s nothing to worry about if you just know who you are and who God is. If you live in that reality and remain in the state of grace, the demonic cannot have power over you.

Throughout the New Testament and the history of the Church, we see Christ and the saints fighting against the demonic. St. Therese, St. Padre Pio, and St. John Vianney encountered evil spirits quite a bit.

Acknowledging the reality of the demonic—and seeing how demons respond to the name of Jesus and Mary, to holy water and miraculous medals—can help our faith, but we can also become inordinately interested in it. So we can talk about demonic possession, but let’s not emphasize it.

After all, the devil’s most destructive work is done in the dark, through subtle temptations, through secret invitations to lust and the other deadly sins. Defeat these temptations by just saying no, and asking God to deliver you from temptation. Ask Mary and St. Michael the Archangel to help you, frequent the sacraments, trust in God’s grace, and demons will be powerless in your life.

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[JayRedding_]

I said no to "getting wasted" six years ago and by the Grace of God I've been sober since April 13, 2014.

[idraculaa]

Demons are no joke. I came out of new age and went through major, extreme demonic oppression / spiritual warfare. I attest that JESUS is the only way!

[Incomprehensibly]

I am struggling with addiction right now and demons are trying to take over me. Please pray for me that I defeat this stupid addiction. I want to live again.

[JoanieDriftwood]

This is a crazy story but... I come from a non-Catholic background. The first time I prayed the rosary was in response to a sense of being under attack by darkness. To my surprise, as soon as I began to pray the rosary I could *hear* the enemy scream in rage and torment. Oh they did NOT like that. I've been praying the rosary 3 times a day ever since.

[lowenwelle]

"Satan always tempts the pure - the others are already his."
(Bishop Fulton J. Sheen)

[nguyenphithoaihung]

Pornography is more addicted than alcohol. Please pray for my recovery

[letthewordheal]

As a “cradle catholic” I used to hear about the good angel and bad angel on our shoulders and didn’t think it was real. Fast forward to adulthood and growing in the faith in the last couple years, spiritual warfare is definitely real! Everyday I’m learning to put on the Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-17, and definitely reading and learning about scripture, the word of God, to help me in this battle between good and evil! I need Jesus! Thank you for this video!

[TheFunfolks]

A Priest friend says 'When something comes into your mind (thoughts).... DON'T DWELL ON IT'.
Thanks, Fr. Mark Mary !!!!

[YananoBere]

Beautiful advice. An exorcist once said that people should be more terrified of temptation than possession because a possesed person cannot commit mortal sin as they have no free will. Falling into temptation however, can be our ruin. Be good and pray unceasingly. Love you all🙏🏾

[g.Raider]

One Christian (non-Catholic) female blogger/writer/speaker I follow is a former porn addict. I'm not a former porn addict, but I really enjoy her perspectives because I've found her principles extremely helpful in facing all sorts of sins, temptations and issues with your own self-image. She released a piece awhile ago about what to do when sexual or pornographic images are stuck in your head after you've repented and cut off the activity. First, she acknowledges to God that she doesn't want to dwell on this, she regrets it, and she never ever wants to do anything like it again. She also brought in the fact that regardless of spiritual influence-good or bad-your brain is a machine that adapts to the habits and decisions that you've made. It's a learned behavior, and a behavior is especially going to stick in your brain if it's associated with pleasure. Demons tempt you, but your brain is NOT a demon. God designed it, and it's designed to remember, facilitate and circulate whatever it's exposed to. Her approach to facing these memories or temptations when they arise is to remember these facts. The brain says "I need to feel good, so let's do and if the fill-in-the-blank is sinful, the response is "We could, but we'll go here (something good and/or holy) instead, because this will be better for us in the long run, and it will be what honors God." I found it the perfect balance between staying grounded and giving reverence to God. Thanks, Father Mark!

[MariaPullatt]

"Remain in a state of Grace and chill." My motto for life. 😂

[amyyennguyen]

I've had demonic attacks before. As soon as I came home after confirmation classes, my ex immediately texted me and this happened straight after I got home from church, and my ex hasn't spoken to me for so long. When my ex texted me, he was suggesting we would do sexual acts. Whenever I'm serious about my faith, I experience spiritual warfare and unwanted thoughts, I get blasphemous, horrible thoughts that are unintentional and compulsive and I hate it so much. EVERY time I get closer to God and try to obey his word and turn from my sins, suddenly more guys are trying to get with me, and it ALWAYS happens when my faith is stronger. There is no doubt that demons are setting up a trap for me. I'm still struggling right now with demonic attacks, and temptation coming from demons.

[nikki]

Pray for me to say no to gossip and cutting down others. Forgive me Jesus

[philipallard]

I use the Jesus prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner. It is simple, direct, and can be easily repeated. I use it at night when my thoughts are wandering. Thank you.

[orlandofurioso]

4:50 well said, as someone who departed from New Age sometimes ptsd can trick us into thinking God is not protecting us.
Focus on the day, focus on having God in your life, if you focus on that you don't need to be afraid.

[guitarttimman]

One never realizes how real demons truly are until he/she experiences possession. It's horrible.

[ArcangelB]

It’s great that you’re letting people know that evil exists. Many christians don’t believe in Satan, they believe he’s just a symbol for evil. But he is very real.

[agentjackstone]

I used to practice necromancy and was a medium for many years. I became physically possessed in the final week of my practice. The name of Jesus Jesus Christ arrested the wicked spirits and it was His name that closed the doors that I had opened. Demons are very real and Jesus saved me.

[christianedion]

Confession is huge for the protection against the demonic...when I start having a lot of anxiety, it's probably time for a good confession.

[frankboff]

There are simply not enough people in the world talking openly about this.
It’s time to talk people! 💖💖💖💖💖