"Sobrii estote vigilate quia adversarius vester diabolus tamquam leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret. cui resistite fortes fide scientes eadem passionum ei quae in mundo est vestrae fraternitati fieri."
(1 Peter 5:8-9)
The above Scripture passage in Latin as quoted from the First Epistle of St. Peter and which is also read during the Compline prayer each night according to the pre-Vatican II Breviary, is a warning to us all.
The same speaks thus in English:
"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world."
Ladies and gentlemen, this is real! Never before have people been so deceived of the reality that their lives are greatly influenced by the prince of the power of the air. (Ephesians 2:2) For, as St. Paul testifies, "we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12) The truth concerning the activity of the minions of hell has not only been downplayed by Hollywood and viewed as something fictitious or superstitious (which is exactly what Satan wants us to believe) but it is hardly ever spoken of in homilies or taught thoroughly enough in Catechism classes, RCIA groups, youth ministries, Bible studies and other parish workshops. As a result of this many faithful and well meaning followers of Jesus Christ are unknowingly being driven away blindly into their own ruin. By no fault of their own they have no weapons at their disposal to even recognize that this is in fact a major facet of their everyday walk of faith.
The battle we fight spiritually manifests itself temporally by our choices, our behavior and our actions by way of being deceived into something contrary to reality, namely God. It's been said that Satan's greatest tactic in slowly leading souls away from their Creator by means of infiltrating them with falsehoods and clever ways of personal manipulation, is by having them either ignorant of truth itself or even something as simple as convincing people that he doesn't even exist. The will is where sin is born and sin, then, gives berth to death. Once the enemy takes hold of the human will while still remaining oblivious to his victim it can take years to repair the damage and this only if and when he is discovered.
The adversaries of Truth are far more superior intellectually and physically than we are. They are spirit beings created by God and for God and, therefore, we cannot fight them by our own abilities. Without the very grace of God Himself these spiritual hosts of wickedness would destroy us in an instant.As the story of holy Job shows us, if God permits Satan to freely act within our lives he will certainly devour us.
The creators of this blog felt inspired by our Lord to begin a series outlining the activity of Satan and his demons as taught by Holy Mother Church and from our own personal studies and experience. We pray to shed more light on the reality of this unfortunate truth, and by the grace of God, help at least one soul recognize, fight boldly and conquer the wiles if the enemy!
Copyright 2011 New Voice for Broken Souls, All rights Reserved
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