In today’s age of disbelief and skepticism, even many Christians no longer believe in the existence of angels and demons. Joan Carroll Cruz provides a thorough guide on these spiritual entities in Angels and Devils, explaining all that has been revealed to the Church, saints, and mystics about them. Here, she reveals the saints’ most powerful weapons against demons.
The Sign Of The Cross
St. Martin De Porres
St. Martin de Porres was one day climbing the stairs to the infirmary when halfway up, a devilish monster appeared before him. The livid eyes and horrible form of the apparition easily betrayed the devil. When the Saint asked what he was doing there, the devil replied that he had hoped to destroy a human soul. St. Martin removed his belt and proceeded to drive the devil away with fierce blows, but was only successful in making the evil one retreat a short distance. He then took one of the burning coals and formed a huge Cross on the wall. The tempter fled at the sign of the Redemption.
St. Rita Of Cascia
On one occasion, a woman who had been possessed by the devil for many years was brought to St. Rita. Having pity for the woman, who had been tormented and cruelly mistreated by the demons, the Saint raised her eyes to Heaven and offered a prayer. Then making the Sign of the Cross on the woman’s head, she immediately liberated the victim. The devil, on leaving the poor woman, is said to have uttered moans and frightful shrieks.
St. Alphonsus Liguori
St. Alphonsus Liguori had the following method of dismissing demons who were annoying him: With great authority he would make a great Sign of the Cross and then order the demons to prostrate themselves and to adore this sign of the Redemption. He would then add these words from Scripture: “That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” (Phil. 2:10).
The Holy Rosary
St. Paul of the Cross
The Holy Rosary was used on two different occasions by St. Paul of the Cross to free soldiers from the torments of the devil. On both occasions, the saint, who heard the noises and ran to investigate, immediately detected the devil and ordered him to leave, while placing the holy rosary around the soldier’s neck. The frightened soldier confessed his sins that night and was enormously grateful for being delivered.
Sr. Josefa Menendez
Sr. Josefa Menendez once saw the demon standing in front of her to prevent her passing, and he even tried to throw himself upon her. Although thoroughly frightened, Sr. Josefa held up her rosary stretched out before her and went her way.
Holy Water
St. Teresa Of Avila
St. Teresa advises: “From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like Holy Water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the Cross, but return; so Holy Water must have great virtue.”
Fr. Tanquerey
Tanquerey surmises that Holy Water makes the devil flee “because of the humiliation Satan must suffer at seeing himself baffled by such a simple device.”
Relics
St. John Vianney
St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney, the Curé of Ars, was often called upon to perform exorcisms, which he accomplished in a short time with holy water or a blessing. But, according to Abbé Tailhades, the holy priest was also known to “always carry in his pocket a large silver reliquary containing several relics of the Passion and those of a few saints.”
St. Ignatius Of Loyola
St. Ignatius Loyola was not in the least afraid of the demons who tormented him; in fact, it is said that the demons were afraid of him. During his lifetime, devils who were possessing people would cry out upon mention of the Saint’s name, “Ignatius is my greatest enemy!” After his death, St. Ignatius’s followers experienced great power in dealing with the possessed by using pictures of the Saint or his relics.
The Blessed Sacrament
The Virgin Mary
“Lucifer and his demons have such a fear of the most Holy Eucharist, that to approach it causes them more torments than to remain in Hell itself. Although they do enter churches in order to tempt souls, they enter them with aversion, forcing themselves to endure cruel pains in the hope of destroying a soul and drawing it into sin, especially in holy places and in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. Nothing except their furious hatred of the Lord and against souls could ever induce them to expose themselves to the torments of His real sacramental presence.”
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This article is taken from a chapter in Angels and Devils by Joan Carroll Cruz which is available from TAN Books.
