Evil Is Rising — and We Must Know How to Fight It

Father Gabriele Amorth

This may be an uncomfortable subject — but it is a necessary one. After reading about the life and death of Father Gabriele Amorth, it became clear: we need to understand who Satan is and how he operates.

Father Gabriele Amorth, widely regarded as the world’s most famous exorcist, died in Rome on September 16, 2016, at the age of 91. He served as the official exorcist for the Diocese of Rome, drawing international attention with his outspoken warnings about the rising danger of diabolical influence in modern society.

Over the course of his life, Father Amorth performed an estimated 70,000 exorcism rites — often repeating the rite on the same individuals. He was not a man who theorized about evil from a safe distance. He encountered it face to face, day after day, for decades.

In an April 2015 post, he attributed the Islamic State to demonic influence, stating plainly: “ISIS is Satan. Things first happen in the spiritual realm, then they are made concrete on this earth.” He added that evil is “disguised” in various political, cultural, and religious ways — with one source of inspiration in the devil.

That same spiritual logic applies far beyond ISIS. The same dark influence can be seen at work in Hamas, Boko Haram, the drug cartels, and any force that suppresses, exploits, or destroys human dignity. The names change. The source does not.

Our families, our country, and our culture are under assault — and the battle is first and foremost spiritual. That means the response must be spiritual as well. We cover our families in prayer. We intercede for those who do not yet know the Lord. We stay close to the sacraments. And we ask the Holy Spirit to guide every step, every decision, every word.

The enemy is not hiding. Neither should we.

Demon Possessed

If you have been following this blog, you may recall that in 2005 our team traveled to Croatia — and came face to face with something none of us had ever seen before.

It began after midnight, when our prayer session had ended and Joanne, our group leader, was still praying over a young woman. Without warning, a loud crash split the silence of the basketball gymnasium. I spun around just in time to see a chair flying across the room and slamming down onto the wooden floor.

This was no natural occurrence. The young woman’s body was hurled into the air and thrown to the ground. In that moment, it was unmistakably clear: she was not in control of herself. Her movements were unnatural, contorted — nothing the human body should be able to do on its own. At one point, the evil spirits turned her own hands against her, strangling her with them. She fought back, kicking with everything she had — but she got no relief until Robert, one of our team members, pulled her hands away from her throat.

We formed a circle around her and prayed in the Spirit. When Joanne commanded the demons to leave, the response came back in a low, growling, unmistakably masculine voice: “Nunca! Nunca — es mía!” In Spanish, it means: “Never! Never — she is mine!”

Every sense I had went on full alert. That voice sent shivers up and down my spine. The hair on my arms stood straight up. Never in my life had I witnessed anything like it — and I was terrified.

Shaking in My Shoes

I was shaken — and I knew it was going to get worse. The demons were refusing to leave. The voice coming through her was unmistakably male, deep and raspy, and it did exactly what it was meant to do: make sure every one of us was afraid.

Her body twisted and curved, her spine bending like a startled cat, each contortion followed by a body slam against the floor. Then Joanne asked me to find a bag. I ran to the nearest trash can and grabbed a discarded one — I had no idea why she needed it. By the time I got back, someone else had already come through. Joanne directed us to hold the bag near the young woman’s mouth. She was about to vomit. No one — including me — wanted to get any closer to what was happening. This was new to nearly all of us, and none of us knew what to expect next.

The Exorcist

Then a priest from Serbia quietly made his way through the circle and knelt beside the young woman, sprinkling holy water over her. The reaction was immediate. The main demon let out a shrieking cry: “NO! NO! She’s mine! She’s mine!” It went on like that for some time. The demons spoke in Croatian, Spanish, and English — a detail that called to mind the account in Luke 8:30, where Christ asks the demon its name and receives the answer: Legion. Many.

Not one person from either team moved. We held our positions and backed up the priest in prayer until, finally, the young woman began to return to herself.

That priest had to have been an exorcist. He was prepared — carrying what appeared to be a thick, sacred oil. When he anointed her forehead, something shifted. The spirits grew calm. She was helped to a chair, and Joanne gently asked how she was doing. Her amber hair was tangled and disheveled, dark circles framing her eyes — but her answer was simple: “I’m so tired.”

I couldn’t help but feel a deep compassion for her, and for her boyfriend, as the two of them quietly walked away.

The Curse

Why was she possessed? She shared with Joanne that her mother had put a curse on her. According to Father Amorth, curses issued by a father or mother — particularly against a son, his marriage, and his future children — can open real doors to diabolical influence across generations. The spiritual harm a parent inflicts through curses and occult involvement is not merely psychological. It is, in Father Amorth’s experience, very real.

Opening Demonic Doors

There are many ways that demons gain entry — and many times, the invitation is given innocently, without any awareness of what is being opened.

Reading horoscopes. Allowing children to read books steeped in witchcraft, curses, and the occult. Letting them play video games centered on demons, zombies, or dark spiritual themes. These are not neutral entertainments. Father Amorth himself warned about the consequences of Ouija boards, astrology, and other occult practices. They are open doors — and demons do not need much of an opening.

New Age beliefs, fortune-telling, curses placed by others, and patterns of sin embedded in a family’s history are other avenues of entry. The abuse of drugs, alcohol, and pornography belong on that same list. Each of these weakens the soul’s defenses and signals, in effect, a welcome.

Mind-Controlling Demons

Substance abuse does not merely damage the body — it alters the mind, and an altered mind is far more vulnerable to spiritual attack. Demons surface and take hold where clarity and self-possession once stood. Anyone who has witnessed the devastation of fentanyl addiction has seen this firsthand. Those souls resemble the walking dead — and in a very real spiritual sense, that is exactly what is at stake.

When the Spirits Move In

When people abuse drugs and alcohol, their minds become altered — and when the mind is altered, control slips away. That is precisely when demonic spirits move in and take hold. These are called familiar spirits, and the name fits: they know exactly when to surface. They are patient, combative, and controlling — and they are dangerous because they lead the soul deeper and deeper into sin.

Over more than twenty years of working with the homeless, this has become impossible to ignore. Many of the men and women encountered on those streets were filled with these kinds of spirits. The drugs and alcohol had made a comfortable home for them. The Enemy told a lie — and they believed it. And so they withdrew from the world, living like recluses, cut off from love, from community, from God.

Biblical Warnings

The Bible leaves no room for ambiguity on these matters.

On horoscopes:

Isaiah 47:13–14 (New Catholic Bible)

You have exhausted yourself with consultations ever since your youth. Let the astrologers now come forth to save you, those who seek the future in the stars and who predict at each new moon what will befall you next. But they are like stubble; the fire consumes them. They cannot even deliver themselves from the heat of the flames. These flames are not meant to sit beside; these glowing embers are not meant for keeping warm.

On fortune-telling, witchcraft, and curses:

Leviticus 20:6 (New American Bible, Revised Edition) Should anyone turn to ghosts and spirits and prostitute oneself with them, I will turn against that person and cut such a one off from among the people.

2 Kings 21:6 (New Catholic Bible) He burned his son in flames, practiced witchcraft, used divination, and cooperated with mediums and wizards. He did horrible things in the sight of the Lord, provoking the Lord to anger.

Leviticus 19:31 (New Catholic Bible) Do not consult mediums or seek after wizards, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord, your God.

Psalm 106:37 (New American Bible, Revised Edition) They sacrificed to demons their own sons and daughters.

Proverbs 3:7–8 (New Catholic Bible) Do not pride yourself on your own wisdom; fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. This will provide healing for your flesh and restore strength to your body.

Pray for the lost — and leave the exorcisms to the experts.

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for removing all doubt about the reality of demonic activity. Continue to give us the discernment we need to fight this ongoing battle with wisdom, courage, and faith. Amen.

Guardian Angels

“From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.’ Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 336

Psalm 91:11 (New American Bible, Revised Edition) For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go.

Did you know that from the very beginning of your life, a guardian angel is assigned to you?

The Role of Our Guardian Angels

The Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels is celebrated every year on October 2. These celestial beings have been given to us for guidance, protection, and instruction. We can ask our guardian angel for help in the matters of daily life. Guardian angels protect us from spiritual harm, guide our conscience, and intercede for us in prayer. They can inspire good thoughts in us and warn us away from danger. The role of a guardian angel is powerful — so gaining knowledge of how to speak to them is to your advantage. Don’t forget to ask your assigned guardian angel for guidance.

336 From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.²⁰² “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”²⁰³ Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.  Catechism of the Catholic Church

Darren’s Guardian Angel

With each missionary trip, so many religious souvenirs would come back — blessed medals, rosaries, and holy cards shared generously with friends and family. A rosary ring had been given to a friend to pass along to her son, Darren.

Darren’s family had moved from the Los Angeles area, but his roots were in one of its suburbs. He and a group of friends started a car club there. They were flashy, riding around in ostentatious vehicles as though they owned the streets. Other car clubs bristled at their arrogance and wanted to show them who was boss.

One evening, Darren and his girlfriend Susan stopped for gas. Glancing into his rearview mirror, Darren noticed a Lexus pull up — filled with intimidating men from a rival car club. When he stepped out to pump gas, he saw the driver pull out a gun. He jumped back into his vehicle and a car chase began.

Darren did not want to frighten Susan, but he knew they were in serious trouble. In the panic, he turned down a dead-end street. With the Lexus slowly creeping up behind them, he told Susan to get out of the car and run. It was then that he remembered the rosary ring in his pocket. He grabbed it, and together they sprinted toward a ten-foot chain-link fence leading down to a riverbed.

He does not remember whether he called the police — but suddenly, out of nowhere, the police appeared. The Lexus sped away. Darren knew without a doubt that his prayers and his guardian angel had saved them both. In the wake of that night, the car club disbanded. Darren had learned a life lesson about the dangers of flaunting his blessings.

Torie’s Angels

Our nephew Torie used to suffer from cluster headaches. This type of headache is so severe that they are sometimes referred to as suicide headaches. He suffered episodes a couple of times a year, with each cluster lasting three to four days. The duration of each individual headache ranged from thirty minutes to an hour. There is no cure for cluster headaches, and because they are not considered life-threatening, the medication available offers little relief.

During one episode, Torie became so ill that he was vomiting and suffering with every movement. He collapsed on the bathroom floor and, due to the intensity of the pain, could not get up. Then something supernatural occurred. Torie said that he saw seven small angels. He felt his arms lifted as the angels raised him from the floor and helped him to his bed. Torie stands 6’2″ and weighs 225 pounds. Today, he no longer suffers from cluster headaches.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, nothing is impossible with You. You send us, Your children, protective love — love from heaven, emanating from our guardian angels. Lord, keep us and our families from harm. May we always remember to call on our guardian angels. Amen.

It all started in late May.

The Tenants

For eighteen years we rented our home to a lovely family. In May they informed us that they had purchased a home. We were blessed to have this family living in our home for so long.

Mike made an annual trip to check in on the property, and when all went well they signed another one-year lease.  We knew the home needed updating, but we could not remodel due to the renters’ occupancy. Purchasing a washer and dryer plus kitchen appliances was the best we could do. Much to our surprise, this family purchased a home five doors down the street.

This Old House

Our house was built in 1952, making it 73 years old. We specifically purchased this home because we had a distribution company in Santa Barbara. The purchase price was a little over $200,000 for the property.

Our son Mikos lived in the house while attending college. While he was living there, the house accidentally caught on fire. Three days after the fire, Santa Barbara experienced the worse rain storm in 50 years. With two different insurance claims we replaced most of  the windows and  a new roof. That was over twenty-five years ago. Now this house needs a complete remodel.

The Novice Crew

Together Mike and I had no clue about remodeling a home; however, we love watching DIY (Do It Yourself) home renovation programs and had an idea of what we wanted.

On our first trip to Santa Barbara we had an appointment with a vacation rental group. We thought this remodeling job would be over and done with in a few months. Our idea was to make it a vacation rental, but we quickly found out that the cost to do this would exceed our expenses.  For instance we would have to pay the city a 12% fee, and that did not include the 20% fee from the vacation rental group!

Brother George

My brother George is a contractor in Palm Desert. If he could he would have taken on this project, but logistically this was  impossible. He guided us through all these estimates, and we are so grateful for his input.

Contractor Number One

Later that morning we drove around our neighborhood and stopped to look at a remodel on Shoreline Drive. This street faces the Pacific Ocean. The owner of the home happened to be there and invited us in. This remodel was over a half million; our budget was nothing by comparison. Nevertheless, her contractor was gracious enough to come to our home and give us a preview of what our cost would entail. He walked around and gave us a number that was way out of our budget. The realization of the expense for a remodel in Santa Barbara was kicking in.

We did glean some great advice from this homeowner: we could save money by hiring a draftsperson rather than an architect.

We visited Santa Barbara’s County Clerk Office to look for our property’s original plans., but with over 500 computerized pages it was overwhelming.

Chava

Our guide was Chava, who knows the ins and outs of the city. As owners we had to sign documents for Chava to find the correct information. What a relief! Chava serves as the liaison between us and the city. She knows what permits need to be pulled in order to start the project.

Within a week Chava had the blueprints for the remodel. In the meantime we were still in search of a contractor.

The Contractors

Santa Barbara is a high-end community, so many of these contractors are accustomed to working on major projects. Our project cost pennies compared to a remodel in Montecito or Hope Ranch.

On another visit we met with a new contractor; he was braggadocios, telling us how he was living in Montecito but remodeling his home not far from us. His ideas were as big as his head, so when he left I wanted so badly to say,”Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.”

We had another appointment with a kind young man that we both took a liking to. He seemed to want the job, and he actually took the time to go over a plan. I remember driving home and feeling that finally we found someone we could trust.  We were instructed to purchase our appliances so that the job could start. Phase one was complete!

All was going in the right direction until the quote came in. It was way over our budget! One thing that was non-negotiable was the second bathroom. By the time we received the new estimate, we were told to go to some massive warehouse to pick out kitchen cabinets and windows, and we could forget about the second bathroom! I cried all the way home.

Father and Son

Mike was diligent and continued the hunt for a new contractor. When this father and son came in, I knew unequivocally that this job was too small for them. He immediately explained that we needed to hire a structural engineer. He lost us with those words; besides  every word that came out of his mouth was followed by an awkward laugh. No thank you! Bye, bye! Again I cried on the way home.

Contractor Number Four

It was mid-August and still we did not have a contractor.

It was well into the evening, and as I was sitting in my living room praying, I heard a light knock on the front door. Mike was already in bed. I walked up to the door and asked, “Who is it?”  “It’s your neighbor Chuck. Are you watering?” he asked. It turned out that we forgot to turn off the sprinklers on that side of the house, and it was flooding his yard. With a flashlight in hand, he helped me turn off the faucet.

Chuck looked at the appliances and asked, “What’s going on?” Though he was a stranger, I shared about the contractor dilemma. He quickly referred me to yet another contractor; I’ll call him Jim. Jim was different, he works on these homes, he added a second bathroom to Chuck’s home, and he lives in our neighborhood. Honestly, this man was an answer to our prayers.

Contractor Number Five

The following morning I could not wait to share the wonderful news. I wanted Mike to contact Jim as soon as possible. Mike texted him and he quickly replied. We met, he took our plans and we gave him the key to our house. I was praising God all the way home!  When he ended the text with a praying hands emoji, I was sure that this was a confirmation from God.

Labor Day Weekend

Mikos and Jenny were going to spend the weekend with us in Santa Barbara. I could not stop talking about Jim and could not wait for them to meet him.

When Jim arrived with the world’s smallest note pad, I knew we were in trouble. Why he did not have an estimate we will never know. His suggestions were outrageous! He wanted to remove all the walls to rewire, and he suggested that we needed a new roof. I looked at him and said, “The roof is not leaking.” He added, “Well, eventually it will be.” Under my breath I wanted to tell him that eventually Jesus will return! To say that we were disappointed is an understatement!

The Flooring Company

In the meantime Mike was talking to Kathy, who owns a flooring business, and her husband, who is a contractor. These conversations were taking place between the second and third contractors. Kathy explained to Mike that they never turn away a small remodel, and that we should give her a chance.

By this time I had given up all hope on the second bathroom,  but she captured our attention with her tenacity. She told Mike that the second bathroom was essential. Then she presented us with drawings of a lovely kitchen and main bath remodel plus the second bathroom in the plans. We have met with her over four times, and this last week we introduced her to Chava. Between the two of them the work will start soon.

Southern California Edison

Mike had contacted Edison about a new electrical box in July. After communicating with Edison, he was informed that the earliest they could accommodate our needs would be in late November.

Coastal Property

We are learning something new every step of the way. Coastal properties are in another category, so the permits are different,

The Long Walks

Above all we take long, daily walks, the most rewarding part of this project. We eat one main meal, either lunch or dinner; and on the day of our departure we have breakfast. We try to eat at a different restaurant each time. Bouchon, a French restaurant, has the best onion soup in the world.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I know Your timing for this project is in Your hands. I continually pray for wisdom to trust in You. Thank You for the patience You have graciously bestowed on Mike and me, bringing us closer together as we go through this trial. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen.