Seminaries, Marian shrines, and marriage are among the institutions and places under attack from Satan in this “time of terrible darkness,” according to a leading exorcist.
Fr Jeremy Davies was addressing seminarians, students and lay people during a lecture at St. Patrick’s College Maynooth, on Tuesday 20th September. During his presentation, entitled “Combating the demonic in the spiritual life of Catholics,” he urged a packed hall to “fight the battle against Satan and win it in our own time.”
Fr Davies is one of nine exorcists in the Diocese of Westminster, and one of the founders of the International Association of Exorcists, which was recognised by the Holy See in 2014.
The event, hosted by the John Paul ll Theological Society, heard Fr Davies warn against the “idolatry of happiness in this world.”
LGBT
Referring to LGBT issues, he described homosexuality and the desire of a man to “change into a woman” as a delusion. While advising compassion, love and understanding of people’s problems, he said, if someone is distressed, or feels unhappy in their sexuality, it is because they are assuming that the aim of life is to be happy.
All this torment “comes from pride, and is based on the devil’s lies;” they should “seek first the Kingdom of Heaven,” in order to be free. He claimed it was the “devil’s distortion of sex in order to dehumanise humans.” The truth is not currently being taught about sexuality, he said, and children are growing up in confusion. Fr Davies opined that we will “never eliminate suffering – otherwise we lose our stairway to Heaven.”
Fr Davies said there are certain places where the devil concentrates his attacks. He told the audience there was a “tremendous battle going on at the shrines to Our Lady,” with a “confrontation between Christ and Satan.”
Seminaries
He warned that the devil also focuses his attacks on seminaries, where priests are trained. He urged those present to “take the side of Christ against Satan.” The devil also hates marriage and families, he said, and any attempt to build a community.
The celebrated exorcist also hit out at new age retreats which involve “Taoism and Reiki”, claiming people who attend these events are being fed “the devil’s poison.” “These are taking place all over Ireland,” he remarked. “No wonder things are going wrong.”
Fr Davies said it is important to be aware of the devil, who hides in darkness, but “don’t be frightened of him.” “Have confidence in Christ,” he urged, “don’t get caught up with Satan by making yourself the centre of everything.” He said when Jesus was tempted by the devil; he began his reply to him with the words: “it is written.”
Similarly, Fr Davies advised, we “should not simply trust in our own wisdom, but in the word of God.”
