Under Spiritual Attack? Do this

Practical spiritual warfare for daily life

Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night, usually around 2:00 or 3:00 AM, and feel like I’m being bombarded by compulsive, deeply depressing thoughts. I fret over my future, how I’m going to make ends meet, how lonely I’ll be once my son moves away, how overwhelming the requirements of my job are at times, how I have no family, no support network to help me if the excrement hits the fan.

For the longest time, I helplessly suffered through this excruciating onslaught—but now I know what to do. If this is you, here are a few tips you might find useful.

Exorcists warn that it’s not good “to see a demon behind every corner.” But sometimes, it seems we’re not seeing enough demons behind the corners where they really lurk.

That doesn’t mean possession. As Fr. Chad Ripperger says, only 2–5% of the population are possessed at any given time (which, frankly, is a number that still frightens the heck out of me).

However, he says, up to 25–30% of Americans suffer from demonic oppression (direct negative influence on your daily affairs, health, work, finances, relationships, etc.) and another 25–30% suffer from demonic obsession (compulsive negative thoughts, sometimes blasphemous or heretical, often secular, usually trying to induce religious doubt and/or despair about one’s life and future).

Even great saints—like Padre Pio, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Ignatius of Loyola—had to battle demonic attacks.

In a nutshell, they are much more common than you may think—so when everything in your life seems to go wrong or you are constantly fighting negative thoughts, maybe it isn’t you.

The good news is, we’re not powerless. With God’s armor and Christ’s protection, we can drive them away from us in His name.

Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, one of my favorite spiritual warriors, recently posted in his “Exorcist Diary” the testimony of a woman who suffered from the type of demonic attacks mentioned above. He calls it “demon brain.” Here’s an excerpt:

My family and I have been partaking in the monthly deliverance sessions since 2022 and they've been life changing. I personally adopted the 3Rs "Reject, rebuke and renounce" any evil spirit oppressing me. But recently (2 weeks ago), I had a powerful experience with it. I came back from work feeling a little off/depressed and didn't make much of it. I thought is was just the weight of the day. However, the dark thoughts got more pressing as I was getting ready for work the next day. A voice in my head kept saying: "Don't see how ugly you look; your hair is mess; don't go to work, stay home and kill yourself!"

I felt so heavy...but in a flash I remembered your talk about demon brain and told myself: "Those are NOT your thoughts! Cast out the evil right now." I stood in the middle of my bedroom and started the 3Rs prayer out loud: "In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, by the power of His most Precious Blood & Glorious Cross, price of my redemption, I..." But nothing was coming out, my voice had died!

I started over, but the same thing- when I got to the part where I'm to reject, renounce and rebuke, I became silent. I called on the Holy Spirit and started over a 3rd time. This time, I made it through the entire prayer. I felt a chilly sensation go through my body right after.

I went to work and about my day with no feeling of depression or dark thoughts.

I had shared the 3Rs prayer with a good friend of mine who is Protestant and she uses it whenever she feels overwhelmed or usually down.

Online Deliverance Sessions (FREE)

If you can, I highly recommend you attend Msgr. Rossetti’s free monthly online deliverance sessions. Simply register and join his livestream at the appointed date and time. The testimonies of participants speak for themselves.

3Rs Prayer

And here is his famous “3Rs Prayer” (note: you have to name the demonic spirit, as in “the spirit of despair/anger/fear/depression/addiction/etc.”):

In the Holy Name of Jesus, I renounce, I reject, and I rebuke the spirit of ___________________ (said 3 times)​

I bind and cast out all aforementioned evil spirits from me sending them to the foot of the Cross of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for Him to do with as He wills and to never return to me again.

​Amen.

“I Am Loved” Prayer

A slight variation of the 3Rs is this prayer from Msgr. Rossetti’s arsenal:

In the Holy Name of Jesus, I know that I am a beloved daughter/son of our Heavenly Father. May the Precious Blood of Jesus cover me. In His Most Holy Name and covered in His Precious Blood, I bind all evil spirits of doubt, fear, despair, unforgiveness, unworthiness, and self-hatred.

I renounce you; I reject you; I rebuke you; and I cast you out.

I hold the TRUTH from God that I am a beloved daughter/son of the Heavenly Father. I claim that in and through the sacraments I have received, that the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwells in me and that I have inestimable value in God’s eyes. I know that I am beloved because I have been created in the image and likeness of God. I know that I am beloved because God the Father has sent His Son Jesus Christ into the World because of that love. And I know that Jesus Christ died out of his personal love for me, and, in His infinite mercy, my sins are forgiven.

I forgive all those who have told me that I am worthless, unworthy, or never good enough. I ask God to forgive them and bless them.

I am a beloved daughter/son of our Heavenly Father

And for that LOVE and that TRUTH, I give Him thanks.

​Amen.

More Deliverance Prayers

To see Msgr. Rossetti’s whole arsenal of deliverance prayers for laypeople, go here.

Another very good and extensive list of deliverance prayers comes from the Philippines: Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism.

Another source for deliverance prayers is Fr. Chad Ripperger’s excellent book, Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Laity. In it, you’ll find (among other things) a prayer to end demonic oppression by consecrating everything you own to the Holy Mother. Let me tell you, it works like a charm. The enemy can touch nothing she claims for herself.

Do Something Holy

Sometimes, when I wake up in the middle of the night and feel the onslaught of negativity, I purposefully do something for God, like pray a whole Rosary, read the Liturgy of the Hours or a Bible text… or write blog posts in His service. Not so much as protection but basically telling the demons: “Hey, you know what, every time you bother me, this is what you’re going to get.” It works amazingly well and feels very calming and soothing to me.

In the same vein, when you get bombarded by negative thoughts, you can offer up your suffering for the conversion of others or for the holy souls in Purgatory. That way, Satan actually helps getting souls to Heaven—which makes him really mad.

These are just a few things you can do. So don’t fear the devil: God always has the upper hand!

And with that, have a great day and God bless you!