The battle for souls -The mystic saints vs. the demons

St Wolfgang versus the devil
The battle for souls -Stories of the attacks of the demons against modern day mystic saints

"....And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a Angel of Satan to beat me, to keep me from being too exalted." 
-St Paul to the Corinthians  [2 Corinthians 12:7]

The primary mission of the mystics is to be victim souls—that is, they are especially called by God to suffer in union with Jesus for the conversion of souls. It is a spiritual battle for souls between God and the demons, where the victim soul is essentially the “battle ground”, and the stakes is the conversion of many persons who are at that moment in the hands of the devil. 

For the majority of us, the devil and his demons prefer to wage a silent, hidden war, primarily because it is through this method that the demons stand the best chance of tempting and deceiving us, for if we physically saw a demon in its efforts to tempt and lead us to sin, we would be absolutely horrified by its hideous appearance and would in fact be strengthened in our resolutions against sin and evil deeds. So  it is in our daily lives that most of us are subjugated to unseen temptations and attacks by the demonic spirits--but in the lives of certain mystics, God allows the malignant spirits to use open warfare.  

“War! War against you and your spiritual director!”
When it comes to the mystic Saints however, there is much more at stake than one individual soul, for it is the victim soul who, through their mystical union with Jesus on the Cross, actually snatches souls out of Satan’s hands. And with the victim soul, the devil is met with resolute resistance from the one who has offered him/herself in union with Jesus for the conversion of sinners; and with the prospect of losing souls in his grasp, and unable to make the victim soul sin in any serious way, he takes the most fearful vengeance against them, using all the powers of hell in a demonic torrent of attacks in countless forms, all in an effort to cause the victim soul to despair and lose their trust and love for God.

So it is that in the case of many mystics, the battle with the demons is not hidden one but it is in fact open warfare. And this open battle is permitted by God to manifest to everyone the reality of both the devil and hell, which unfortunately many today try to disclaim the existence of.  For the devil and the demons are very much a reality, and in their dealings with God's mystic saints they show themselves in the most horrid and undisguised perversities of their vicious and corrupt nature, in the wicked hope of snatching from Christ the souls He loves, and for whom He has paid such a high a price in the shedding of His Precious Blood.  

These battles between the demons and the victim souls are often epic, and terrible to witness or to even read of.   Just one of many examples we will document below be that of St Gemma Galgani, who died in 1903. The devil, in the form of either a hideous, hairy, ape like man or sometimes in the form of a black dog who would grab her by the hair and rip her out of bed onto the floor, taking out clumps of hair in the process, and would proceed to beat her mercilessly, dislocating her shoulder among many other things in the process, horribly cursing God and shouting “War! War against you and your spiritual director!” (Those interested can read about Gemma’s epic battles against the demonic here). 

But for the many reasons that God allows such diabolic and hellish attacks in the lives of the mystics, certainly one of these reasons is to teach us to have a great horror for grave sin.  And so let us contemplate a few of these battles of the mystics vs. the demons, so as to gain some new perspectives on the beneficial fear that we should have within ourselves for sin.

A representation of a hairy, ape like man
The demons apparitions under different forms and what they mean
Before we get started with the stories of these epic spiritual battles in the lives of a number of 20th century Saints, it is very important to note that Satan and perhaps a good number of the higher ranking demons can appear in most any form imaginable--commonly called "phantasms", the demons can visibly appear as any variety of animals and animal-like creatures, as Angels, Saints, the Virgin Mary and even as Jesus Christ Himself, as we shall see in the stories below. However, in this writers investigations of the lives of the mystics I would list the following as the most common forms. We should bear in mind that everything the devil and the demons do is in direct opposition to God and they often seek to mock God and anything that is holy and pertains to Him.
-Black ape or hairy man–Symbolizes satan’s mockery of Jesus, for he is really the "ape" of God.
-Black serpent or snake-  Symbolizes satan’s intelligence and cunning temptations (as in the book of Genesis)
-Large black cats and black dogs make their appearances quite often in the lives of the mystics. Their precise symbolism seems to be unknown, but they both are very often used in physical attacks. Note, the demonic black dog is not to be confused with the large grey dog who often mysteriously appeared in the life of St John Bosco and whom literally saved his life on several occasions.  
-Black human-shaped "shadow people" are also quite common, and are demons in "raw" form. Their purpose seems to be to terrorize and scare, hoping to lead the victim to despair.
-The devil has been often known to take on the form of a goat, to mock Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of humanity.

-Some of the Saints describe being watched by a pair of fiery-red glowing "burning" demonic eyes which contradicts the ever watchful "Eye of God", which itself symbolizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God, who watches over all things.
For example on July 2, 1961 the four children of Garabandal, Spain purportedly saw a very large "Eye of God" above and to the right of the Blessed Virgin Mary as She was appearing to them. After the apparition, each of the children individually all described this to be precisely the "Eye of God" who presumably was revealing to the children that He is watching over all events.. 
  
Stories of the great battles between the victim souls and the demons
Sr. Josefa Menendez
The devil drags Josefa Menendez into hell.

 “The devil will work assiduously to make you fall, but My grace is more powerful than his infernal malice” -Jesus to Josefa Menendez,  April 6, 1921

One of the many victim souls who had to undergo horrific attacks from the evil spirits was the Spanish born mystic, Josefa Menendez (1890-1923), who became a nun in France. The devil often appeared to her in the form of a terrifying black dog, a black snake, or in the form of a "shadow" man. 

On December 4th, 1921 Josefa was violently pulled from her bed and she was thrown to the ground, and then pummeled by a barrage of demonic blows she was
made to listen to abominable blasphemies against Our Lord and Our Lady. Long hours were so spent, and the torture renewed on the two following nights. After one such terrible night, she wrote on the morning of Tuesday, 6th December:
"Unable to bear any more, I knelt beside my bed, endeavouring to forget the horror of that malevolent voice insulting Our Lord and Our Lady. Suddenly I heard gnashing of teeth and a yell of rage. Then all vanished and before me stood Our Lady, all loveliness.
"Do not fear, my daughter; I am here."
"I told her how terrified I was of the devil, who made me suffer so much.
"He may torment you, but he has no power to harm you. His fury is very great on account of the souls that escape him . . . souls are of such great worth . . . If you but knew the value of a single soul!"
"Giving me her blessing, she said: 'Do not fear.' 
"I kissed her hand and she went away."

Later Jesus appeared to Josefa, and she immediately told Him of her greatest concern--the fear that in those hellish torments that her soul had lost something of its purity, or at any rate of its former innocence. "Because I never know anything about all those things with which the devil torments me."

Jesus replied to her: "Do not be afraid; your soul is steeped in My Blood, and none of that can stain it."
Then alluding to a specific word which more than once in the preceding days had given her strength: "Your Mothers have found the word . . . "Abandonment". The devil has no power but what is given him from on high. Tell your Mothers that I am supreme." 
[The "mothers" in the quote of Jesus given to Josefa refer to the Mother Superior of her convent and also the Mother Master of Novices who was personally responsible for Josefa during that time period. -Editor]

Nevertheless, the demons sought to discourage her from her mission of sacrificing and suffering for souls, and they endeavored by all means to drive her to despair, and she overheard them saying such things as:
“You will be one of us! ... we shall tire you out! ... we shall overcome you! ...Don't let go of her; be on your guard to plague her in any way you can! ... she must not escape!...we must induce her to despair! ...

And in the life of Josefa Menendez there occurred an even greater phenomenon that is very rare in the lives of the Saints: God permitted the devil to take her down to hell. There, in hell, she spent long hours, sometimes a whole night, in unspeakable agonies. Though she was dragged down into the bottomless pit more than a hundred times, each sojourn seemed to her to be the first, and appeared to last countless ages. 
She endured all the tortures of hell, with the one exception: that of the hatred of God. For Josefa, the most painful of these torments was to hear the horrid confessions of the damned, their cries of hatred, of pain and of despair.

Under the eyes of those in her convent, Josefa would suddenly disappear, and after long search she would be found thrown into some loft, or beneath heavy furniture, or in some unfrequented spot. In their
presence she was burnt, and without seeing the devil, they saw her clothes consumed and on her
body unmistakable traces of fire, which caused wounds that took very long to heal. Likewise the
effects of fire which burned her were seen on her garments and flesh; fragments of scorched
linen are still preserved to this day. Ten times in all Josefa was thus set on fire. She saw the devil vomit on her flames of which visible traces were seen not on her clothes only, but on her person. Painful wounds which took long to heal left on her body scars which she carried to the grave. The evil one suggested despairing thoughts, blasphemies, and wicked temptations that continued for days and nights, during which God hid Himself, and Josefa, bewildered, felt as if abandoned and at the mercy of the most ignoble and infamous of tormentors.

Yet, when at long last she came back to life, completely worn out and spent, her body
agonized with pain, she looked upon no suffering, however severe it may be, as too much to bear, "...if by it I should save a soul from that dreaded abode of torment."

"In the night of 16th March towards ten o'clock," wrote Josefa, "I became aware, as on the
preceding days, of a confused noise of cries and chains. I rose quickly and dressed, and
trembling with fright, knelt down near my bed. The uproar was approaching, and not knowing
what to do, I left the dormitory, and went to our Mother Superiors cell; then I came back to the
dormitory. The same terrifying sounds were all round me; then all of a sudden I saw in front of
me the devil himself."
"Tie her feet and bind her hands," he cried. . . .

"Instantly I lost sight of where I was, and felt myself tightly bound and being dragged away.

Other voices screamed: "It is no good to bind her feet; it is her heart that you must bind."
"It does not belong to me." came the answer from the devil.

"Then I was dragged along a very dark and lengthy passage, and on all sides resounded
terrible cries. On opposite sides of the walls of this narrow corridor were niches out of which
poured smoke, though with very little flame, and which emitted an intolerable stench. From
these recesses came blaspheming voices, uttering impure words. Some cursed their bodies,
others their parents. Others, again reproached themselves with having refused grace, and not
avoided what they knew to be sinful. It was a medley of confused screams of rage and despair. I
was dragged through that kind of corridor, which seemed endless. Then I received a violent
punch which doubled me in two, and forced me into one of the niches. I felt as if I were being
pressed between two burning planks and pierced through and through with scorching needle
points. Opposite and beside me souls were blaspheming and cursing me. What caused me most
suffering . . . and with which no torture can be compared, was the anguish of my soul to find
myself separated from God. . . .

"It seemed to me that I spent long years in that hell, yet it lasted only six or seven hours. . . .
Suddenly I was violently pulled out of the niche, and I found myself in a dark place; after
striking me, the devil disappeared and left me free. . . . How can I describe my feelings on
realizing that I was still alive, and could still love God!

"I do not know what I am not ready to endure to avoid hell, in spite of my fear of pain. I see
clearly that all the sufferings of earth are nothing in comparison with the horror of no longer
being able to love, for in that place all breathes hatred and thirst to damn other souls."
(Taken primarily from "Josefa Menendez, The Way of Divine Love"; TAN Books and Publishers, Inc, 1981)

St Padre Pio
The devil versus St Padre Pio
"The tempter, ever on the watch, wages war most violently against those whom he sees most careful to avoid sin"  -St. Leo the Great, died, 461.

Many people throughout the world are well aware of the Italian priest affectionately named "Padre Pio" who bore the stigmata for exactly 50 years and 3 days---longer than any known stigmatic in the history of the Catholic church. The miracles God wrought through this holy Capuchin friar are also well known. But surely what is less known about him are the many demonic battles he was forced to undergo to snatch souls from the demons. 

Padre Pio spent countless hours each day hearing the confessions of sinners, and the devil was to make him pay for bringing souls to Jesus. Father Joseph Martin, O.F.M. Cap. who was Padre Pio's close companion the last three years of his life tells the story of how one night the devil beat Padre Pio so severely that he fell on the floor of his cell and cut his head quite badly. The next morning, when Father Martin came to his aid and asked what had happened, Padre had told him how the devil had beat him. Furthermore, a blood-stained pillow, which is kept to this day in his cell at Our Lady of Grace Friary had been found underneath the Padre's head. When asked where all the blood on it came from, he claimed that the Blessed Virgin Mary had placed it under his head during the night, while She consoled and comforted him.

But there were many other times where Padre Pio was beaten by the demons, as stated in his letters to his spiritual director:
"The ogre [devil] won't admit defeat. He has appeared in almost every form. For the past few days he has paid me visits along with some of his satellites armed with clubs and iron weapons and, what is worse, in their own form as devils. I cannot tell you how many times he has thrown me out of bed, and dragged me around the room. But never mind! Jesus, our dear Mother, my little Angel, St. Joseph and our father St. Francis are almost always with me .... (Letter to Padre Agostino, Jan. 18, 1912.)

The devil does not cease to appear to me in his horrible forms and to beat me in the most terrible manner .... (Letter to Padre Agostino, March 21, 1912.)

I had a very bad time the night before last; from about 10pm, when I was in bed, until five o'clock in the morning, that wretch did nothing but beat me continually. At five in the morning, when that wretch left me, my whole body became so cold that I trembled from head to foot like a reed exposed to a violent wind. This lasted for a couple of hours. I spat blood .... (Letter to Padre Agostino, June 28, 1912.)

The beloved Mystic & Stigmatic, St Padre Pio
Listen to what I had to endure a few evenings ago from those impure apostates. The night was already well advanced when they began their attack with  the most hellish noises, and although I saw nothing in the beginning, I understood who was making the strange noise. Instead of being frightened, I got ready to fight them with a scornful smile on my lips. Then they appeared to me in the most abominable forms and to make me act dishonorably they began to present themselves to me all dressed up [as a woman], but, thank heaven, I scolded them severely and treated them as they deserve. 

Then, when they saw all their efforts going up in smoke, they hurled themselves on me, threw me to the ground and proceeded to beat me very severely, throwing pillows, books and chairs around the room, with desperate shrieks and most obscene lan­guage .... (Letter to Padre Agostino, Jan. 18, 1913.)

They flung themselves upon me like so many hungry tigers, curs­ing me and threatening to make me pay for it. My dear Father, they kept their word! From that day onward they have beaten me every day .... (Letter to Padre Agostino, Feb. 1,1913.)

Jesus never stops loving me in spite of all my shortcomings, for he allows those ugly-faced creatures to afflict me incessantly. For the past twenty-two days Jesus has allowed them to vent their anger on me continually. My body, dear Father, is bruised all over, from all the blows it has received at the hands of our ene­mies. More than once they even went so far as to pull off my nightshirt and beat me in that state .... (Letter to Padre Agostino, Feb. 13, 1913.)

Satan with his malignant ways never tires of waging war on me and attacking my little citadel, besieging it on all sides. In a word, Satan is for me like a powerful foe who, when he resolves to capture a fortress is not content to attack one wall or one ram­part, but surrounds it entirely, attacks and torments it on every side .... (Letter to Padre Benedetto, Aug. 4,1917.)

So far we have seen how Lucifer is a frightening adversary, most especially for the victim souls who are called to suffer for the conversion of sinners. The devil is in fact very powerful and should be taken seriously. In closing with St Padre Pio, let us read his words which tells us just how powerful a enemy we have in the devil:
"We must have no illusions about the enemy who is exceedingly strong, if we do not intend to surrender. In the light infused by God the soul understands the great danger to which it is exposed, if it is not continually on its guard". -Letter to Padre Agostino, St Padre Pio,  May 9,1915. 

Sr. Josefa Menendez
The devil tries to appear in disguise as Jesus 
It should be of no wonder to us that the demons often try to appear as Angels, Saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary or even Jesus Himself, since the Scriptures themselves warn us to be on our guard, stating that "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light".  [2 Corinthians 11:14]. 

In light of this we see how in her journal Josefa Menendez writes:
"On the night of the 13th or 14th of January, 1922 that the devil began once more to torture me. He tried to force me to abandon my vocation. In his increasing fury he even tried to ensnare me by taking on the appearance of Jesus ."  

In fact the devil continued to try to appear as Jesus so to remedy this problem her spiritual director, Father Boyer O.P. at first had her renew her profession vows [as a nun] whenever a "heavenly" visitor would appear, and later upon the appearance of any "visitor" he told her to recite the 'Divine Praises' of which she asked the visitors to repeat after her. In their great pride and hatred for God the demons could never utter any of the "Blessings" of the Divine Praises [ie- the "Blessed be God" and "Blessed be Jesus Christ" etc..] 

Josefa's spiritual director most assuredly discovered this new powerful weapon against the demons disguises from the life of St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903), for it was precisely through the reciting of the "Divine Praises" that Gemma was finally able to thwart the devil who was frequently appearing to her under different disguises in an effort to deceive her. For as Gemma learned (thanks to her spiritual director, Venerable Fr. Germanus C.P.) that the devil with his polluted lips is never able to utter such words of praise and benediction.


In the life of Blessed Alexandrina da Costa (1904-1955) --a Portuguese mystic and stigmatic of whom we will speak more about below---we read another occurrence of the devil making himself out to be Jesus. In this case Blessed Alexandrina writes:
“Every now and then I see a rapid light. Twice I have seen two very big eyes, wide open, staring at me, but they disappeared quickly. On Sunday, I heard a very sweet voice saying, 'My daughter, I come to tell you not to write anything of what you see: your sight is deceiving you. Don't you feel how weak you are? You displease me with this; it is your Jesus who speaks to you, not Satan.' 
I was suspicious and began to kiss the crucifix. The voice became enraged and thundered, 'If you continue to write I will destroy your body. Do you think I cannot do this?' (From the writings of Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, 1934)


St Gemma Galgani 
The devil appears as a Priest -Two cases
"Go ahead and pray for yourself, but if you pray for others I will make you pay dearly for it! -Lucifer to St Gemma Galgani
The attacks that the demons waged against the Italian mystic and stigmatic St Gemma Galgani are legendary. Known for her extraordinary virtues and a deep love for Jesus and Mary, Gemma was only 25 when she died in 1903 having reached a high degree of sanctity. The devil appeared to her in many different forms: a hairy man and a black dog--both of whom would beat her mercilessly; a black "panther" like cat; and as an "angel" resplendent with light. 

The devil even carried these wicked disguises so far as to feign to be a priest to whom Gemma used to make her confession to--Monsignor Giovanni Volpi, a priest whom she had known for almost her entire life! She had gone one day to Church, and while preparing herself to make her confession, she saw that Monsignor Volpi was already in the confessional, a fact which caused her to momentarily wonder, having not seen him pass and enter. At the same time she began to feel very much disturbed in spirit, as generally happened to her when in the presence of the malignant spirits. 


She entered the confessional however, and began her confession as usual. The voice and ways were indeed those of the confessor she knew since childhood, but his words and advice were not pious, and were accompanied by improper gestures. “My God” she exclaimed, “what has happened?”

At such a sight and at such words the angelic child trembled, and realizing it was the devil in disguise, she hurriedly left the confessional, and saw as she did so that the pretended "confessor" had disappeared. She knew then that it was the devil, who by his coarse and fiendish ways had sought to deceive her, or at least make her lose all confidence in the minister of God.
St Dominic

In the life of St Dominic (1170-1221), the great founder of the Dominican Order, we read the following:
"The servant of God, who had neither bed nor cell of his own, had publicly commanded his fellow Priests and Brothers that they should retire to bed at a certain hour, so as to be able to arise at a later hour for Matins, and as their superior and the founder of their Community his instructions, of course, were strictly obeyed. 

Now, at that time Dominic, the holy man  of God, had no bed or cell, and rested before the Lord in the church, the devil appeared before him in the form of one of his fellow religious, and since it was past the prohibited time, the Saint went softly up to him, and expressed his desired for him to go to his cell, and sleep with the others.

The pretended friar inclined his head in sign of humble obedience, and went as he was told; but on each of the two following nights, he returned at the same hour and in the same manner. The second time, the man of God rose very gently (although, indeed, he had reason to be somewhat angry, seeing he had already reminded his fellow priest the night before), and again asked him to go to his cell for rest. Once again, he went; but in the same manner the following evening he returned yet a third time. 

Then it seemed to the Saint that the disobedience and pertinacity of this brother priest was too great, and he reproved him with some severity; and the demon, who desired nothing else but to disturb his prayer, stir anger within him, and move him to break the silence, gave a loud laugh, and, leaping high into the air, he said:
"I have made you break the silence, and moved you to wrath!" 

But Dominic calmly replied, 'Not so, for as superior of the Community I have power to dispense; and neither is it blameworthy wrath when I utter reproofs unto the disobedient.' 

And with this truthful reply the demon was obliged to fly.
(Taken from "The Life of Saint Dominic" by August Theodosia Drane, published by TAN Books and Publishers)


The devil appears as a Saint
In his memoirs, the holy Benedictine Abbott Guibert of Nogent (1055-1124) tells of a story of a compatriot of his who unfortunately for him had sexual relations outside of marriage. Afterwards, having felt deep remorse for the grave sin that he had committed, he decided to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint James of Galicia to seek the Saints holy intercession, as Saint James was very popular in that locale at that time.

After having set off on his pilgrimage, he was suddenly surprised by a vision of Saint James of Galicia (that is, the Saint in whom he was invoking on his pilgrimage). Impressed by this surprising vision he listened attentively to the “Saint” who with a stern voice and forceful appearance reminded the man of the Gospel teaching “If you hand causes you to sin, cut it off” [Matt 5:30] and thus told the man that he needed to take his knife and cutoff his private part, in reparation for his sin. Immediately the man did so, out of obedience.

A few moments later, after having recovered somewhat from his self induced injury, the “Saint” then told the man that it was necessary for him to now cut his throat.  Fearing the anger of God and that of the “Saint” the man then raised the knife to his throat, when suddenly there appeared before him the Blessed Virgin Mary, who looking directly at the man simply stated “NO!”   Next the Blessed Virgin turned to the “Saint” apparition, and upon setting Her heavenly gaze upon the “Saint”, it let out a angry shriek and then suddenly disappeared.   Thus we see how in this instance the Blessed Virgin Mary Herself interceded and put an end to the demons ruse. 


Blessed Alexandrina da Costa
The Devil versus Alexandrina da Costa
Among the many mystics and stigmatists in the Church of recent memory is Blessed Alexandrina da Costa (1904-1955). The malevolent spirits waged a hellish war against her to try to get her to abandon her mission as a victim soul. Here are a few examples of the demonic attacks:
"There are days when the devil makes me feel so exhausted and puts so many evil suggestions and doubts into my mind, that were it not for the goodness of God, he would have won over me already... He has tempted me so much that on some days I feel that Hell itself is about to engulf me. He urges me to kill myself, and says he will give me the means to do this without any pain. He adds that I am suffering here for no recompense, that Our Lord does not love me at all, that my spiritual director does not believe a word of what I write to him, that what I hear and feel within myself when Our Lord speaks to me is caused by the weather, or by my illness."

Alexandrina was tormented by these demonic verbal assaults for many years. Here is another example of the diabolical attacks:
“If it were not for that imposter which you hold in your hand I would put a foot on your neck. [Alexandrina was holding a crucifix] I would reduce your body to a pulp. But you will see that He will do this to you himself. You will then wish to come to me, but I will not accept you. Thank that object of superstition [crucifix] ... I don't fear it anymore, but I hate it!

And yet another:
“Excommunication! A thousand excommunications if you continue to write to your spiritual director! Already you are burning in Hell. Be converted, unhappy one! Be converted, miserable wretch! It is the affection I have for you that makes me speak in this way. I come now from your Christ who told me to take you, because he can no longer save you. He was distressed by your writings....

And here is one of the demons many physical appearances to Alexandrina:
“One moonlit night after prayers I felt a need to sleep, when suddenly into my room came a great darkness ... I perceived a black shadow and saw it jump towards me, and it said to me, 'I come on behalf of your Christ to carry you to Hell, bed and all.' 
I kissed the crucifix and the voice continued, 
'You kiss that wicked thing!' 
He then tried to order me to do things that I cannot speak of ... It was only when I blessed myself with holy water that I was left in peace...."

(Primary source for the above quotes is from “Alexandrina da Costa: The Agony and the Glory” by Francis Johnston, TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1979.)

Names that the mystics used for the devil
The nicknames that some of the Saints had for the devil would be humorous, if only this matter was not so serious and the devil was not as wicked as he is, and hell bent on destroying us and damning our souls. 

St John Vianney, the holy Cure of Ars, nicknamed the devil "Grappin", which literally means "the wrestler". This was in fact a very suitable term since the devil often attacked him at night, and even tried to burn his straw bed while the Saint was lying in it!  St Padre Pio called the devil the "Ogre", which means "hairy, beast-like man". St Gemma called the devil "Chiappino", which is the equivalent of "burglar" or "thief". 
Marthe Robin

Other Saints who were oppressed by the demons
Those interested in further exploring this subject can find more of these events in the lives of Marthe Robin (1902-1981) -in her case, the devil was so enraged over her joining the Third Order of St. Francis that he had struck her a blow to the face, breaking two of her teeth, also Therese Neumann of Konnerseuth (1898-1962), Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) who once received blows to the face from the devil who appeared to her, like he also did to St Gemma, that is, in the form of a large black dog, St Teresa of Avila, St Joseph or Copertino, St Paul of the Cross and St Dominic, just to name a few of the many.

Additionally, those interested in this subject may find the following articles very interesting:
St Gemma versus the devil and also How to get rid of evil spirits
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"The devil, in the form of a great black dog, put his paws upon my shoulders, making every bone in my body ache. At times I believed that he would mangle me; then one time, when I was blessing myself with holy water, he twisted my arm so cruelly that I fell to the ground in great pain. After a while I remembered that I had around my neck the relic of the Holy Cross. Making the Sign of the Cross, I became calm. Jesus let me see Himself, but only for a short time, and He strengthened me anew to suffer and struggle." -St Gemma Galgani

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

The power of satan is frightening. He is the best at deceiving us. He even comes disguised as the Mother of God. He can perform wonders so people can say 'it must be from heaven as I saw a miracle'.

2 Corinthians 11:14
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Matthew 24:24-25
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Tony S said...

But also remember that the power of God is no match for the wiles of the devil

holy spirit within said...

After reading Hesse attacks I thank God that my trials Aew minor. I use the prayer dear Jesus will you take that pitchfork and put it where the sun does not shine. That works for me

Unknown said...

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

O Mary, your bitter tears
my heart do pierce
Our Mother is crying
Her Son is dying
to save us humanity
from complete insanity.
At the foot of the Cross
for words I feel at a loss
our sins are causing You distress
I'm begging You for forgiveness
I offer You my fears and mishap
crawling on Your Mother's lap
O my Jesus, I need You, I need You
satan plans coup after coup
to destroy me, hoping I'd revolt
he scares me like a thunderbolt
but while walking in Your footstep
on satan's knuckles I will rap
enough, enough, I do tell him
the cup is stored unto the brim.
Kneeling at His cross's foot
Jesus tells me to stay put
"Let My Graces thee overflow
My Cross gave satan the final blow"
I love you so much My child
and while dying He even smiled.
Thank You, Mary for this gift,
and by this my soul did lift.

Rita Biesemans, Good Friday 3/29/2013

Unknown said...



Feast Day of Saint Michael

Saint Michael, my Hero
stay at my side
reduce satan to zero
the one puffed up with pride

Fight with me, Saint Michael,
guide me in the Spiritual Battle
help me in this reprisal cycle
to silence the viper's rattle

Satan is a murderer and a thief
he steals away God's Creation
he leads man to erroneous belief
he is vicious, a vile abomination

Saint Michael, "Who is as God" !
let your battle-cry be heard
using your sword as a prod
you disperse all of satan's herd

Safely protected under your wings
we will defy his spiritual plunder
we will escape his poisonous stings
YOU,cast him forever,deep down under

Saint Michael Pray For Us
Rita Biesemans, 5-8-2013

Unknown said...


THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

If you follow the Master
the world will reject you
as it rejects the Pastor
with a lot of ballyhoo

The disciple is NOT above the Master
nor the servant above his Lord
the world is heading for a disaster
the Creator is ready to have it restored

The Queen of Heaven comes to warn
us poor children of naughty Eve
if we don’t listen, we’ll surely mourn
in an “eternity” full of grief

Each one of us is free to decide
whether to follow God or a worldly path
whether to be humble or full of pride
whether to be full of Love or full of wrath

The Righteous Judge keeps patiently
inviting His children to choose wisely
but most of us refuse blatantly
to follow His Commandments very precisely


He who will not hear, will feel .

Rita Biesemans, December 12 2013, the Feast Day of La Virgen de Guadalupe

Unknown said...

CONVERSATION WITH JESUS IN THE HOLY TABERNACLE

I can live without fancy goods
without flamboyant cloths or foods
but not without my Jesus, my God, my Lord
My Master, my Savior, my eternal Reward

Although You, I don’t deserve
don’t let me make the swerve
from the saving, Heavenly route
I would be lost without a doubt

I hear You say : I set you apart
feel the beating of My Heart
it beats with love for you
believe it or not, but it is true

Ask Me everyday for this gift
for My love for you knows no thrift
for you I still have so much in store
but first go close the back door

I won’t allow you to escape
from the stage of the great reshape
once completed I might call you home
freed from the human pressure dome.

Thank you, My daughter for visiting Me, for consoling Me in MY loneliness

Rita Biesemans, December 15 2013

Unknown said...

PERSECUTION 

Woe,   Woe,   Woe
satan is using a hoe
to attack us and destroy
hidden in the horse of Troy

he puts on a "friendly face"
for,  "just in case"
we fall into his trap
he can deride us in his lap

Following You, our heavenly Boss,
on the way of the Cross
satan always lies in wait
to entice us with his bait

As he has only a short time left
his behavior becomes very deft
enticing as many as he can get
to lure them in his evil drag-net

But I know, oh my Lord
that I try to strike a chord
to elicit Your intervention
to keep satan in detention

Impatiently waiting for Your return
which we still need to earn
free us from the snares of the devil
push him back to the lowest level

In God we trust
Rita Biesemans November 5 2013

Unknown said...

HOLY WEEK APRIL 2009

Many a word has never been spoken
but in the silence of my heart
Many a battle has never been fought
but on the battlefield of my soul
Many a tear has never been dried
but by the dryness I feel in myself
Many a cry has never been heard
but by the One Who hears and consoles.

Rita Biesemans Holy Week April 2009

Anonymous said...

These are scary stories, in a way, yet knowing this is what the great saints have done to wage battle for souls is inspiring, and strengthens my resolve not to sin. I wonder how many graces are won and souls suddenly feel remorse for sins, (as has happened to me), that were gained by a saint suffering these things hidden somewhere now on the earth. May God strengthen and bless His best warriors. Blessed be God!!

Timothius said...

Just a quick note to Rita Biesemans who post the poems...is there a web address we can get your poems...they are very good. My grandfather was a 32 degree Freemason (satanic) and I'm pretty sure that's why I've been attacked by demons my whole life...the confusion, the depression, the anxiety is very palpable...also unexplained evil coincidences. My salvation is Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary and Confession. These work best for me. Godbless!

Unknown said...

Thimotius, several people advised me to have my poems published. (I have 60 in English, plenty in Dutch, French and 2 in Spanish) The last days I really have been thinking of it . There is so much misery in this world and especially young people lost all Godly ways of living. I would love to read them out loud, because life isn't easy especially not in our days of age. I feel so sorry for people who suffer spiritually, when I treat my patients I try to bring God's love to them not by preaching but by giving loving care. Nowadays the only thing they get are meds and stern social workers. Heart became rock hard and ice cold. If you want try the site Nethugs.com I posted all my poems on there.
I'll think of you Timothius.Stay strong. Rita

Unknown said...

Eli Eli
lama sabachtani !
Is that what you think, My child ?
calm down, trust Me, don't be riled
I am always at your side,
don't forget, also for you I died.
The world makes a lot of noise
those who don't follow, it gladly destroys.
I work in silence to open the doors
I will provide you the perfect oars
to steer your boat in My direction
which will request a lot of circumspection.
For you I don't set exorbitant expectations
nor turn away when I see your frustrations
I never promised you life would be easy
more often than not it can be very cheesy.
Stay with Me, My child, don't ever leave Me
I hold you tight each time you want to flee
you are so much Mine, I need you, I need you
when it's difficult I pull you through.
I promised you the victory
which presently might seem contradictory
but know My child that GOD NEVER LIES
the way I will act will be a surprise.
Come rest at My Heart while My Love is mounting
and every hair on your head I have been counting.
Walk in My footsteps it's your only security
to continue your life in innocence and purity.
This world is heading for total destruction
'cause it surrendered to the evil one's seduction.
Offer Me all your doubts and hardships
and I will turn them into Divine Worships.
I wait for you, My daughter
to refresh your soul with My Salvation Water.

Your Jesus, Your Lord and Savior who loves you more than you can imagine.
Rita Biesemans June 17th 2013

Unknown said...

To TIMOTHIUS : this is a comment I wrote a year or 2 ago to an article about Freemasonry :
Rita Biesemans has something to say to this :
In my last year of nursing school (late 60's)I had to write a dissertation for Philosophy. Since I'm Jewish via my mother, my father and my husband (we are Catholic-Jews) I wrote about the facts leading to how we viewed and treated our Jewish patients in Antwerp. I interviewed rich and poor, thus a lot of different social levels. One of them was an MD working @ 1 of our hospitals. His father was 33-rd degree mason of the Bnei Brith (jewish freemasons). He was saying :"soon the church bells won't be allowed to ring anymore. We atheists are offended by being woken up on Sunday mornings by the church bells they remind us of God and Jesus". Sometime later : NOT A SINGLE CHURCH BELL WAS RINGING !! And it is still like that. I just read that Belgium is providing millions of Euro's government money to the Islam to build more mosques in that country and they can call to prayer x5 a day and that's a lot of decibels, I guarantee you.
On another occasion, an MD, professor@the "Free(mason) University of Brussels", he being a HIGH RANKED FREEMASON and one of the first in the world performing IVF and CLONING, head of our OB-department,said to me one night (while waiting to do a delivery) : how long are we fighting against the Catholic Church? Almost a 100 years now and I tell you before the year 2000, they won't speak about the Catholic Church anymore etc... At that moment I heard our Lady of La Salette say : a period of a 100 years will be given to the devil.....Oh yes satan knows he's come at the end which makes him like a roaring lion raging all over the world. IN GOD WE TRUST.

Unknown said...

TO TIMOTHIUS

HOW TO WAGE SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE DESERT

My soul is dwindling in the desert
Each step I take may be a hazard
Loneliness is my companion
But Jesus rather is the Champion
of total abandonment and solitude
that's how we show Him our gratitude

Rita Biesemans, September 14th 2011

Unknown said...

TO TIMOTHIUS ABOUT FREEMASONRY
When I was in 2nd year High School Latin-Greek Humanities in a nun-run boarding school in the 1950"s, we had the ''SPEKPATER' (type his name in on Wikipedia and you'll find who he was) preaching during one of our yearly retreat weeks. One day he told us : "For know that there are priests being trained and formed at the KRIM (Russia) to infiltrate the Church, to spread false teachings in order to corrupt and ruin the Church." This made such an impact and impression on my soul that I will never forget it. Rita Biesemans

in the 1980's a Church in Brussels opened her doors to the socialist party to hold their spaghetti feast. They used the church to cook and the altars to eat on a A colleague (in those days) nurse-midwife of mine who was a fervent freemason and socialist told me : " I put my child on the altar and told her dance on it, trample on it as hard as you can and she enjoyed seeing her do this"!!!!. "Shame on the Judas in our Church who opened the doors for such an event." But yes as they so proudly said after Vatican II : the Pyramid is turned upside down, before the people=the basis all pointed to the point of the Pyramid, to God. Now we have the basis (the people) up and the point (God) at the bottom.(a student-nurse colleague of mine who was a seminarian before but left said that's what they taught them as seminarians)
The purification of the Church and the World has become inevitable.
By the way I was not allowed to wear my Cross around my neck but that freemason charge nurse wore proudly her torch with the 6 happy humans around her neck. Nobody said anything, of course not they could do whatever they wanted. It was awful I cried and cried out to the Lord to take me away from there. He did, I'm here now 20 years, and now I see the things deteriorating in the USA.

John H. Carmichael said...

Timothius, Please consider reading Father Joe Ssemakula's book "Healing of Families" on the subject of renouncing some of the bad effects of Freemasonry. At the end of the book is a series of deliverance prayers, one quite specific on Freemasonry. You can prepare to say these prayers with a Catholic Priest. It is customary to say a deliverance prayer such as this in the presence of a Priest as the representative of Christ's Holy Church, since many of the Satanic oaths taken by Freemasons are taken in the presence of the "worshipful master," etc. I am sorry you are suffering but there is something tangible you can do to renounce some of these effects. May God's blessings be upon you.

Anonymous said...

What are the Divine Praises?

Glenn Dallaire said...

Hi Anonymous,
The Divine Praises are a litany of Praises to the Holy Trinity which makes reparation for blasphemies against God. Many of the Saints loved to say them.

The Divine Praises:

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.
Amen. +

Anonymous said...

Pray Psalms 67 and 54. Pray a blessed Rosary daily.

Anonymous said...

LORD HAVE MERCY.

there's way too many good people posting about demons/demonic forces.
WHOA.
step back.
WHY ARE YOU GIVING AUTHORITY TO SATAN and his minions ?

sure he's for real BUT ....
c'mon guys-Jesus did NOT LEAVE YOU POWERLESS.

stop letting the demon "drive" as they say,you give satan a ride,he winds up driving.

pull over and STOP--literally.
stop going on and on about him and his trash.
you are magnifying IT.

There is NOTHING more powerful THAN ALMIGHTY GOD,THE NAME OF JESUS etc.

STOP giving the demons authority and panic and fear-
LAUGH AT HIM AND WORSHIP GOD.
pray.
read SCriptures.

FEEL GODLY--refresh yourselves IN PRAISE.

and definitely our priests and sanctified saints were troubled but never forget--it did NOT STOP THEM and they didn't go on and on about IT either.amen.

watch what happens.


resist the devil and??? he MUST FLEE.

cast down imaginations etc etc.

Unknown said...

to : Timothius,rita ,john and unknown and anonymous : lets persevere and loved the rosary .though all of us here are millions away, we will be united in prayer, the world is at stake. only few sees the situation.

Anonymous said...

Read Psalm 91 out before you go to bed every night.. Replace the "thou" with "I", the "thee" with "me" and, the "thy" and "thine" with "my". Basically, make it a self-confessional prayer straight out of the Holy Bible. Also, you can say: "Lord Jesus, cover me and mine with your Precious Blood as we go to sleep now. And, send your Angels to surround, protect and defend us physically and spiritually." Jesus Loves and has given you all the weapons you need to keep the devil at arm's length. GOD BLESS..

Anonymous said...

Perhaps someone can help me. I read something on this website but now I cannot find it again. I thought it was on this page but I didn't see it. I saw something where it talks about these people the victim souls and that demons attach themselves to them and the victims fight and defeat them so that these same demons cannot hurt others. Not word for word or anything but it was something like that. Can anyone help me? Thank you for any help you can offer.

Glenn Dallaire said...

I believe the article you are looking for on this website is called Mary Crushes the Serpent and it is located here:
Mary Crushes the Serpent

May God bless you and your loved ones,
Glenn Dallaire

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

For the past few years I have been experiencing these attacks ,where one night awaken by the cement cross which i had hanging on the wall ,laying on the floor by my feet... I cut my long beautiful hair few weeks ago while saying a concecretion prayer to the heart of Jesus and 10 minutes after ,I had to endure a second degree burn on my right hand and been riushed to the hospital.
The devil is there to disorient and disturb us and he hates it when we keep holding strong to our Lord.

nancy said...

Hi Glenn,
How do you find a spiritual director? I have been praying for one for years. I have talked to several priests but I don't feel confortable with any. How do you discern this?
Thank you

Glenn Dallaire said...


Hi Nancy,
Well, from your short message, on the basic level it does sound to me like you are going about it correctly using prayer and careful discernment. I can't give too much advice in this area, simply because my own experience here is limited. I currently do not have a spiritual director, and in the past I have had only one, and he is currently now in Quebec, Canada. Surely this is one of those things where it is for us to propose, and God to dispose. In other words, God has to arrange it according to His holy will and in His time. And I would think that you will know by the peace in your heart when the time and person that God has selected comes along. Just my .02 cents, for whatever it is worth.

May God bless you and your loved ones,
Glenn Dallaire

JMJ_servant said...

Tony, I think you have that the wrong way around!!! God no match for satan!!!?

Unknown said...

I have encountered demons for several times already some would be in disguise: black cats, dark shadow, my brothers' voice, a swarm of flies or mosquitoes while on deep prayers little black smoke appearing nowhere while praying, a single thump sound on the roof or inside the ceiling whenever on a deep prayer, mimicking the noise of the neighbor, sudden putrid smell, a huge black serpent on my dreams sometimes they're plenty of them swarming, most of the time they don't disguise they just flaunt how they look like smiling or laughing, some would uttering chants on me while I try to sleep, or I could have a migraine that last for 3-days which cannot be remedy by the usual medicine I'm taking, or sometimes they able to enter my body while I'm asleep doing weird/bizarre actions like tongue moving outside to my mouth or just laughing and I woke up due to the noise my mouth did, sometimes when my colleagues' took a picture of me with the group my face appear differently which made me had a struck feelings - but now I am more stronger in faith the demonic apparition much lesser compare before I learned how to call/ invoke St. Michael intercession and my Guardian Angel, also Blessed Virgin Mary. Don't be afraid brethren it always the last resort of Satan if he cannot win us into bait like drugs or sex addiction, or fail to commit suicide he will not stop but he can be tired. May the love of eternal and almighty Father and creator of everything poured to us all the time. Amen! Amen! Amen!

Unknown said...

Will post my writings soon
Patricia Rain Sudworth

Unknown said...

Pray for the souls in purgatory. Gods promise 1000 souls are released every time St Gertrudes prayer is said. Say them on the rosary beads Great honor to Mary (Star Of The Sea)Mary and Holy Souls will help you
Patricia Rain Sudworth

Unknown said...

I would be honored to be an advocate for the souls in purgatory. Personally I release 100,000 plus a day and offer up all my sufferings for them and God .
The devil is vicious but God has given me divine insight and Grace.
Patricia Rain Sudworth

Unknown said...

I am sad to hear of their suffering and wonder why our heavely Father allows this. I stumbled onto this page wonering about my life long sufferimg and the battle in my life especially over near n dear to my heart. This constant battle over souls and my role in helping the dying turn to Jesus. Why has is all been so difficult such a struggle. The more hermit like I become trying to remove my life from worldly sin the more difficult it becomes to go on at times. Other times it is a great reprieve from the pain and mans inhumanity to man.

Unknown said...

I can spell and am sorry for the typos.

Anonymous said...

I'm catholic and have faith but i often wonder how God did not let satan touch him, also in the scripture i believe Saint John says that they cannot touch you only tempt us also the 12 disciples never said they were physically attacked, I'm not saying that what was said by these mystics never happened but i know that people are easily fooled,what they believe to be bad is really good and what is good is really bad, only God knows what's really in someone's heart, i believe that if we get to Heaven because not everyone will, the door is narrow, i believe what we were told to believe might not be that way, that maybe a few great mystics might still be waiting to get in, i believe were going to be surprised at what was real and what was false,God bless eveyone here. PAUL

Paul Loya said...

What i left out was Job,God did not allow Satan to touch him

Unknown said...

I have prayed for many people, through this satan has tormented my heart and soul for a really long time, the harder I prayed, the more severe his torments became. I am no saint, but I believe as a victim soul, I have accomplished Gods expectations accordingly.

Anonymous said...

"Michael Archangel, defend us in battle! Be our protection, Michael, against the malice and the snares of the devil! And thou, prince of the heavenly host, by the Divine Power, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who try to destroy us, body and soul." By the Blood of the Lamb offered to the Father through the Spirit, God already won! Have no fear! Trust!

Unknown said...

Feast Day of Saint Michael

Saint Michael, my Hero
stay at my side
reduce satan to zero
the one puffed up with pride

Fight with me, Saint Michael,
guide me in the Spiritual Battle
help me in this reprisal cycle
to silence the viper's rattle

Satan is a murderer and a thief
he steals away God's Creation
he leads man to erroneous belief
he is vicious, a vile abomination

Saint Michael, "Who is as God" !
let your battle-cry be heard
using your sword as a prod
you disperse all of satan's herd

Safely protected under your wings
we will defy his spiritual plunder
we will escape his poisonous stings
YOU,cast him forever,deep down under

Saint Michael Pray For Us
Rita Biesemans, written 5-8-2013

Unknown said...

To Timotheus

A WORLD IN WORSHIP OF SATAN

Not a single day passes without killings
done in the most cold and horrific ways
each country has its dangerous villains
driven to perform their latest craze

Satan is a murderer and a thief
he is spitting God in His Face
he’s the devils commander in chief
in the war against the human race

The world drenched in total insanity
is guided by leaders in moral decay
causing the demise of us, humanity
bringing us closer to Judgment Day

O Lord, our Creator and Savior
how long will You let this go on
block this disgusting behavior
of our new luciferian Babylon

The world is a dangerous place
morals are under satan’s antenna
loving God is seen as a disgrace
they choose to live in a Gehenna

Satan knows his empire will end
thus works like crazy to collect
plenty of souls out of God’s Hand
but soon his plans will be wrecked.

Patiently, - not always though o:( - waiting for
Jesus’ return.
Rita Biesemans, July 30 2016

Anonymous said...

Fear Not! For Fear is the air the devil and his demons breathe!
By Fearing them you actually empower them, as a school yard bully is empowered by the fear he instills in a weaker victim.
Expect endless tricks and deceit. Fore it's all they know. And they will project these things into your mind, your dreams and surroundings. Desires of every kind, blasphemies to guilt and shame you before God when they are not even your thoughts. All in order to enslave you and mankind. I have learned we were all born into a war. Satan's Jealousy war on God. He and his fallen disciples hate God. And you can see those influences on man and the state of the world, and how people hate God as well. I find it ironic sometimes that, all I want to do is enjoy Gods creation, and these mockers and destroyers only want to destroy us (humanity)to get back at God. They hate the fact that there are consequences(God Laws)for their actions. And you can see this reverberate in humanity, as so many people don't want to take responsibility for their actions. As though ignoring the consequences of Gods Eternal Laws and God Himself will make those consequences not happen. lol.. He only gave us 10 Commandments. We should strive to keep them everyday and work on our own salvation internally as well. I by No means consider myself a saint in anyway shape or form. Yet know God communicates with average every day people from personal experience. I have fought the "panther like demon" as Saint Gemma describes. I thought it might kill me but, I fought back vigorously. It then decided after a time it could not overcome me by force and disengaged. I have seen Angels and been taken to see signs from Heaven. Look up 2011 ufo over Jerusalem on youtube. That is actually an Angel giving a sign from God! I was there. The message is: "Remember what Jesus told taught you about Peace and Loving one another" I have also seen the outside of Heaven as show to me by an Angel. The message for you: "There really is a Heaven" Remember this! The Devil and demons are opportunists. If you have guilt or shame instilled on you from parents or things you've done in the past, confess them to God and you will be forgiven. God Forgives! Though we sometimes have a very hard time forgiving ourselves. HE Loves You All SO MUCH! SO much more than you even thought was possible. Get right with God, don't let your own internal conflicts give the devil and his idiots an opportunity to push your buttons, as they will do that! Pray the Rosary, evil hates that. Hail Mary's are like a punch in the face to them. Again, HAVE FAITH AND NO FEAR. They are already defeated, as it has been ordained by God Himself. God Bless You.

Unknown said...

I had received the stigmata on only my left hand when I was being attacked by demons and saw the eye of god one night come like fire. It's all real every bit of Jesus and Satan. Pray the rosary every day and teach others about the powerful weapon against evil.

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