An apostolate of the Oblates and Missioners of St. Michael Observations from Prominent Leaders about Spiritual Warfare Satanism, the Occult, and the New Age The problem of the occult is becoming, and is predicted (by psychiatrists, pastoral counsellors, theologians, and observers of the youth culture) to be one of the most important and critical mental health, spiritual, and social problems of our day. Oberservations from various noted authorities and leaders confirm this: Observations from Mental Health & Medical Professionals Alfred Lechler, MD a noted German physician and psychiatrist with vast experience in working with patients victimized by the occult, observed: People are today recognizing more and more that the demonic is by no means just some outdated biblical concept-€¦ (but is) rather a terrible reality with which one must ever increasingly reckon today. ...we are duty bound, when dealing with the mentally and emotionally disturbed, to stress the need to differentiate between disease and the demonic. Two Physicians: quoted by Dr. Kurt Koch in his book, Occult Bondage and Deliverance: A Neurologist: ...Sixty-percent of the inmates of my psychiatric clinic are not so much suffering from mental illness as from occult subjection or even demonization. An English Psychiatrist: If I were able to obtain forgiveness for the sins of the patients in my clinic, I would be able to discharge half of them tomorrow. Observations from Protestant Leaders The Reverend Mark Bubeck, of the International Center for Biblical Counseling, former Pastor of Central Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa, recognized national authority on the occult, and author of the best-selling book, The Adversary, writes: The revival of interest in occultism is much more ominous than just another passing fad. Everything from skyrocketing sales of Ouija Boards to the open worship of Satan give evidence of (its) increasing interest... Jerry Johnston, youth evangelist and author of the study and examination of occultism in the U.S., The Edge of Evil, writes that the occult is a ... ...fast-growing developing subculture in the teenage community... Dr. Kurt Koch, noted German theologian and one of the most experienced Deliverance counselors in the world (over 20,000 cases), observed in his book Occult Bondage and Deliverance: There are metaphysical and metarational facts, which, although experienced by man, cannot be explained satisfactorily by him. Observations from Catholic Leaders Pope Paul VI in his Deliver Us From Evil, asks: What are the greatest needs of the Church today? Do not let our answer surprise you as being over-simple or even superstitious and unreal: one of the greatest needs is defense from evil which is the devil. ...This question of the Devil and the influence he can exert on whole societies or events, is a very important chapter of Catholic doctrine... Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical letter, Ecclesiam Saum (Pathways of the Church), observed: All of this, like waves of an ocean, envelopes and agitates the Church itself. Men committed to the Church are greatly influenced by the climate of the world; so much so that a danger bordering almost on vertiginous confusion and bewilderment can shake the Church's very foundations and lead mankind to embrace most bizarre ways of thinking, as though the church should disavow herself and take up the very latest and untried ways of life. Michael H. Brown in his Prayer of the Warrior warned: We're in the midst of a war. It's not a political or cultural battle — though politics and culture are involved — nor is it a philosophical dispute. We humans, all of us, across the planet, are in the midst of a spiritual war. It is a war that has been brewing all our lives, in every nation, in every aspect of our lives, a battle between light and dark... Right now it seems the dark is winning. The war is waged on a supernatural stage, in the deepest recesses of our beings, and will overwhelm us if we don't do something about it. Pope Pius XII also warned: It seems darkness is about to fall on the world. Humanity is in the grip of a supreme crisis. Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J. in his important book, Catholics and the New Age remarks: Because of the growth of the New Age Movement outside the church and within it, Catholics have some basic choices to make. We can bemoan the problem helplessly and await the Second Coming of Jesus as the only possible solution. Or we can respond to the New Age Movement with fire, vigor, and creativity. Very Reverend Andrea Gemma, bishop of Isernia-Venafro, in a directive to his priests, wrote: Believe me when I tell you that Satan's nefarious and dark activity — as Pope Paul II calls it — is more widespread and deadly than we think. The skeptical sarcasm of worldly pseudoexperts, and sometimes even Christians and teachers of religion, is the fruit of disinformation and, therefore, of superficiality. This skepticism is itself one of the main components of the victory that the evil one wants to win, under the cover of silence. I ask you, who are the pastors of the people of God, not to treat this subject lightly. It would be a culpable omission and a scandal if you did. Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1972 warned: From some crevice, the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God Pope Paul VI explained further in a later papal audience on November 15, 1972, including these stern warnings: ... we must fight against the demon. We do not think about this reality anymore, but now I wish to draw your attention to this terrible and unavoidable subject. We must fight against this enemy, terrible and invisible, who sets snares for our life and against whom we must defend ourselves... Anyone who refuses to acknowledge the existence of this terrible reality departs from the truth of biblical and ecclesiastical teaching. We must realize that we are confronting a reality what is mysterious and scary. Pope John Paul II speaking in September 1976, then Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, said: We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think the wide circles of the American society, or wide circles of the Christian community, realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of divine Providence; it is a trial which the whole Church must take up. It is a trial of not only our nations and the Church, but in a sense, a test of 2,000 years of culture and Christian civilization with all of its consequences for human dignity, individual rights, human rights and the rights of nations. Father Gabriele Amorth, the official exorcist for the Diocese of Rome, explains in his book, An Exorcist Tells His Story: While this pastoral ministry (of exorcism) is entirely overlooked in the Catholic world today, it was not so in the past. In some denominations of the Protestant church, exorcisms are still practiced frequently and fruitfully. Each cathedral should have an exorcist, just as it has a penitentiary. Where there is a greater need — such as in large parishes and in sanctuaries — there should also be a greater number of exorcists. Father Amorth, speaking on who can expel demons, states: ...Jesus gave the power to expel demons to all those who believe in him and act in his name. I am referring to private prayer, which we can collectively call deliverance prayers. Exorcist receive an additional, particular power. I am speaking of those priests who are specifically assigned by their bishop. Using the formulas and prayers suggested by the Ritual, these priests adminster a sacramental that, unlike private prayer, involves the intercession of the Church. St. Louis de Montfort provides us with our marching orders: Mary will raise up apostles of the latter times to make war against the evil one. . . . But the power of Mary over all the devils will especially shine forth in the latter times, when Satan will lay his snares against her heel: that is to say, her humble slaves and poor children, whom she will raise up to make war against him. They shall be little and poor in the world's esteem, and abased before all like the heel, trodden underfoot and persecuted as the heel is by other members of the body. But in return for this they shall be rich in the grace of God, which Mary shall distribute to them abundantly. They shall be great and exalted before God in sanctity. Superior to all creatures by their lively zeal, and so well sustained with God's assistance that, with the humility of their heel, in union with Mary, they shall crush the head of the devil and cause Jesus Christ to triumph. We, at the LSM, take heed of these warnings and observations, and accept our duty to participate in the battle over souls while at the same time knowing that Christ has already won the war. We accept the calling of of St. Louis de Montfort to take up cause, by the power of Mary to aid her in crushing the head of the devil and to bring about his final end, as she raises us up as... Apostles of the Latter Times