The Day I Went into Battle

It was so bad at first that I didn’t realize what was happening. I felt as if our family had a bulls-eye on our backs and judging by the suffering, pain and conflict that was running rampart through our home, it was. Two years to that day that our 22-year-old son had returned to the Faith, he was actively bringing friends to Church, three of our kids were preparing to go to a Catholic Youth Conference and my RCIA class had been received into the Catholic Church just a few weeks before. Yup, there actually was a target on us. Sparky wasn't happy with what was going on.

The evening started with my youngest daughter having a horrible meltdown; then my two middle kids got in a very destructive argument and my oldest daughter was having serious roommate issues. I remember thinking, “All hell has broken loose,” and so it had.

The next morning I woke up sad and discouraged. The reality of the spiritual attack hit me with full force and for a moment, I felt helpless. It was at that moment that I decided to fight. I looked at all the tools in my Catholic arsenal and I utilized them.

1/ Contacted my warriors! I didn’t want to try to fight this battle alone, so I called in all my soldiers for the Lord. I sent out a group text begging for prayer ASAP! “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20

2/ Went to Mass. I knew that I could not battle evil on my own, so I wanted to have Jesus in me and with me. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.” John 15:4

3/ I fasted. Our Faith teaches the benefits of fasting are many: we learn to fully rely on God to supply even our physical needs, we detach from things in this life and fasting drives out evil (demons). “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29

4/ Said my Rosary and a Novena to the Blessed Mother. Anything entrusted to the Blessed Mother will be handled with her Mother’s love for all of us. She shares in our redemption, she shows us what true faith in God’s will looks like and she teaches us humility. Her Son, Jesus, will not deny her anything, just as He did not deny her at the wedding in Cana! “The Rosary is the Weapon.” St. Padre Pio

5/ Spent an hour in Adoration. I needed this time as much as I desired to give it to the Lord. I needed to rest in His love for me and trust in His mercy. I knew that I did not know how to quell the storm that was raging all around me, but the Lord who calmed the storm at sea could quiet my turmoil as well. “Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Matthew 26:40

6/ Said the Chaplet. I needed to immerse myself in God’s mercy, so I said the Divine Mercy Chaplet. “I have opened My Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls draw life from it.” Sister Faustina’s Diary (vision of Jesus) 1520)

7/ Let go and let God. I handed over the struggle and acknowledged my lack of control over it. “The battle belongs to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 17:47

I cannot tell you that things got magically better, because prayer and devotion is not magic. Rather it is the calm that comes from knowing that God loves you, is present to you and will help you in all things. I can tell you that things calmed down considerably and I no longer felt hopeless or helpless. That is the true miracle! God bless.