Luke 8:1-3 speaks of healing from evil spirits:
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
Mary Magdalene being cured of seven demons stood out to me. Certainly, Jesus Christ can drive demons out of people. Nothing for Him is impossible. So we should not fear or accept as a “given” anything that torments us. That includes mental illness.
Are the mentally ill demon-possessed? Mentally ill persons who understand that certain behaviors are neither truly their own nor of God may attribute them to a malicious, thinking and devious entity. As one who has dealt with mental illness and delusion, I certainly understand the proclivity some mentally ill people (and others who live with them) have to attribute symptoms to demonic possession. In ages past, there has been misunderstanding in the Church, both among the laity and among religious, about whether or not there is a relationship between mental illness and demonic possession. St. Augustine (13 November 354 – 28 August 430), on the other hand, was an early bishop of the Church who saw mental illness as a cause for the tears of the faithful.
He wrote of people with mental illness:
Crazy people say and do many incongruous things, things for the most part alien to their intentions and their characters, certainly contrary to their good intentions and characters; and when we think about their words and actions, or see them with our eyes, we can scarcely — or possibly we cannot at all — restrain our tears, if we consider their situation as it deserves to be considered.
He seems to have understood that our inner battles are often due to a compromising of our free will through delusion or confusion.
Now, Satan is the author of confusion. No wonder, then, that so many people think of mental illness as being due to demonic possession, but the Church has been clear through the practice of Her exorcists that mental illness and demonic possession are mutually exclusive. Still, there is no doubt that, as with any illness, Satan is lashing out at us by attacking our brains, albeit not with demonic possession. Therefore, we do need to turn to Spiritual Warfare to break away from his influences.
All corruption comes from the evil one and only in Jesus do we have available to us the power to heal us. The reading from Luke 8:1-3 testifies to the concern that Christ had for Mary Magdalene, and so too all of us. Our need is for us to respond to Him with an obedient faith that welcomes Him fully into our hearts and to reject all that would separate us from Him, whether demons or illness. Because there is still much to learn about mental illness and because there is certainly sometimes confusion on the part of both the afflicted and the healthy who are called to assist them, it’s important to have a good understanding of spiritual warfare and all of its known aspects.
First, we must not underestimate ourselves in what we are willing to give of ourselves. As the unknown woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed him with expensive ointment, we must give the very best of what we have, not materially speaking, but spiritually. We must actively seek His forgiveness and healing which He stands ready to give. This willingness to open ourselves to God is imperative. So go to Confession at least once a year and confess even those things that you feel you had no control over. Though you may not be culpable for those things, it will bring you grace to confess them and the certainty that comes with absolution by a priest.
Also important is an understanding of what truth is (and what is not truth) as we prepare ourselves to meet Him in prayer, to ask Him to meet us where we are, and to help to lift us out of whatever pit we may find ourselves in so that we may have a closer, deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him. In the Catholic Church, we always have objective truth that we can hang onto whenever we are confused about anything. This is the greatest gift of the Church to the mentally ill: Truth. Hanging on to the truth can keep you from doing and saying things that are not holy.
Pray the Exorcism Prayer to St. Michael:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
O glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, defend us in battle, and in the struggle which is ours against the principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against spirits of evil in high places (Eph 6:12). Come to the aid of men, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil (Wisdom 2:23-24, 1 Cor 6:20).
Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there a place for them any longer in Heaven. But that cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with all his angels (Rev 12:7-9).
Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of man has taken courage, Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory.
This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.
These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions (Lam 3:15).
In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most blessed Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.
Arise then, O invincible prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and bring them the victory.
The Church venerates thee as protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of this world and of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude.
Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
Find a saint to intercede for you. A great one for people with mental illness is St. Dymphna.
The site where she died is known for its miraculous healings of the insane and possessed. There is now a well-known institution on the site, and her relics are reported to cure insanity and epilepsy.
Finally, and most importantly, remember always to offer up your sufferings for the salvation of souls. You might also do what I do and offer them for the intentions of the Passionist Nuns who make known the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. The best way to offer up your sufferings is to pray to the Lord before Mass and tell Him that you want to offer up your sufferings of the week, in union with the Sacrifice of the Mass, for [name your intention].
The Church is full of opportunities for healing grace and for defense against Satan. These are just a few that I deem to be most helpful in my walk with Bipolar Disorder.
