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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Wearing a St. Benedict crucifix	Teresa	Thursday, January 17, 2013
Question: Hello thank you always for sound advice towards faith and hope and love in God. I have a question. since I returned to the church after being three years away and now weekly go to church and confession weekly. I sensed a spiritual fight, a battle was about to happen. I purchased a St Benedict crucifix and I finally got it. I wear it when I can. It seems to lessen the spiritual and psychological attacks on my soul because of sexual, physical and spiritual abuse. I am a bit doubtful though because I had a friend who wore a St Bendict crucifix all the time. He was a priest and close friend of mine, and he commited suicide. I have done all you advised except burning the piece of paper I dont have matches and it will set off the smoke alarm. I have stayed closed to the sacraments weekly. I however have not been sleeping and eating sometimes. I know PTSD symptoms is the cause.However praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet in the night hours have been consoling and I look forward to it. I am wondering if I could be putting to much trust and faith in St Bendict crucifix. I however noticed a milder form of PTSD symptoms. I understand it is a (exorcism) sacramental. I want to make sure I am not being misled. I am also concerned if I am sinning if I am not sleeping, I am afraid to sleep. I wait until my body crashes. Is this sinful if I decide to stay up and pray. Do I need to confess this. Is there are prayers or a process to help with spiritual disturbance during prayer such as sensations of movement or feeling and evil presence while praying. In other words I don't feel safe. This is why I wear the St. Benedict Crucifix. What are your thoughts on this. I am going to counseling too.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Teresa: St Benedict crucifix, or any other sacramental, is not magic. The true power of any sacramental is the faith of the person who wears it. Hitler can wear a sacramental, but it would be meaningless as he did not have the faith to which the sacramental represents. A sacramental will not protect a person from psychological problems, thus it could not protect the priest who committed suicide. Sacramentals are not magic or talismans. Your trust and faith needs to be directed toward God, not the crucifix. The Crucifix represents your faith in God, the crucifix is not to be the focus of your trust and faith. Your sleeping issues are a factor of psychological issues. You need to see a counselor about that. As for spiritual harassments during prayer, the St. Benedict Crucifix can be helpful as it is a blessed object. but it is not magic. You need to rebuke the spirits that are bothering you at the time they are bothering your. You can find the prayers you need in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog, linked below. There is a Rebuking Prayer in the Catalog, but often there is a need for something shorter, such as, "In name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke this spirit of _______. Father in Heaven cast this spirit away from me to never return and give me your Spirit of _______. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Wearing a St. Benedict crucifix

Teresa

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Question:

Hello thank you always for sound advice towards faith and hope and love in God.

I have a question. since I returned to the church after being three years away and now weekly go to church and confession weekly. I sensed a spiritual fight, a battle was about to happen. I purchased a St Benedict crucifix and I finally got it. I wear it when I can. It seems to lessen the spiritual and psychological attacks on my soul because of sexual, physical and spiritual abuse.

I am a bit doubtful though because I had a friend who wore a St Bendict crucifix all the time. He was a priest and close friend of mine, and he commited suicide. I have done all you advised except burning the piece of paper I dont have matches and it will set off the smoke alarm. I have stayed closed to the sacraments weekly. I however have not been sleeping and eating sometimes. I know PTSD symptoms is the cause.However praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet in the night hours have been consoling and I look forward to it.

I am wondering if I could be putting to much trust and faith in St Bendict crucifix. I however noticed a milder form of PTSD symptoms. I understand it is a (exorcism) sacramental. I want to make sure I am not being misled.

I am also concerned if I am sinning if I am not sleeping, I am afraid to sleep. I wait until my body crashes. Is this sinful if I decide to stay up and pray. Do I need to confess this. Is there are prayers or a process to help with spiritual disturbance during prayer such as sensations of movement or feeling and evil presence while praying. In other words I don't feel safe. This is why I wear the St. Benedict Crucifix. What are your thoughts on this. I am going to counseling too.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Teresa:

St Benedict crucifix, or any other sacramental, is not magic. The true power of any sacramental is the faith of the person who wears it. Hitler can wear a sacramental, but it would be meaningless as he did not have the faith to which the sacramental represents.

A sacramental will not protect a person from psychological problems, thus it could not protect the priest who committed suicide. Sacramentals are not magic or talismans.

Your trust and faith needs to be directed toward God, not the crucifix. The Crucifix represents your faith in God, the crucifix is not to be the focus of your trust and faith.

Your sleeping issues are a factor of psychological issues. You need to see a counselor about that.

As for spiritual harassments during prayer, the St. Benedict Crucifix can be helpful as it is a blessed object. but it is not magic. You need to rebuke the spirits that are bothering you at the time they are bothering your. You can find the prayers you need in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog, linked below.

There is a Rebuking Prayer in the Catalog, but often there is a need for something shorter, such as, "In name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke this spirit of _______. Father in Heaven cast this spirit away from me to never return and give me your Spirit of _______.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.