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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Binding spirits- who has authority	Marie	Sunday, April 29, 2007
Question: Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary, I was recently listening to a Catholic radio program. The host discussed binding spirits and who has the authority to rebuke vs. binding them. He said that parents and those who have spiritual authority, ie, godparents, can bind demons. What I want to know is if Confirmation sponsors can do the same? I have a 14 year old neice who is having terrible troubles. Her parents have 6 marriages between them. She has been moved around six times in 12 years across 3 different states. She is depressed, a cutter, extremely overweight, listens to goth music and recently told me she no longer believes in God. I'm sure she has prayed to Him, but it doesn't seem He answers her prayers. I feel powerless and try to do what I can in the time I spend with her. Do I, as her sponsor, have any authority to help her in the way proposed above? I look forward to your answer and any suggestions you may have. God bless, Marie
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Marie: Anyone can pray intercessory prayers for anyone asking God to rebuke and to bind spirits. Those in a paterfamilias relationship, however, such as parents, have a special authority that they may invoke. Parents, especially the father, have the more direct and literal paterfamilias authority over the members of their households. Paterfamilias means "father as head of the house. It refers in this context to the royal priesthood of the home, but we all are members of the Royal Priesthood. I would propose that in taking a paterfamilias authority the hierarchy would be first parents, then godparents, then grandparents, then other family members, then confirmation sponsors, then others who have guardianship responsibilities for the child at given times, such as counselors, teachers, coaches, babysitters, etc. These "guardianship" relationships, I believe, offer a special authority, but anyone can pray for anyone else. That being the case, I will pray a prayer for your niece: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His name, I ask of the heavenly Father to rebuke the spirit of depression, disbelief, pain, self-loathing and any other spirits that seek to destroy the niece of Marie's, and to bind those spirits and to command them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to depart from her, now, quietly, without harm to anyone. I bring the power and the protection of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ over the life of this girl. Satan has no part with her as she is sealed with the saving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father, forgive her for not being all she should be in Your eyes. Let the cleansing, healing waters of her baptism wash over this her and cleanse her from all unrighteousness. Lord Jesus Christ, fill this girl with Your joy to oppose the depression, faith to oppose the disbelief, acceptance and love to oppose the self-loathing. Lord Jesus, bring to bear this girl's guardian angel, and all the angels of heaven, against the forces of evil that seek to cause trouble for her. Saint Michael, be this girl's protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our Mother, pray for her that she may not fall into the devil’s temptations. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for setting Marie's niece and all of us free. I praise You, I bless You, I worship You. Thank You for the wisdom and light of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for enabling me to be aggressive against the works of the enemy. Thank You for Your hope, that takes away discouragement; thank You for ongoing victory. "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). Amen. Pray this pray (using her actual name) daily. There are other prayers in our Catalog that would be good to pray on behalf of your niece, such as the Hedge Prayer for a Wayward Person, the Hedge Prayer of Protection, and others. See the link for the Prayer Catalog below. We will be in prayer for her, her family, and for you. 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

Binding spirits- who has authority

Marie

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Question:

Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary,

I was recently listening to a Catholic radio program. The host discussed binding spirits and who has the authority to rebuke vs. binding them. He said that parents and those who have spiritual authority, ie, godparents, can bind demons.

What I want to know is if Confirmation sponsors can do the same? I have a 14 year old neice who is having terrible troubles. Her parents have 6 marriages between them. She has been moved around six times in 12 years across 3 different states. She is depressed, a cutter, extremely overweight, listens to goth music and recently told me she no longer believes in God. I'm sure she has prayed to Him, but it doesn't seem He answers her prayers. I feel powerless and try to do what I can in the time I spend with her. Do I, as her sponsor, have any authority to help her in the way proposed above?

I look forward to your answer and any suggestions you may have.

God bless,

Marie

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Marie:

Anyone can pray intercessory prayers for anyone asking God to rebuke and to bind spirits. Those in a paterfamilias relationship, however, such as parents, have a special authority that they may invoke.

Parents, especially the father, have the more direct and literal paterfamilias authority over the members of their households. Paterfamilias means "father as head of the house. It refers in this context to the royal priesthood of the home, but we all are members of the Royal Priesthood.

I would propose that in taking a paterfamilias authority the hierarchy would be first parents, then godparents, then grandparents, then other family members, then confirmation sponsors, then others who have guardianship responsibilities for the child at given times, such as counselors, teachers, coaches, babysitters, etc.

These "guardianship" relationships, I believe, offer a special authority, but anyone can pray for anyone else.

That being the case, I will pray a prayer for your niece:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His name, I ask of the heavenly Father to rebuke the spirit of depression, disbelief, pain, self-loathing and any other spirits that seek to destroy the niece of Marie's, and to bind those spirits and to command them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to depart from her, now, quietly, without harm to anyone.
I bring the power and the protection of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ over the life of this girl. Satan has no part with her as she is sealed with the saving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, forgive her for not being all she should be in Your eyes. Let the cleansing, healing waters of her baptism wash over this her and cleanse her from all unrighteousness.
Lord Jesus Christ, fill this girl with Your joy to oppose the depression, faith to oppose the disbelief, acceptance and love to oppose the self-loathing.
Lord Jesus, bring to bear this girl's guardian angel, and all the angels of heaven, against the forces of evil that seek to cause trouble for her.
Saint Michael, be this girl's protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our Mother, pray for her that she may not fall into the devil’s temptations.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for setting Marie's niece and all of us free. I praise You, I bless You, I worship You. Thank You for the wisdom and light of the Holy Spirit.
Thank You for enabling me to be aggressive against the works of the enemy. Thank You for Your hope, that takes away discouragement; thank You for ongoing victory. "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). Amen.

Pray this pray (using her actual name) daily. There are other prayers in our Catalog that would be good to pray on behalf of your niece, such as the Hedge Prayer for a Wayward Person, the Hedge Prayer of Protection, and others. See the link for the Prayer Catalog below.

We will be in prayer for her, her family, and for you.

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.