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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Identifying Family Curses	Mary	Thursday, August 12, 2004
Question: I have learned much about Generalization Demonization (sp?) from the archive questions here. I am now questioning whether I (and/or my family) might be victims of this. How, if possible, can I be sure? What signs do I look for? You mentioned possible "bad luck" but bad luck can be relative from individual to individual. In my case, I think my immediate family is suffering from a one step forward/two steps back type of bad luck. No matter how good our intentions are or how hard we work, it seems that something always happens that results in a setback, or a delay, in whatever goals we are trying to reach. There always seems to be extra expenses (big ones that really dent the savings), or ailments and minor illnesses or simply bad timing. My husband and I work very hard and honestly and we try to help others when we can but never it never seems to pay off as it does for many around us; we've been through several company buy outs whereby his co-workers come out way ahead financially and he does not; and he was once laid off as the result of one of the buy outs. When I say "payoffs" I do not mean to sound greedy. I'm not interested in the glamorous life! I am only referring to efforts to save for retirement, emergency savings, dental work, etc, the ins and outs of daily life. I see similar trends in my siblings' families. Or maybe it is just frusturation that has lead me to this forum. I hope that my curiousity is not angering our dear Lord Jesus Christ, in other words, maybe I should just be thankful for what I DO have, which is a lot, and stop trying to blame things that don't go my way on an obscure curse that may or may not exist in my (family's) case! :-) Have I rambled enough? Anyway, in conclusion - Is there a way to discern whether or not it is likely that we are suffering from some sort of curse? I do have the Prayer of Renunciation of Ancestral Sins from your catalog. Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Mary: On of the dangers of a forum like this is that people may begin to see things in their own life as being a demonolgical problem when it is not. It is good that you recognize this possibility. Most of the time the problems we have in life are the result of our own actions, decisions, habits, and lifestyle. What little that does not fall into that category of ourselves (90%), falls into the category of the world; that is just life (8%). Only about 2% derives from any direct demonolgical aspects. Much of the things you describe sounds very normal, that is, it sounds just about like everyone else. What you describe could be called, the facts of life in this day and age. The trials and tribulations of this world are a result of Original Sin and will inflict us even if we did not contribute any personal sin or bad decisions into the mix. This fact is an opportunity, rather than a hardship. When we suffer the trials and tribulations of this world we have an opportunity to increase our faith by relying upon God, instead of ourselves or our paychecks. God promises that He will take care of us. God is not a liar. God does look after us, but He does so with Divine Wisdom that may not be understandable to us. God also promises that nothing will come into our lives that we cannot handle. Again, God is not a liar. He keeps His promises. Now, we may have a hard time believing we can handle something, but we can KNOW that we can handle it, even if we do not believe it or feel it; we can KNOW it because God says so and promises so and God is not a liar. I would suggest reflecting upon these things and offering up your suffering to God. Also, you and your husband need to examine yourselves to be sure that there is nothing you are doing in the way of bad decisions, unproductive habits, maintaining a lifestyle that could be reduced, failing to take proper care of things, etc. But even if there is nothing that you are doing that can be improved, life is life and life has its trials and tribulations. God is God, and He is our Heavenly Father who watches over us. Seek Him and you can walk upon water. Remember St. Peter walking on the water out to Jesus during the storm on the sea. As long as Peter looked at Jesus, he could walk on water. When he averted his eyes and noticed the storm all around him, that is when he began to sink. Let us keep our eyes upon Jesus. Listen to this song and read the lyrics and rejoice in our Lord: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Refrain Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Refrain Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion— For more than conquerors we are! Refrain His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Refrain 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

Identifying Family Curses

Mary

Thursday, August 12, 2004

Question:

I have learned much about Generalization Demonization (sp?) from the archive questions here. I am now questioning whether I (and/or my family) might be victims of this.

How, if possible, can I be sure? What signs do I look for? You mentioned possible "bad luck" but bad luck can be relative from individual to individual. In my case, I think my immediate family is suffering from a one step forward/two steps back type of bad luck. No matter how good our intentions are or how hard we work, it seems that something always happens that results in a setback, or a delay, in whatever goals we are trying to reach. There always seems to be extra expenses (big ones that really dent the savings), or ailments and minor illnesses or simply bad timing.

My husband and I work very hard and honestly and we try to help others when we can but never it never seems to pay off as it does for many around us; we've been through several company buy outs whereby his co-workers come out way ahead financially and he does not; and he was once laid off as the result of one of the buy outs. When I say "payoffs" I do not mean to sound greedy. I'm not interested in the glamorous life! I am only referring to efforts to save for retirement, emergency savings, dental work, etc, the ins and outs of daily life. I see similar trends in my siblings' families. Or maybe it is just frusturation that has lead me to this forum.

I hope that my curiousity is not angering our dear Lord Jesus Christ, in other words, maybe I should just be thankful for what I DO have, which is a lot, and stop trying to blame things that don't go my way on an obscure curse that may or may not exist in my (family's) case! :-) Have I rambled enough? Anyway, in conclusion - Is there a way to discern whether or not it is likely that we are suffering from some sort of curse? I do have the Prayer of Renunciation of Ancestral Sins from your catalog. Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Mary:

On of the dangers of a forum like this is that people may begin to see things in their own life as being a demonolgical problem when it is not. It is good that you recognize this possibility.

Most of the time the problems we have in life are the result of our own actions, decisions, habits, and lifestyle. What little that does not fall into that category of ourselves (90%), falls into the category of the world; that is just life (8%). Only about 2% derives from any direct demonolgical aspects.

Much of the things you describe sounds very normal, that is, it sounds just about like everyone else. What you describe could be called, the facts of life in this day and age.

The trials and tribulations of this world are a result of Original Sin and will inflict us even if we did not contribute any personal sin or bad decisions into the mix. This fact is an opportunity, rather than a hardship.

When we suffer the trials and tribulations of this world we have an opportunity to increase our faith by relying upon God, instead of ourselves or our paychecks. God promises that He will take care of us. God is not a liar. God does look after us, but He does so with Divine Wisdom that may not be understandable to us.

God also promises that nothing will come into our lives that we cannot handle. Again, God is not a liar. He keeps His promises. Now, we may have a hard time believing we can handle something, but we can KNOW that we can handle it, even if we do not believe it or feel it; we can KNOW it because God says so and promises so and God is not a liar.

I would suggest reflecting upon these things and offering up your suffering to God. Also, you and your husband need to examine yourselves to be sure that there is nothing you are doing in the way of bad decisions, unproductive habits, maintaining a lifestyle that could be reduced, failing to take proper care of things, etc.

But even if there is nothing that you are doing that can be improved, life is life and life has its trials and tribulations. God is God, and He is our Heavenly Father who watches over us. Seek Him and you can walk upon water.

Remember St. Peter walking on the water out to Jesus during the storm on the sea. As long as Peter looked at Jesus, he could walk on water. When he averted his eyes and noticed the storm all around him, that is when he began to sink.

Let us keep our eyes upon Jesus. Listen to this song and read the lyrics and rejoice in our Lord:

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

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.