Want to ward off nightmares or strange occurrences at home? Go back to the basic sacramentals, like wearing a scapular or using holy water and exorcised oil and salt.
A Rome-based theologian and exorcist, Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi, advised Filipino Catholics that these were some objects present-day believers could use to protect themselves from evil that usually goes unnoticed but is too common.
“The devil has been able to roam undetected even to the point that we don’t believe he exists,” the CBCPNews, the official news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), quoted Iannuzzi as saying.
The Italian priest, who has been assisting for years Fr. Gabriel Amorth, one of the chief exorcists in the diocese of Rome, gave a series of talks to Filipino audiences during his visit to the country over the weekend.
Iannuzzi of the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome, also gave a theological presentation on the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a nationwide consecration to the Virgin held on Saturday in different churches.
Someone to devour
Iannuzzi explained how diabolical activities were more commonplace than people liked to believe.
“Any sense of fear or anxiety is an evil spirit… As St. Peter said in his letter, the devil roams the earth, looking for someone to devour,” the theologian said, noting that even nightmares might be the doing of the devil.
Stressing how potent sacramentals can be, Iannuzzi said these objects—such as holy water, exorcised oil and salt, scapulars and the Benedictine cross—should be used for protection against evil.
The Catholic Church defines sacramentals as sacred objects, actions or blessings that communicate grace to believers through the prayers of the Church. Exorcised salt and oil are special sacramentals blessed with exorcism prayers by a priest.
Weapon vs nightmares
Iannuzzi advised Catholics to sprinkle their homes with holy water should they experience “strange happenings.” The holy water—available in churches—is also powerful to combat nightmares, he said, advising the faithful to bless themselves with it before going to bed.
Iannuzzi also recommended using exorcised oil, whose effects last longer. But only olive oil can be used for such purpose, he pointed out.
But Iannuzzi was quick to add that the faithful must not overdo these holy practices. “I am not saying be scrupulous, [like] if anyone bothers you, throw [holy water] in their faces,” he explained.
For those who have been using the sacramentals to ward off evil, they must not complain if they don’t feel any differently, Iannuzzi said.
“Often, the proof is precisely that nothing happens,” he said. “This is what is keeping your family safe, believe it or not.”
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Below is a letter to the editor by Bob Gabuna, one of my forum friends.
JXXX
………………………
Editor-In-Chief
Philippine Inquirer
Metro Manila, Philippines
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Dear Editor:
Responding to the news item of Jocelyn R. Uy, “Exorcist gives tips how to ward off evil” (PDI, 12 June 2013), the “tips” provided by Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi is not exactly a biblical teaching.
He is right in his explanation that the Devil may roam undetected to the point that the people do not believe he exists. The most effective weapon the Devil employ to deceive mankind is to belie that he exists. But I am not convinced wearing scapular would deter the Devil from oppressing or attacking the person who is wearing it. The Scriptures do not warrant such teachings.
In terms, however, of driving out demonic forces—Satan and his cohorts—to wage war against them the followers of GOD could only break demonic assaults through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture teaches, no true believer who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit can be demon-possessed.
The Holy Spirit and the Demons can never live in the same body (see 2Corinthians 6:15-16). Demons may, however, influence the thoughts, emotions, and actions of GOD’s followers who fail to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (read Matthew 16: 23 when Jesus Christ rebuked Peter).
Reading horoscopes, engaging in the game of spirit of the glass, or seeing a seer (manghuhula) are demonic means of deceiving innocent people who were not initiated of the wiles of the Evil One. There are, of course, “seers” whose powers emanate from the Holy One. It takes, however, spiritual discernment to distinctively distinguish the false gods from the true Living God.
Teresita (Teresa) Magbanua – Joan of Arc of the Visayas
Teresa Magbanua
BioData
Full Name: Teresa Magbanua Y Ferraris
Sobriquet: Joan of Arc of the Visayas
DoB: 13 October 1868
PoB: Pototan, Iloilo, Philippines
Death: August 1947
Civil Status: Married to Alejandro Balderas
Education: Colegio de Doña Cecilia (Education) MA at University of Santo Tomas
Legacy: Revolutionary. Exceptional horseman and marksman. The only woman to lead an army during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards. She also participated during revolutions against the American and Japanese.
13 October is observed in Pototan as Teresa Magbanua Day.
I opened my emails today and found a very interesting one from a friend who’s related to Teresita Magbanua, who was known as the Joan of Arc of the Visayas. Anyway I googled Teresita Magbanua and this was an entry from Wikipedia:
Teresa Magbanua y Ferraris (October 13, 1868 – August 1947) earned the distinction of being the only woman to lead combat troops in the Visayas against Spanish and American forces. Born in Pototan, Iloilo, Philippines on 13 October 1868, to wealthy parents, she earned a teaching degree and taught in her hometown. Having come from a family of revolutionaries, she immediately volunteered her services to the motherland and became an exceptional horseman and marksman.
Without the approval of her husband, she led a large group of men in the Battle of Barrio Yoting, Capiz in early December 1898. She outfought the Spanish troops at the Battle of Sapong Hills near Sara.
She suffered greatly from the early death of her brothers General Pascual Magbanua and Elias Magbanua, at the hands of traitors.
Fifty years later, her heroism was once again displayed when she helped finance a guerrilla resistance movement by the liberators together with the Allied Filipino soldiers of the 6th, 61st and 62nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 6th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the Ilonggo guerrillas against the Japanese in the Battle for the Liberation of Iloilo. Teresa Magbanua was likely called the “Joan of Arc”.
She migrated to Mindanao after the war and lived with her sister Maria in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, where she died in August, 1947, exact day unknown.
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This is my friend, Bob Gabuna, had to say regarding his ancestress:
My roots, were revoloutionary leaders. The lady-warrior, Teresita
MAGBANUA of Pototan, Iloilo that earned the moniker, “Joan of Arc” of the
Visayas, is my great-grandaunt. Two of Nanay Isa’s elder brothers
(Isa is her endeared pet name), Francisco and Pascual, were already generals
in the revolutionary movement; but, Nanay Isa is the most feared leader of the
rebelde (rebels) because of her exploits in conducting her revolutionary activities. Her
battle tactics is novel. The colonizers were stumped how to counteract it.
If you’ve heard of the modern “agaw armas”, of the underground elements in
procuring armaments for themselves in fighting the government forces? That
sort of warfare was the methodology employed by Nanay Isa.
Nanay Isa finished Education from UST, the Dominican operated school.
When she returned to her hometown, she “saw” the atrocities committed by
the colonizers. She quit being a classroom teacher and joined her two elder
brothers who were officers in the revolutionary movement.
Because the Panay liberators were ill equipped, she was given the mission
to procure arms for the rebolusionaryo. Employing her womanly wiles, she
would visit the garrisons and offer tuba to Guardia Sibil late in the night.
When the guards on duty are already drunk, Nanay Isa would give out a
signal and her troops would spring up from the bushes and grab away the
firearms of the drunk Guardia Sibil.
Nanay Isa’s fighting tactics was deemed far more dangerous than the
overt fighting forces of the rebels. To ferret out Teresita Magbanua
from her hiding, the colonizers persecuted the rest of the siblings of
Nanay Isa. To escape persecution, the rest of the members of the family
dispersed. Some went to Antique, some were able to escape in Negros,
some hid in nearby towns of Iloilo. Nanay Isa has 18 siblings plus one
(from a different mother). My direct ascendant, however, and two of his younger brothers
moved further in the southern part of Tablas Island—the largest island in the
Province of Romblon (an hour away of banca ride from Boracay Island).
A military decree was then issued during that period that all residents
in any given settlement must adopt the same letter for their family name.
In Pototan, letter P was imposed, hence, today, the municipality of Pototan
is peppered with family names that start in letter P. In Romblon, the
capital proper, letter M was given; Sibuyan, letter R was assigned; the
central part of Tablas Island and the three islands, letter F was imposed.
In Southern Tablas, letter G was issued.
There is a letter G in the surname of MAGBANUA. What my ninuno did,
they dropped the first two letters and transposed the remaining vowels.
Ergo, the new family name—GABUNA.
In my growing up years, every time I asked why our great-grandfather
and his brothers have to change family names, the elder cousins of my
father, including my aunts and uncles (both from the paternal and
maternal side), would place their pointing finger before their lips and
makes a hissing sound, “SSSHHH…hipos. Naglayas ang imo Lolo kay
ginpintasan kag ginhingabot”.
Crudely translated: Hush….keep silent. Our ancestors were compelled to
disperse and hide because they were persecuted and harmed.
For scores and decades, the second and third generation of Nanay Isa’s
descendants carried that emotional trauma and psychological burden.
