The effects of occult bonds An occult bond is spiritually devastating. It weakens faith; it kills the desire to praise God, to proclaim Jesus as Lord and sole mediator, and to pray to the Virgin Mary. It creates anxiety and agitation when a person is in holy places. Obscene thoughts may enter the person’s mind in the presence of the Eucharist. Occult involvement may cause sexual perversions, alcoholism, drug abuse, violence against loved ones, and ultimately, depression and suicidal tendencies. Since these symptoms can have other possible causes, however, only those who are experienced and knowledgeable in deliverance ministry should attempt to discern whether a person has an occult bond.
 
How to break free? Release is available through prayer made in the authority of the Name of Jesus Christ. But the person who has been involved in the occult must first make radical choices of conversion. These steps should be followed: ▪ Acknowledge your occult sins and confess them to the Lord, making use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. ▪ Discard or burn any occult symbols or occult books you possess (see Acts 19:19 and Deut 7:25). ▪ Renew your baptismal vows to renounce Satan, his works, and all his seductions, specifically renouncing any ways that you have been involved in the occult. ▪ With the help of someone who is mature and Spirit-filled, say a prayer of deliverance to break the spiritual bondage, exercising your baptismal authority to reject evil spirits in the Name of Jesus. ▪ Finally, devote yourself to Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that it is not enough to expel evil spirits. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then e goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first” (Matt 12:43-45). If we want to experience complete and lasting freedom, we must let our mind and heart be filled with the Truth that is Jesus Christ. This takes place through frequent reception of the sacraments, daily prayer and Scripture reading, sound formation, and being in relationship with other Catholics with whom we are transparent and accountable.
 
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set the captives free (1 John 3:8; Luke 4:18). No one is condemned to remain in spiritual bondage if they turn to him in repentance and trust.
 
Reprinted from International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services. March/April 2012 Issue.