10-12 Step Guide Catholics
QUESTION? / COMMENT!
My dad just got diagnosed with bone marrow cancer this week. My sister and I have not told him because he still has to get more test done to see what stage he's in. My dad is the type of person that will go into depression and give up easily. My sister and I, are going through a hard time thinking of the future. I wanted to ask you for a prayer that my dad can pray and that we can pray as well. I need a protection prayer for the evil one not to get us to loose our faith and go in despair. We continue to go to mass and go to confession, thank you so much for your time.
ANSWER! / COMMENT!
10-12 Step Guide for Catholics
1. Confession – Sacramental grace enables us to get rid of cycle of guilt and sin in our lives.
2. Forgiveness – letting go of grudges, forgiving self
3. Acceptance of God’s Plan for our Lives – accepting reality of negative things in our life and the fact that this does not take away from God having a beautiful plan and purpose for each one of us (and how the negative aspects play a big role in this beautiful plan)
4. Believing in God’s Love For Me – God loves me with and unconditional constant love even when I am depressed (He is with me). 1817. "Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.'
5. Gratitude – key to defeating pessimism. “Every morning we arise afresh in Christ our light. Ancient Christian writers warn against ‘morning demons’: yesterdays worries and grievances returning to poison the new day” (Magnificat, July 2014, vol 16, no.5, p.92).
6. Prayer – Constant conversation with God the Divine Therapist, holds us accountable.
7. Eucharist – Source of healing, Divine Medication.
8. Community – Brother’s and sister’s in Christ (our support group)
9. Service – Fights against isolation and egocentric negativity.
10. Integration of the 5 Aspects of Our Being – Spiritual (most important), physical, mental, emotional, social. God created and loves every part of who we are and wants us to be whole. Can’t neglect one aspect.
11. Living in the Present – Not dwelling on past, not worried about the future (God of Eternity)
12. “Measuring Up” (not down) – Judging ourselves from God’s mirror and not from the world’s standards.
Above taken from a CD set called “10 steps to overcome depression for Catholics” by Alicia Leyva, M.A. MFTI
Your Dad should be praying the holy rosary and the divine mercy everyday (slowly), these are meditative prayers and they are the most powerful prayers to fight depression because the mind is being reoriented back to God.
For you, the way you stay protected against evil spirits is to live in a state - pray (at least 3 times a day). Add this prayer to your morning prayer:
PRAYER AGAINST EVIL
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Most Holy Trinity, descend upon me. Please purify me, mold me, fill me with yourself, and use me. Banish from me all spells, witchcraft, black magic, demonic assignments, malefice, maledictions and the evil eye; diabolic infestations, oppressions, possessions; all that is evil and sinful; jealousy, treachery, envy; all physical, psychological, moral, and spiritual attacks against me. Banish all the forces of evil from me; destroy them, vanquish them so that I can be healthy and do good deeds. Banish all diabolical ailments; as well as all enticing spirits, deaf, dumb, blind, mute and sleeping spirits, new-age spirits, occult spirits, religious spirits, antichrist spirits, and any other spirits of death and darkness. I command and bid all the powers who molest me—by the power of God Almighty, in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior—to leave me forever, and to be consigned into the everlasting lake of fire, that they may never again touch me or any other creature in the entire world - Amen.