PROTOCOL ON HOW TO PRAY FOR A DRUG ADDICT FAMILY OR FRIEND
QUESTION? / COMMENT!
My cousin (who is 17 years old) who suffers from gender confusion, just stabbed multiple times his neighbor. He is currently in jail and the neighbor is getting treated in the hospital. Thanks be to God, his mom and brother and another cousin heard the man yelling for help and they were able to stop my cousin from killing the guy.
As far as I know, my cousin has done occult things and has also tried to commit suicide in the past. I have been praying for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Holy Rosary for him, but feel like there's more that I could do to directly counter attack the demons that are trying to win my cousin's soul. I am also conscience that God permits theses things to happen for the conversation of the family too.
I have read Jesse's book, The Devil in the City of Angels, https://jesseromero.com/store/devil-city-angels and assume this is something he could of encountered as a Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff.
What recommendations would you give to start counterattacking this action, and start repairing the damage that has been done? Unfortunately, his parents are Catholic and attend Sunday mass, but don't believe in the spiritual warfare. I am conscience that his actions will have consequences as he is in jail and the sentence hearing is still pending. At the same time I know we are family and and we need to pray for his soul.
ANSWER! / COMMENT!
The most powerful prayers for a son are from the parents because of the 4th commandment, they have natural law and divine positive law authority over their son.
You as a cousin can pray for him, all prayer for another person is called 'intercessory prayer.'
Persistent Prayer is required
Jesus teaches persistent prayer to combat losing heart, using parables about relentless asking, seeking, and knocking to demonstrate that God rewards faithful, consistent, and urgent petitioning. Key verses include Luke 18:1 (always pray), Luke 11:5-10 (friend at midnight), and Matthew 7:7-8 (ask, seek, knock).
Key Verses on Persistent Prayer
· Romans 12:12: Encourages being "patient in tribulation, constant in prayer".
· Mark 14:38: Jesus tells his disciples to "watch and pray" to avoid falling into temptation.
Key Takeaways
· Purpose: Persistent prayer is for strengthening faith and reliance on God, not just changing circumstances.
· Character of God: God is not annoyed by persistence; He desires us to rely on Him.
· Meaning: It means to keep asking and not give up, even when answers are delayed.
1. Divine Mercy everyday for your cousin (at 3pm preferably). Our Lord Jesus Christ told St Faustina “If you say this prayer (the Divine Mercy), with a contrite heart and with faith, on behalf of some sinner I will give that soul the grace of conversion” -https://www.divinemercy.org/elements-of-divine-mercy/3-o-clock-prayer/10....
2. Pray the rosary everyday for your him so that your prayers can ‘merit for him/her the grace of conversion.’ Our Lady says in promise no.11 (of the Fifteen Promises of the Rosary). "You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary." You could also pray the 4 different mysteries of the rosary everyday. If there is a demon involved, the demon will not be able to stand you praying 4 rosaries a day and will be driven out of the house by Our Lady.
At the start of each decade add this prayer by St. Vincent de Paul: "With these beads (Mother Mary,) bind my cousin to your Immaculate Heart."
Add the novena to Our Lady Undoer of knots - https://www.praymorenovenas.com/mary-undoer-knots-novena.
3. Everyday - Commission of the care of the soul & body for one other person: Into thy hands, Mary, I commend the body and soul of N. I ask thee to provide for him (her) and to protect him (her). I ask thee to protect him (her) from the evil one. I ask thee enlighten his (her) mind, strengthen his (her) will, and refrain his (her) appetites by grace. Our Lady and St. Michael, call down from Heaven the legions of angels under your command to protect him (her); I ask of you all the things I ask of his (her) guardian angel. Guardian angel of N., under thy intellectual and volitional protection I place his (her) body. I ask thee to illumine his (her) mind and refrain his (her) appetites. I ask thee to strengthen his (her) cogitative power, his (her) memory and his (her) imagination. Help him (her) to remember the things he (she) should and not remember the things he (she) should not. Help him (her) to associate the things he (she) should and not to associate the things he (she) should not. Give his (her) good clear images in his (her) imagination. I ask thee to drive away all the demons that might affect him (her) while he (she) sleeps (or throughout the course of the day). (Help him (her) to sleep and, if thou should deem it prudent, direct his (her) dreams. Help him (her) to arise refreshed). Amen. (Deliverance Prayers for use by the Laity by Fr Ripperger exorcist - p.35 or ‘Lord Prepare my Hands for Battle 2.0 p.79).
Get him to wear a blessed object like a Brown Scapular, a Crucifix, a Miraculous Medal.
Offer up a years worth of Holy Masses for your cousin.
Start praying these prayers for your cousin everyday:
These saints are known to break particular vices when we pray to them:
*St Maximilian patron saint of drug addicts - https://prayersandnovenas.com/saints/who-is-the-patron-saint-of-addiction/
*St Jude Thaddeus patron saint of hopeless causes - https://ewtn.co.uk/article-why-is-st-jude-the-patron-saint-of-lost-causes/
*St Dymphna patron saint of mental illness - https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/prayer-to-st-dymphna.html.