In an effort to counter what the Nicaraguan bishops are calling an “irrational and disproportionate” level of violence against Catholics in that country, they are planning to say the prayer of exorcism to St. Michael the Archangel to combat the violence which is “spiritually rooted in evil.”
Cruxnow.com is reporting on the violent conditions occurring in Nicaragua under President Daniel Ortega and his wife, who serves as the country’s vice president, and who has labeled the Catholic Church as public enemy number one ever since April amidst protects against a social security reform plan.
As a result, the Church has become the target of increasing violence such as churches under siege, a rectory ransacked, a bishop’s vehicle shot up, clergy attacked, and a Caritas charity center torched.
“In Nicaragua, amidst this reality of violence, manifestations of evil are expressing themselves in this irrational and disproportionate violence,” said Father Boanerges Carballo, Managua’s episcopal vicar for pastoral affairs, to Cruxnow.
For example, not only have churches been riddled with bullets, but so have sacred images such as a portrait of Divine Mercy in one church. This is proof that what is going on in Nicaragua is not “only political, but a manifestation of evil,” Father said.
In order to counter this violence which is “spiritually rooted in evil,” the bishops have called for a month of prayer and reparation and four Fridays of prayer and fasting for peace, beginning on July 20.
On that day, “as an act of atonement for the profanation carried out in recent months against God,” the bishops will pray the prayer of exorcism to St. Michael the Archangel.
“We’re urging Catholics to pray and fast on Friday because we believe that this hurt and violence must be healed from the heart of people, and what a better way than to offer the renunciation to things that are manifestations of evil?” Carballo said.
From July 15 to August 15, the Feast of Assumption, they are also calling upon the faithful to make a holy hour every Thursday; to pray and fast on Fridays; to renew Nicaragua’s consecration to Christ on Saturdays and; renew their baptismal promises on Sundays “because with it, we renounce Satan and his seductions, and we profess our faith.”
He went on to say that these manifestations of evil are evident in the violence, but also in actions that go against the dignity of the people and also the dead. During a phone interview, he told Cruxnow that in many places in the country, families have not been permitted to give Christian burial to their loved ones in the past three months.
Thus far, local NGO’s are reporting that 350 people have died since the clashes began in April with the majority of those killed being civilians including some children.
Let us join with our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua to pray against the demonic violence that has been plaguing this country.
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