Бес

Even the mere memory of dark-shaped demons, the appearance of which is more terrible than any torment (1), is terrifying. How can we resist the demon when his power is strong, but our nature is passionate, and our strength is weak? If the Lord were not among us, then who could save himself whole from the enemy and murderer? (1) Anyone who wants to drive away the seven-headed and multi-faceted demon must undergo many feats of virtue, but... not without firm faith, not without a persistent struggle with passions, not without the special grace of God, which is given to those who diligently seek God and truly love Him. Without them, and especially without the presence of God, it is impossible to get rid of sinful, diverse demonic possession (1). Glory to God and the Mother of God, who delivers people from demonic torment! But beware, man, that the last will not be worse than the first, for the devil returns, taking with him seven other spirits more evil than himself (Matthew 12:45), that is, seven mortal sins: the spirit of pride, the spirit of love of money, the spirit of uncleanness, the spirit of envy, the spirit of gluttony, the spirit of anger, the spirit of sloth - which torment an unrepentant person more evilly than the demon, not temporarily, but forever he will be thrown into unquenchable fire. And so that they do not enter you, let there be a waterless place where the fierce spirit does not find a container for itself, for “it walks through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it” (Matthew 12:43). What is a waterless place? Saint Gregory understands here the hearts of the righteous, which by mortification of the flesh dry up the passions of the flesh. The devil does not find peace in them, for they are free from evil deeds, which are called a swamp by Saints Athanasius and Theodoret, who interpret the psalm words “sunk in deep mud” (Ps. 68:3), that is, in evil deeds, for just as a pig wants to wallow in mud, so the devil wants the swamp of our sins. But so that the cursed does not find a place in us, it is necessary to dry up the sinful swamp by mortification, and especially by the fear and love of God; we must resist him in order to escape from us (3). You might be interested in: