Fr. Boniface Hicks illustrates the spectrum of demonic influence from temptation all the way to possession. He offers a description of the role of the laity in deliverance ministry and how it is important at all stages of the spiritual journey, from community and accompaniment to creating ‘safe spaces’ for the wounded to rest. The ministry of Unbound, he explains, is a powerful way to recover our identity and destiny and to receive the Father’s blessing.
Dr. Anthony Lilles reminds us that the victory over sin and death has been definitively won. Yet, we all have our personal battles in prayer to fight to receive the blessing of the Father, the possession of Christ Jesus, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is the true beginning of mystical wisdom.
Kathleen Beckman provides fascinating case studies to describe the entry points for darkness to creep into our homes and families. She explains how families have been a target of the evil one from the beginning, and offers key practices for keeping marriages and families strong in the face of attack, especially through devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Dan Burke discloses the darkest times of his life and the powerful way God answered his cry for help in the revelation of Jesus and the liberation from the grip of sin and evil.
He lays out three levels of spiritual practices that can serve as a type of ‘battle plan’ and increasingly diminish the power of the enemy of our souls.
Paul McCusker gives a presentation on C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece, The Screwtape Letters. A close reading of this classic reveals the enemy of our souls and exactly what he wants and his tactics to get it, including: keeping our good intentions from turning into actions and keeping us oblivious to spiritual reality, confused, focused on our selves, and disillusioned.
A powerful dramatic reading of the final letter from the book reveals the Screwtape’s torture and desperation in a spine-chilling way.
Fr. William Watson, S.J. explains the discernment we need in our everyday decisions to follow God’s will and promptings. He presents the story of St. Ignatius’ awakening which laid the foundation for his rules for discernment and the Spiritual Exercises, and draws on his own experiences as a priest and spiritual director to illustrate some of the fundamental themes of discernment, including: the need for the souls to encounter Christ, the transformative power of the examen, and the importance of humility and obedience.
In his first talk, Fr. Dennis McManus, Ph.D. explores the relationship of Satan and Jesus Christ in the Gospels. Beginning with the infancy and hidden life of Jesus, and continuing through the revelation in his baptism, the temptation in the desert, the public battle, the enemy’s counter-attack and false victory on the Cross, he reveals how Jesus Christ exorcised the world by His Resurrection and handed Satan his ultimate defeat.
In his second talk, Fr. Dennis McManus, Ph.D. discusses in depth the five common doors through which demons attack: sin, wounds, inheritance of occult practices, contracts with evil, and demonic choice. He explains two sets of skills we must become proficient in to ward off the encroachment of the enemy: environmental protection and ‘talk-back,’ and exactly how—and how not—to practice them.
In this short clip, watch the beautiful testimonies of both Avila Institute students and attendees of this past year’s Avila Summit.