Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Dearest friends, CHRISTMAS CRUSADE is something that has become widespread among our people. Today, if your parish is not organizing a Christmas Crusade, then, it may be that you people are not serious and in such case, the parishioners may have to attach themselves to a nearby parish for the Power-Packed Crusade.
Sometimes too, there is a MULTIPLICATION of this crusade; such that the Prayer/Adoration ministry one attends organizes her own, the parish one belongs to in the city does the same, the village parish equally organizes her own when the villagers are back home for the Christmas celebration. In all these Crusades, the reoccurring features are Healing, Breakthrough, Liberation, Signs and Wonders, etc.ย Unfortunately, sometimes the organizers of these Crusades lose sight of where *TRUE* Healing, Breakthrough, Liberation, etc. come from.
๐๐ผBeloved friends, TRUE Healing, Breakthrough, Liberation, etc., come from sincere REPENTANCE and RECONCILIATION with God and neighbour. This is achieved, among other means, through SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION. Unfortunately, today, we see such Catholic Crusades without any provision for SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION. What an IRONY! Remember that when the people brought the paralytic for Jesus to heal him, Jesus’ first words were: โSon, your SINS are FORGIVEN”ย (cf. Mk 2:5). If Jesus Christ knew the necessity of healing the Sinful Soul first, why then are his followers playing down on this NECESSARY aspect of healing, breakthrough, liberation, etc.?
๐๐ผTherefore, we humbly call on all Pastors to ensure that SACRAMENTAL CONFESSIONย forms the major part of the Christmas Crusades henceforth. Where the pastors or organizers of the crusade are not interested, the participants (Crusaders) should necessarily seek for Sacramental CONFESSION on their own for TOTAL and TRUE healing, breakthrough, liberation, etc.
๐๐ผThis powerful quote from Msgr. John Esseff, (Exorcist for over 40 years) buttresses the above thus:
CONFESSION is more powerful than an exorcism. One is a sacrament and the other is a blessing. One confession is worth 100 exorcisms. The devil wants to destroy the soul and the SOUL is HEALED by CONFESSION. If people want to decrease the work of Satan, they should increase the use of confession. Once the confessional line gets thin, the activity of Satan increases. To decrease the work of Satan, increase the use of confession.
Remain blessed๐๐ผ
