sábado, 19 de febrero de 2011

Overcome Your Tech-Phobia

Action Step #3 — Understand Technology Basics

According to a 2004 study by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) partner ADVO, one in five parents and guardians do not know any Internet codes, passwords, instant message handles or e-mail addresses that their children use online. Less than 5 percent of parents and guardians are familiar with the most commonly used Internet chat abbreviations, like "POS," which stands for "parent over shoulder."
Because parents and guardians may feel like their children are leaps and bounds ahead of them when it comes to technology, they often don't know how to help their children address online safety.
If you're one of those parents or guardians who does not feel confident in the technology arena, Nancy McBride, national safety director for NCMEC, recommends you take a class or read a book to learn the basics. She also suggests that you ask your children to show you what they know about the computer. Use the tutorial as a time to talk about setting some rules for Internet use.
It's also important not to assume that your child knows more than you do. Research by NCMEC for its national public service advertising campaign which talks to teen girls about the risks they can encounter online, found that children viewed themselves as super-surfers online, and were overconfident about their abilities to handle online threats.
"The reality is that your children need your guidance online, just like in the real world," said McBride. "Parents and guardians need to be as knowledgeable of today's online world as they are about the mechanics of crossing a street or driving a car."

Frase de Madre Teresa(2/19/11)

Dar hasta que duela y cuando duela dar todavía más.

viernes, 18 de febrero de 2011

Don't Pull the Plug

Action Step #2 — Put the Computer in a Public Area of Your Home

courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
You may be tempted to return that newly-purchased computer or to pull the plug on the Internet completely, but experts say that banishing the Internet from your home is not the answer. "That's not going to work because your child has access to computers in so many places," said Nancy McBride, national safety director for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children(NCMEC).
Public access can be key to nurturing a safer online environment in your home. NCMEC recommends that you put your family's computer in a public area, such as a family room or living room.
When the computer is in a high-traffic area, parents and guardians are more diligent about checking on its usage. Easy access allows a parent or guardian to monitor activities and how much time children spend online.
Internet filters and blocking software can be helpful tools for parents and guardians, according to McBride. "But just like in the real world, they are still no substitute for a parent's guidance and supervision."
And don't be afraid to ask questions. It's okay to ask who your child is talking to online. After all, you wouldn't allow your child to go to another person's house without knowing who the person is — the same rules apply online. "Your child should have no expectation of privacy on a computer," said McBride. "The computer is not their personal diary."
The point is not to be overbearing and nosey — it's to be as informed about your child's online life as you are about his/her "real" life. You should know who your child has on his/her buddy list. Find out their favorite online hangouts and websites. Set rules and guidelines for what they can and cannot do online.

Frase de Madre Teresa(2/18/11)

No puedo parar de trabajar. Tendré toda la eternidad para descansar.

Versículo del Día 2/18/11

Dichoso el pueblo escogido por Dios. Salmo 32

Oración: Señor, si soy parte del pueblo escogido por Tí, por qué a veces no me comporto como tál? Con mi comportamiento y mis palabras, sin darme cuenta, te ofendo o te niego. Ayúdame a ser consciente de quien soy, de que papel hago en este mundo, y de cómo debo vivir mi vida para que sea verdaderamente bendita y merecedora de Tu amor por mí.

jueves, 17 de febrero de 2011

Preparing Your Child for the Online World

courtesy of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Before you invest big bucks on the latest computer for your child, it is important to first understand the potential dangers that lurk there, and how to help keep your child safe from pornography, predators and other Internet dangers.

Prepare Your Child for the Real Worldand the Online World

When kids rip the wrapping paper off the box and a new computer emerges, it's all smiles.
But before you set up that new computer and head for the Web, parents and guardians should already have a plan for managing online access. Although the Internet provides tremendous access to educational resources for children, it also harbors lurking dangers, including sexual offenders who use the Internet to mask their identities and cultivate relationships directly with children.
Just as you teach your child how to confront dangers in the real world, you need to prepare them for life in the online world. You wouldn't think of letting your child rollerblade for the first time without safety pads, and you wouldn't dream of letting him or her give out your home phone number to someone they didn't know on the street.
Yet many parents and guardians set up a home computer without considering online safety basics. Keep your gift-giving memories happy and your child safer. In the sections that follow, you'll find practical steps and tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Frases De Madre Teresa(2/17/11)

No debemos permitir que alguien se aleje de nuestra presencia sin sentirse mejor y más feliz.

Versículo del Día 2/17/11

Hermanos: ¿No saben ustedes que son el templo de Dios y que el Espíritu de Dios habita en ustedes? ...el templo de Dios es santo y ustedes son ese templo. Corintios 3:16-23

Oración: Señor, Tu eres mi Creador y habitas en mí. Eso no hace que yo sea un dios. Simplemente soy hijo tuyo. Para que habites en mí, debo cuidar mi cuerpo, mi mente y mi alma de cosas que la ensucien y me hagan daño. Enséñame!!

miércoles, 16 de febrero de 2011

Estudiando Aburrida a Diego Rivera

Soy artista y este semestre estoy estudiando el Arte Moderno Latinoamericano. En este momento estoy viendo el muralismo de los tres grandes de Mexico: Sigueiros, Orozco y Rivera. Me pregunto: Qué le ven a estos muralistas? Qué eran marxistas revolucionarios y en pro del mestizaje? 
Rivera era comunista y nunca se han encontrado pruebas de que haya leido un solo escrito por Marx. A veces pienso que los artistas en general, tienen un afán de rebelarse que se convierten en clichés mismos. Típicamente se rebelan en contra de la religión. Cuál es la insistencia en burlarse del catolicismo y lo establecido? No he podido entender. Me parece hasta chistoso que por momentos no solo critican la religión sino la misma política que ellos respaldan y se puede ver en varios murales de Rivera. Uno de estos es la "Quema de los Judas". 
En fín, estas son unas pequeñas reflexiones en mi aburrida clase sobre el muralismo mexicano. Solo puedo decir: Salvese quien pueda.

Frase de Madre Teresa(2/16/11)

Nuestros sufrimientos son caricias bondadosas de Dios, llamándonos para que nos volvamos a Él, y para hacernos reconocer que no somos nosotros los que controlamos nuestras vidas, sino que es Dios quien tiene el control, y podemos confiar plenamente en Él.

SEXY TOO SOON

American girls are increasingly being fed a steady diet of products and images that pressure them to be sexy. From clothing to cartoons, choreography to commercials, the emphasis on sexuality undercuts parents' efforts to instill purity in their daughters.
The American Psychological Association (APA) warns that this sexualization of girls is harmful to their self-image and healthy development. 
The proliferation of sexual images also undermines a girl's confidence in her own body. In fact, research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problems diagnosed in girls and women — eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
Let's take a closer look at some of the cultural influences bombarding our daughters.

Suggestive fashion

Have you shopped for girls' clothing lately? Toddlers to teens are inundated with adult fashions. Pop singer Beyonce now has her own clothing line that introduces the red-light district to the school lunchroom.
Popular clothing items among teens include thong underwear and shorts displaying suggestive words across the backside. The abundance of racy clothing emphasizes the message: Dress sexy.

Tarted-up toys

As young girls, most moms probably owned Barbie dolls and enjoyed collecting their clothing and accessories. Mattel today takes style to a new level with the introduction of Black Canary Barbie for adult collectors. Designed as a comic-book character, this doll is dressed in fishnet hose, a leather bikini bottom and a black leather jacket. She's available in toy stores, right next to Ballerina Barbie. Explain that to your preschooler.

Pop-culture icons

You can't walk through the grocery checkout aisle without seeing the latest shenanigans of young celebrities. The lives of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan fascinate young girls. The Hannah Montana phenomenon, while seemingly innocent at first, has been colored by provocative photos of teenage actress Miley Cyrus. The media push young starlets to move beyond "precocious and cute" to "sensual and sexy." All the while, impressionable tween fans stand by in wide-eyed wonder, wanting to be just like them.

Who's to blame?

While it's easy to blame media for these poisonous influences, we also need to scrutinize ourselves. How many of these influences have we allowed into our homes? Are we modeling a healthy biblical view of gender and sex? If we fret over physical appearance or enjoy media laden with sexual images, chances are we will pass on the same mind-set to our daughters.
We must take a fresh look at what messages enter our home. While it would be impossible to shield children from every damaging influence, we can certainly take a stand against the worst offenders. And we can inoculate our kids against the world's counterfeit sexuality by talking to them about God's good plan for men and women.
Our culture tries to convince our daughters that they amount to nothing more than the sum of their parts. Only by addressing this lie head-on will we equip our children with the truth. Our daughters need to know that God's standard for beauty is the only standard that matters.

Combatting Cultural Influences

by Shawn Alyne Strannigan
When my children were toddlers, I installed childproof latches on all the cabinets and drawers within their grasp to keep them from ingesting dangerous substances. During the grade school years, I zealously guarded the shows they watched ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was banned) to make sure they didn't pollute their young minds.
When my girls reached their teen years, I realized that health and intellect weren't the only areas that needed protection. Spiritual dangers lurked in humanistic curricula, dehumanizing music and peer pressure. But how could I create a safe environment that encouraged rather than undermined their spiritual growth?
None of my daughters seemed interested in joining a convent, so I began asking the Lord for wisdom. He reminded me that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20). And He taught me that knowledge is a powerful weapon in spiritual realms.

Know your kids

Play with them, and pray with them. By careful observation, you can discern their spiritual gifts and subtle character flaws. Are they leaders or followers? Confident or insecure? This knowledge is essential as you determine what environments and relationships are helpful — or harmful — to their spiritual growth. Every child is different, and what's helpful for one is not necessarily the best for another.
For example, my youngest daughter wrestled with peer pressure when she was in high school. Candyce loved Jesus but made bad choices when peer pressure was too great. Her dad and I had to monitor her choices carefully.
Her older sister Danielle, on the other hand, never wavered in her faith — or her actions — when pressured by friends. Her beliefs were tested in the classroom. Knowing this, I made sure we had lots of discussions about issues that confused her. Her dad and I were able to be sounding boards as she learned to sift through truth and error.

Know their hangouts

Where do your kids spend the majority of their time? At school? The mall? Sports practice? Youth group activities? How familiar are you with their stomping grounds?
When my girls were in junior high and high school, they decided to start a Christian punk rock band. When they actually began booking shows, I was a little concerned about the venues — not to mention the clientele who would attend their concerts. So I went undercover and became their manager. I learned a lot about my daughters, their friends and the alternative music culture, which helped me to make informed decisions about concerts and parties they wanted to attend.
Here's an important safety tip: Just because a place — be it a school, concert, coffee house — has the adjective Christian somewhere in its name, that doesn't mean it's going to benefit your child's faith. My oldest daughter, Lindsay, attended a respected Christian high school and graduated with honors. She recently told me, however, that she found it more faith-numbing than faith-inspiring. Sure, some of the students were walking out their relationships with Christ, but in Lindsay's opinion, the majority of her peers had learned the fine art of schmoozing. They lived double lives and invited her to do the same.
There are no hard rules by which to measure the spiritual influence of any given place. Lindsay now works in the secular music industry. That spiritual environment is sketchy at best, but I've seen Lindsay's faith grow as she's been constantly challenged. Most days, she shines like a star "in a crooked and depraved generation" (Philippians 2:15). She's figuring out how to keep the faith in a godless arena.
The only foolproof way to know if an environment is going to be a help or hazard is to check it out yourself. Watch how your kids respond to the pressures around them. Volunteer at school and get to know their teachers and coaches. Help with the youth group or take your kids to see their favorite band in concert.

Know their friends

As Eddie Haskell so humorously illustrated in the "Leave It to Beaver" series, sometimes the veneer of respectability can overlay the heart of a rascal. Short of hiring a private detective to tail our kids' buddies, how do we know what kind of effect they have on our children?
"Since I spend a lot of time driving my younger teens and their friends to various events, I use that car time as a way to get to know their friends," says Jill, a mother of three sons. "I try to ask questions about their families and interests. You can learn a lot about a kid's character if you are paying attention."
Parents can also get a clue about their children's friends by regularly reading comments on their blogs and MySpace accounts. Don't hesitate to check out their friends' profiles. You might feel as though you are eavesdropping, but the reality is that unless MySpace profiles are set to private, all that information is for public display.
Create an open atmosphere in your home, making it a safe haven for your kids and their friends. Encourage honest, lively discussions where young minds can express themselves without the fear of being judged. Our girls — and their friends — have learned that even if we don't agree on every issue, we will treat them with respect. Faith is built when there's freedom to speak frankly and wrestle with tough subjects — even if it makes us wince.
When it comes to assessing the spiritual impact of any environment on our kids, knowledge is power. Know your children, know their hangouts and know their friends. Empowered by this knowledge, you can help your kids keep the faith. And maybe you'll even keep your sanity.

Versículo del Día 2/16/11

Jesús dijo: Mirad las aves del cielo, que no siembran, ni siegan, ni recogen en graneros; y, sin embargo, vuestro Padre celestial las alimenta. ¿No valéis vosotros mucho más que ellas? ¿Y quién de vosotros podrá, por mucho que se angustie, añadir a su estatura un codo?  Y por el vestido, ¿por qué os angustiáis? Considerad los lirios del campo,cómo crecen: no trabajan ni hilan. Mateo 6:26-30

Oración: Señor, por qué he de estresarme si Tu me amas? Acaso no me doy cuenta? Si algo tiene remedio, para qué me preocupo y si no lo tiene, para qué me preocupo? Tu, Señor, estás a cargo. Se que me amas y valgo mucho para Tí. Eso es suficiente!

martes, 15 de febrero de 2011

Is Death a Dead End?



Death will come for us all and it is a cause for joy and hope.
by David Barton, LC | Source: Catholic.net
As I entered the crypt beneath the church of the Immaculate Conception (referred to here in Rome as the “bone church”), I marveled at the chapel constructed of monk’s bones. It was built by the Capuchin order to offer their living members a place of holy meditation on death. I was spending that day with a group of high-school students from California, and at least the boys in the group seemed as enchanted by the chapel as I was. From the bone church we went to the famous “Spanish Steps”, and arrived just in time to see a large white limo pull up and deposit six scantily clad Italian soap opera stars on the side of the street. As they made their way down the steps towards the square, they were soon swarmed with a mob of young people and flashing cameras. “Wow”, said a few of the boys from Napa who were standing next to me, “those ladies need to visit the bone church and be reminded of what they will be in a few years.” “Yep, just a pile of bones”, chimed in one of their dads, “and maybe a few sacks of silicone too.”

Woody Allen once said, “It’s not that I am afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Why do we all have such a natural fear of death? We can start to understand this by remembering that in the beginning death was not really in the original plans. It is only after man offended God and disrupted nature by his sin that, as the Bible tells us “By the sweat of your face shall you get your bread to eat, until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; for you are dirt, and to dirt you shall return.” Also, we find comfort in control. Death is both the most certain part of our lives (since we all will someday die and there is no getting around it), and the most uncertain part. We do not know the day or the hour. Death could also stir up fear within us simply because it is unknown. We don’t know what it will be like to die, and as a wise preacher once said, “Many people will die today that have never died before.”

Maybe our fear of death is not as rational as we think. It is true that we don’t know what it will be like to die, but we do believe in a God that is able to bring good from apparent evil and to overcome death with life. It’s also true that we do not know the day or the hour, but then again nobody likes to work under the pressure of deadlines. Did you ever think that we might be able to enjoy this life a little more not knowing when it will end? Not knowing our expiration date is possibly not such a bad thing after all. As Christians, there is very little about death to be feared. If we have lived this life in friendship with God, we will simply continue living that friendship after death for all eternity.

As you exit the bone church, there is a plaque which says: “What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be.” I believe that this is not only meant to be a reminder that death will come for us all, but also a cause for joy and hope. I say this not because I hope to have my bones on display someday, but rather because I hope to share the joy of eternal life with God. When we hold a Catholic mass for the deceased, the priest prays in petition to God the Father that after death “we hope to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are.”
David Barton, LC studies for the priesthood in Rome.

How to Go to Confession



There are four main steps to make a good confession.
by Sonia Baldwin, consecrated wom | Source: Mater Ecclesiae College
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23)

Have you ever been ill and needed a doctor? Or maybe you just wanted a regular check-up to see how things were going. Confession is much like visiting a doctor but in confession, you are visiting the doctor of your soul. There is no one who knows us better than the one who created us and if there is a disease or malady to be found within us, he is the one who will find it and cure us. Unlike human medicine, this doctor can cure any illness of the soul and has remedies for every disease. And like all doctors, he does prescribe medicines, some which don’t taste so good but all of which help us to get better.

How can I visit this doctor and what will the medicines be? Well, confession is much simpler than an ordinary doctor and best of all, it will cost you nothing because this doctor has already paid the cost of the medicines by His death upon the cross.

Thanks to the love and mercy of God, there is no sin too great to be forgiven; there will never be a sinner who is rejected. Every person who repents will be received with pardon and love by Jesus Christ. (John Paul II)
There are four simple steps to get you through.
1. Examining your conscience
First it helps to examine your conscience. This means going over your life since your last confession and thinking about what you did wrong or what you didn’t do that you know you should have done. The Ten Commandments are a great place to start. Go through each commandment one at a time and think of ways that you may have not lived it well in your daily life. There are many good confession guides that do this but if you are having trouble finding one, then the Catechism of the Catholic Church goes through each commandment in depth and you could use that as a guide to help you prepare confession.
2. Penitential rite
Next comes the penitential rite. What does this mean? Well, you are the penitent and the rite is going to confession with the priest. Most Catholic churches have some set times for confession. You can call the parish and ask or just check their bulletin or notice boards. Most priests should be available at any time for confession if you just ask them.
The first most important thing before actually entering the confessional is a real sorrow for the sins you have committed against God, detestation for those sins and the resolve to not sin again. This is called contrition. This resolve does not guarantee that you will not make the same mistake again, but what is important is that your heart is in the right place and that you are trying not to keep falling into the same sins.

On entering the confessional it is customary to kneel before the priest (or sit if needed). Kneeling is a sign of sorrow for sin and also submission before God who is represented by the presence of the priest. Remember, it is not the priest you are telling your sins to, but Christ. He is the one who has the power to forgive you and through the priest He imparts His forgiveness and mercy.

Most confessionals have a guide inside or if not, then just ask the priest what to do if you are unsure. The priest will begin with a prayer or some scriptural reading and then you may begin the confession. Tell him how long it has been since your last confession and then tell him of your sins as you reflected beforehand.
3. Act of contrition

Once you are finished the priest will give you some advice, he will give you a penance (some prayer or work that you need to fulfill in reparation for your sins) and then he will ask you to make an act of contrition. This can be a simple prayer (see below) or you can ask the priest to direct you in some prayer.
4. Absolution

After this the priest will pray the prayer of absolution (see below) over you where in the name of Christ he imparts Christ’s forgiveness for your sins. He will then say some final words of blessing and then you may leave.
Remember, only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven." Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.


GUIDE FOR PREPARING YOUR CONFESSION

1st – Love the Lord Your God above all else

Have I forgotten to pray to God every day?
Have I allowed myself to doubt something about my faith that the Church teaches me? Have I ever allowed myself to deny these truths in my thoughts or before other people?
Have I lost confidence in the mercy of God when seeing my own sins? Have I taken advantage of his mercy by thinking that it does not matter if I sin because, in the end, he will always forgive me?
Have I rebelled against God in my thoughts or in my actions when some kind of difficulty has come my way? Do I believe in good luck charms or superstitions? Do I believe in magic or spirits?
2nd – Do not use the Lord’s name in vain
Have I blasphemed? (speaking badly about God, Mary or the saints)
Have I taken the Lord’s name in vain? Disrespectfully?
When I was angry? Even in jest or with little respect?
Have I sworn to do something bad?
Have I made disrespectful jokes about prayer, the sacraments, or the Church?
3rd –Keep Holy the Lord ’s Day

Have I purposely missed mass on Sunday or on other holy days of obligation?
Have I let myself get distracted in mass or arrived late (after the gospel)?
Have I ever received communion knowing that I was in mortal sin?
Have I respected the fast one hour before receiving communion?
Have I ever omitted a grave sin in confession because I was embarrassed?
Have I fulfilled the penance from the last confession?
4th – Honor your Father and your Mother
Have I disobeyed my parents?
Has my pride or desire to be independent made me misinterpret what my parents were trying to tell me?
Have I upset my parents with my behavior?
Have I threatened them, or treated them badly in my words or actions, or have I wished something against them?
Do I study with responsibility or have I let myself be lazy?
Have I sacrificed my own personal interests, whims, time, to fulfill my duties to help and cooperate with what is needed at home?
How do I treat my brothers and sisters?
5th – You shall not Kill

Do I have any enemies, hatred or resentment against anyone? Have I ever let myself be led by my anger?
Have I stopped speaking to someone because I was annoyed with them? Have I refused to make amends with them?
Have I wished anything bad on my neighbor? Have I rejoiced when something went wrong for someone else?
Have I fought or hit anyone?
Have I been a cause of scandal for anyone with my behavior?
Have I put my life in danger or the lives of others while driving?
Have I made fun of other people or ridiculed them?
Do I ask for things from other people in a rude way, lacking charity?
Am I selfish with the things that I have and is it hard for me to give them to others?
Have I put my health in danger by drinking too much? Doing drugs? Not eating properly or doing excessive dieting?
6th and 9th – You shall not consent to impure acts or thoughts

Have I consented to impure thoughts or memories?
Have I had impure conversations with my friends? Did I begin them?
Have I looked at impure things? (TV, internet, movies, magazines or billboards)
Have I been to activities where I placed myself in a near occasion of sin? (certain dances, movies, concerts, impure literature or bad company?)
Have I done anything impure?
Have I let myself be led by curiosity and fall into the temptation to see pornography? (magazines, movies, internet, etc)?
Do I have any friendships that lead me into habitual sin?
Am I willing to leave them?
7th and 10th – You shall not steal or desire your neighbors goods

Have I stolen anything or money? Have I helped anyone else to steal?
Have I returned a stolen item if I could?
Have I misused other people’s things? Or tried to trick them into losing something?
When I see other people’s talents or material things, am I envious?
Do I use my talents, gifts and qualities that God has given me?
8th – You shall not bear false witness

Have I lied? Have I made reparation for any hurt I may have caused by lying? Have I criticized other people or spoken about their shortcomings?
Have I defended other people when they are being criticized unjustly?
Have I judged other people harshly? (thinking badly of then and without due cause?)
Have I revealed secrets about other people?
Have I spoken badly about others?
Have I cheated on exams or homework?

Versículo del Día 2/15/11

 Jesús dijo: “¿Por qué están comentando que no trajeron panes? ¿Todavía no entienden ni acaban de comprender? ¿Para qué tienen ustedes ojos, si no ven, y oídos, si no oyen? ¿No recuerdan cuántos canastos de sobras recogieron, cuando repartí cinco panes entre cinco mil hombres?” Entonces él dijo: “¿Y todavía no acaban de comprender?” Marcos 8:14-21

Oración: Señor, haces milagros enfrente mío y a pesar de eso, se me olvidan rápidamente y sigo siendo tibio, incrédulo, desagradecido. Me quedo estancado mirando hacia atrás sin darme cuenta cuantas posibilidades de felicidad tengo delante de mí. Soy ciego? Soy sordo? Por qué vivo dormido sin VER tantas gracias que Tu me das día tras día?

lunes, 14 de febrero de 2011

EL EXORCISMO

El exorcismo es una antigua y particular forma de oración que hace un ministro ordenado de la Iglesia, en nombre de Jesucristo y por el poder que Jesucristo ha otorgado a su Iglesia para liberar del poder de Satanás, demonio. Por lo tanto no es oración personal sino de la Iglesia.
El Catecismo #1673: "Cuando la Iglesia pide públicamente y con autoridad, en nombre de Jesucristo, que una persona o un objeto sea protegido contra las asechanzas del maligno y sustraída a su dominio, se habla de exorcismo. Jesús lo practicó (Mc 1,25 ss), de El tiene la Iglesia el poder y el oficio de exorcizar".
Los exorcismos pueden ser simples o solemnes. El exorcismo simple se reza en el rito del bautismo.
El exorcismo solemne es un sacramental que sólo puede ser válidamente celebrado por un sacerdote con el permiso del Ordinario(obispo) del lugar. El obispo da permiso al sacerdote para cada caso o puede, con el permiso de la Santa Sede, formalmente otorgar a un sacerdote el oficio de exorcista. En ese caso el sacerdote está facultado para exorcizar y no necesita un permiso particular para cada caso.

Solo el exorcista con la debida licencia puede verificar la verdadera posesión diabólica. Es un proceso difícil en el que se deben descartar causas naturales. 
Según el Padre Amorth, exorcista de Roma, el poder de expulsar demonios que Jesús confirió a todos los creyentes conserva toda validez. Es un poder general basado en la fe y en la oración, y puede ser ejercido por individuos o comunidades sin ninguna autorización. Sin embargo, en este caso, se trata de plegarias de liberación, y no se deben llamar exorcismos. Sólo al sacerdote autorizado, además de al obispo exorcizante, corresponde el nombre de exorcista.  "Habla un Exorcista", Planeta + Testimonio, pag. 43-44.
En algunas diócesis hay laicos que han sido preparados para el ministerio de liberación (no exorcismo) bajo la dirección de un sacerdote. La liberación es oración para liberar de la opresión del demonio pero sin utilizar el rito de exorcismo. Nadie debe ejercer este ministerio sin autorización de la Iglesia. 
Jesús vino a liberarnos del poder de Satanás y darnos la gracia de ser hijos de Dios.
Jesús le increpó y el demonio salió de él; y quedó sano el niño desde aquel momento. Mateo 17,18
Jesús impartió su poder liberador a sus discípulos para que ellos y sus sucesores continuaran la misión de liberación y exorcismo en su nombre. Por lo tanto el protagonista en el exorcismo es Dios a través de su ministro y no el demonio.
El les dijo: «Yo veía a Satanás caer del cielo como un rayo.  Mirad, os he dado el poder de pisar sobre serpientes y escorpiones, y sobre todo poder del enemigo, y nada os podrá hacer daño»  Lucas 10,18-19
El exorcista ante todo busca llevar la persona atribulada a un encuentro con Jesús. Para ello es necesario apertura a los canales de gracia en la Iglesia: la confesión, la eucaristía, la meditación de la Palabra, la comunidad, la catequesis...  Es un camino de fe en al que se invita también a la familia Cf. Mc 9, 14-29.
Necesidad de diagnóstico y la prudencia El Padre Gramolazzo comenta:
Actualmente muchos viven una fe supersticiosa o de superstición y muchos tienden a no hacerse responsables, no saben afrontar el sufrimiento y atribuyen todo trastorno físico o espiritual a la acción del demonio. Pero frecuentemente el remedio es una verdadera y sincera confesión. Cuando en cambio se percibe aversión a lo sagrado, enfermedades desconocidas o incluso síntomas difíciles de identificar, es posible que sea necesario el exorcismo. La presencia demoníaca de cualquier forma hay que diagnosticarla en cada caso. En cambio debería haber más dedicación a la ascesis, a la oración, a la penitencia. La mentalidad popular ha exagerado los poderes de Satanás, que son los de un ángel común.
En la vida diaria para defenderse del mal basta con ser coherentes con el Evangelio, no tener miedo de testimoniar la propia fe y cuidar la propia relación con Dios. A veces es Dios mismo quien permite que algunos sean vejados u obsesionados; piénsese en algunos santos. Pero en estos casos nos hallamos ante planes divinos para nosotros impenetrables.

Versículo del Día 2/14/11

 El Señor dijo:“¿Por qué te enfureces tanto y andas resentido? Si hicieras el bien, te sentirías feliz; pero si haces el mal, el pecado estará a tu puerta, acechándote como fiera; pero tú debes dominarlo”. Génesis 4:1-15,25

Oración: Señor, el negativismo, el resentimiento, la envidia o la rabia son dañinos para la salud física, mental y espiritual del que tiene estos sentimientos. Lo bueno que uno piensa y hace se devuelve en creces. También lo malo es así. Pensar el mal es casi tan malo como hacerlo. No hay nada en la vida que traiga más satisfacción y felicidad que hacer el bien. Señor, si tengo algún pensamiento negativo o si me enfurezco, ayúdame a eliminarlo de mi mente. Solo quiero hacer el bien, pensar el bien para vivir feliz. No solo quiero hacerlo por mi prójimo sino por mi bienestar y al final, por Tu gloria.