On the Verge of Damnation

Story 1 – On the Verge of Damnation

Fr. Sergio lives a mostly secluded life with other priests like him who spend their lives in daily penance for the sake of the world. As such, they are the targets of demons that wish to see them and the world damned with Sergio being one of their primary targets since he can see and hear them as if they were physically there. Because of the target on his back, the other priests keep away from him if they can so as to not attract the attention of the demons surrounding him and make their penance harder.

During one of his scheduled secluded times in the adoration chapel, the demons tell him, “The other priests think you are cursed. You’re a danger to them, to their salvation, and the salvation of many others as a result. You may as well live by yourself, or better yet, you kill yourself, now. Think of the souls you’ll be saving by doing so.”

Ignoring this temptation by keeping his mind quiet and on God, Sergio keeps his inner peace.

“Uh, can you hear me? Isn’t what I’m saying important to you? I guess not since you’re not responding. Be that way then. It’s obvious that you don’t care about other people.”

Continuing with his day, Sergio goes on to have a meager meal of bread and water during which a demon appears from the food closet. Undisturbed by its sudden appearance, he takes what he needs from the food closet, closes the doors on its face, and goes on to sit by himself in the garden.

“That was rude of you,” the demon says. “Kind of like how it’s rude that you’re staying away from the other priests. You are hardly even present when the bishop and new priests come to visit. What is it with you? Don’t you care about other people? Don’t you care to make other people know how you feel? The difficulties you go through daily?”

Sergio doesn’t respond to the demon and just stares up at the blue sky.

“Do you see something up there I don’t? How’s this appearance for you?” The demon’s form changes to that of one that Sergio recognizes. “You left your wife because you felt God’s call to the priesthood. It was a pain getting that divorce even though your wife understood, but still, it was painful, wasn’t it? Maybe if you were there when she was attacked, she’d still be alive. No one was there to help her. Not even God.”

The demon’s words strike Sergio so deeply that he has to concentrate harder on eating, breathing, and keeping calm so as to not give in to anger. After finishing his lunch, he breathes in and out to release any remaining tension before going back to his prayer routine. Next on his daily agenda is daily mass. Even though the demons try tempting him during it, Sergio and the priests drown out and repel them with their chanting and singing in Latin. Now near the end of his day is saying the rosary with all its mysteries. A demon possesses a priest and sits with him. As this is happening, a couple of priests look at the two and are unsure of what to do.

“Is this the life you want for yourself? A life of constant seclusion, pain, and thankless penance? The two priests over there know what I am, and yet, they don’t even think about praying for you or doing anything to get me away from you. They just want to watch and see what happens,” the demon says.

Sergio bends his head deeper down as he tries to concentrate on his prayers.

“You won’t earn a greater place in Heaven because others have led greater lives of piety than you. You can’t go back to your comfortable life of having a family and stable job unless you give up your role as a priest. Why even continue in your penance if people will continue to sin? To go to Hell regardless? God will not reward or comfort you for every soul you save. All you will get is pain and some meaningless feelings of comfort here and there. All of this is meaningless and vain.”

“Shut up!” Sergio says as his nerves finally give in and breaks his rosary with his hands in the process.

At this moment, it feels as if everything in nature around him stands still, even the air. The priests who were watching him hold their breath while their ears ring. After recognizing what he’s done, the demon-possessed priest asks God and then Sergio for forgiveness but is only met with silence. At this moment, Sergio feels the demons and damned from Hell clawing for him. He sees those who claim that he did penance for and people he’s cared for burning and telling him that he’s just like them and will join them in death. The crying and screaming from Hell suddenly ends when Sergio brings peace to his heart, and yet, the demons keep clawing at his soul and accusing him of every sin he’s confessed and yet to confess.

Sergio then gets up and turns to the previously demon-possessed priest and asks, “I forgive you. It looks like we both need to go to confession.”

“Yes-yes, you’re right,” the priest admits.

Both priests go to confession and feel much better afterward. The two priests then talk afterward and become friends over their shared struggle. Their rest is short-lived, however, as the demons come back and tempt the priests to despair as they are accused of giving half-hearted confessions and that God has not and will never forgive them. It is then that their guardian angels manifest also and show the demons the list of the priests’ sins in their books are being erased by blood, which makes the demons disappear and leave the priests be, for now. After going about the rest of their daily penances and responsibilities, the priests go to their rooms to rest for the night.

Even though he is sleeping, Sergio is still targeted by the demons as they try to affect his dreams, but tonight, every saint that he prays to, his guardian angel, and the Blessed Mother come to his aid this night. Their appearance scares away the demons and allows Sergio to sleep peacefully. He wakes up in the morning and says his prayers in high spirits like always despite being constantly harassed by demons since he knows God and His faithful are on his side.