[Computer generated. Blessed by priest.]
It was immediately after lunch. We began the exorcism session as usual. After only a few moments, I was so overcome with lethargy I could hardly continue. I thought I must have eaten too much lunch! But the lethargy was much too intense for that. As the session continued, I was fighting to move forward with the prayers. It then occurred to me, "Ahh, it's demonic!"
So, I repeatedly commanded the Demons of Lethargy to leave. In the wake of the prayers, some of the heaviness lifted. When the session was over, we gathered for our post-session briefing. Everyone on the Team chimed in that they, too, had been bogged down with an intensive lethargy. It wasn't just me.
This is one more sign that demons were truly present. Evil spirits have a preternatural ability to drain the energy out of people. They are death-dealers and suck the life out of those they attack. In an exorcism, they will do everything they can to stop the process and this is one of their tricks. But we recognized it and pressed forward, although it felt like trying to walk through quicksand.
Shortly thereafter, I was praying with someone who was similarly afflicted with demons. I had him do the three R's and renounce the demons affecting him. It seemed like a simple request: "Please say: 'In Jesus' name, I renounce, I reject, I rebuke the demons of [say the names or types]. In his holy name, I cast them out.'" But he struggled mightily to say each word. His mind was so bogged down, he couldn't think.
This is one more sign that demons are inherently powerful but chained. They were not able to stop the exorcism; they were not able to stop the person from rejecting them; but they were allowed to make it difficult. For me, it's a helpful piece of information in discernment. When a preternatural lethargy strikes, I know demons are present, no matter how they try to hide.
This is important for everyone. Lethargy strikes most people from time to time and likely has a natural cause. Sometimes a heavy meal can make you sleepy! Or we might just be loathing the task at hand and don't want to do it. But I continually hear of a powerful, unexplained lethargy striking people when they begin tasks that demons inherently hate such as an exorcism, a holy ministry, pro-life work, praying, going to Mass or Eucharistic adoration, and the like.
When the lethargy is demonic, we press ahead, perhaps even more committed to the holy task at hand. When it has a natural cause, then natural remedies should be employed. Below is a three-step process for dealing with lethargy when it has a preternatural cause:
Step 1: Recognize demonic obsessions: sudden, unexplained, unusually powerful and debilitating. Then disappropriate: "this is not me; it is the Evil One."
Step 2: Use the three R's. I reject, I rebuke and I renounce these Demons of Lethargy.
Step 3: Turn the mind to holy things. Such as the Bible, lives of the saints, Eucharistic adoration, rosary.
Jesus is Lord! The Evil One can make us "walk through quicksand", but he cannot stop the Kingdom of God.
https://www.catholicexorcism.org/post/exorcist-diary-394-casting-out-demons-of-lethargy