The Battle Against Satan of One of the Greatest Exorcists of All Time
Throughout the history of the Church, there have been saints who fought extraordinary battles against Satan. He used all his strength in an attempt to break them, but he could not prevail, simply because the true strength of the saints against the devil did not come from themselves, but from their ability to entrust themselves completely and unconditionally to the Lord.
Among them was one saint who engaged in a truly extraordinary battle against the devil himself—a struggle that still serves today as a powerful warning, calling us to remain vigilant against evil and the many ways it seeks to enter our lives.
Saint John Vianney is known as the patron saint of all priests, but he was also an extraordinary confessor and spiritual adviser who was able to wage remarkable battles against the devil. It is no coincidence that thousands of pilgrims visit him every year. One of his encounters with evil, however, has become especially well known in history.
John Vianney was a great saint who lived in France in the 19th century. He is widely known as the Curé of Ars. His ministry as a priest, preacher, and evangelizer was marked by extraordinary goodness and mercy, qualities that were evident to everyone who encountered him. But the Curé of Ars also played a significant role as an exorcist and as a true fighter against the Evil One and his works in the world. His vocation was rooted in an unrestrained love for God and His works—a love that did not end on earth, but pointed toward Heaven. His canonization and the enduring witness of his life through the centuries are a powerful testimony to that holiness.
Vianney completely transformed the small French town where he had been sent to carry out his priestly ministry. He spent his days celebrating Mass and hearing confessions, giving himself tirelessly to others, and today he remains a true model of holiness for priests throughout the world. What is less well known about him is that he reportedly endured real physical attacks from the devil. One particularly striking incident took place on a night when his sister was staying with him in the small house connected to the parish church, where Saint John Vianney spent his daily life. During the night, something very unusual happened. His sister suddenly awoke after hearing strange noises that sounded like repeated tapping or knocking against the wall and the table.
Hearing those extremely unusual knocks, the woman immediately went to the saint, who was still hearing the confessions of the faithful late into the night. The Curé of Ars gave her an answer that left her speechless. “Oh, my child, you should not have been afraid. That is Grappin,” he told her, using the nickname he had given to Satan. Then he reassured her: “He cannot harm you. As for me, he torments me in various ways.”
“Sometimes he grabs me by the legs and drags me across the room. It is because I am able to win souls for the good Lord.” A similar incident occurred one day while the saint was still hearing confessions in the parish church. Someone suddenly came to tell him that his bedroom had caught fire.
He was not upset and responded clearly to those who asked him for an explanation: “Grappin is very annoyed. He could not catch the bird in the trap, so he set fire to the cage. That is a good sign. We will have many sinners today,” he said, once again astonishing everyone.
In fact, the saint was so deeply loved that after his death, at the age of 73, his funeral Mass was attended by 300 priests and 6,000 people.
