For many Catholics, demonic possession is often viewed as one of the most terrifying realities of the spiritual life. But according to exorcist Father Chad Ripperger, the Church teaches that something even more dangerous threatens the soul: mortal sin.
Speaking during a recent interview with former U.S. Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, Father Ripperger explained that while demonic possession is frightening, it does not compare to the eternal consequences of separating oneself from God through unrepented mortal sin.
According to LifeSiteNews, Ryan asked Father Ripperger whether successful exorcisms could be considered miracles, referencing a personal experience that he described as “terrifying” and one that “only strengthened” his “faith in Christ and God and the Holy Spirit immensely.”
In response, Father Ripperger explained that demonic afflictions can sometimes become occasions for profound spiritual growth.
Contrary to common assumptions, he said, “The worst thing is sin, mortal sin specifically, where you’ve committed such a grave sin that you’re under the power of the demons from a legal point of view.”
The Catholic Church teaches that a sin is mortal when three conditions are met: the act involves grave matter, the person knows it is gravely sinful, and they freely choose to commit it. Mortal sin destroys sanctifying grace in the soul, and if a person dies without repentance and reconciliation with God, it results in eternal separation from Him.
Father Ripperger contrasted that reality with demonic possession, explaining that those who faithfully endure such extraordinary suffering can actually grow in holiness through their perseverance.
According to LifeSiteNews, he said that demonic possession, “especially when … it kind of protracts for any length of time,” can help those afflicted “become holier through the battle, through the struggle.”
To illustrate the point, Father Ripperger compared the spiritual battle faced by the possessed to the difference between soldiers who have experienced combat and those who have only trained for it.
“There’s a big difference between a soldier who’s never seen combat and one who has,” he explained. “Whereas the guy who’s seen combat, he’s much more fashioned, much more honed than the guy that maybe went through a lot of good training and could be a good soldier, but he just didn’t have that opportunity.”
He continued, “Well, it’s the same thing here. When people go through just the brutal battle and that type of thing, and the amount of sacrifice and self-denial and everything that they have to go through, and the virtue that they have to achieve in order to conquer this thing is quite admirable.”
Father Ripperger’s comments reflect a central truth of Catholic teaching: while extraordinary demonic activity may afflict the body or mind with God’s permission, mortal sin endangers the soul itself. The Church consistently teaches that the ordinary means of spiritual protection remain prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, regular confession, and faithful adherence to Christ.
His remarks serve as a reminder that the greatest spiritual danger is not extraordinary demonic phenomena, but willingly turning away from God’s grace. Through repentance, confession, and a life rooted in Christ, Catholics are called to seek the holiness that overcomes every work of the enemy.
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