Cardinal Advincula redefines exorcism as a mission of justice, compassion, and truth at Manila’s new St. Michael Center.
Newsroom (08/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) At the inauguration of Manila’s new St. Michael Center of Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism, Cardinal Jose Advincula delivered a catechesis that was both theological and pastoral—a reinterpretation of exorcism not as cinematic spectacle but as a profound expression of the Church’s mission to confront evil in all its forms.
“Christ has already overcome evil through his perfect sacrifice on the Cross,” the cardinal proclaimed before clergy, religious, and laity gathered for the dedication. “This center proclaims that the Church continues to take the reality of spiritual struggle seriously, standing with confidence in Christ’s victory over every form of darkness.”
A Broader Fight Than Rituals Alone
While exorcism often evokes dramatic imagery drawn from folklore or film, Cardinal Advincula emphasized that the fight against evil extends far beyond ritual encounters. Citing the Book of Revelation’s image of the dragon, he said this powerful symbol represents how spiritual conflict weaves through history, shaping institutions, cultures, and even human hearts.
“History is not neutral ground,” he warned. “There is a real spiritual conflict that runs through the world.”
From that foundation, the cardinal presented three forms of bondage that affect all people, drawing parallels to the Church’s three archangels—Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel—each representing a dimension of liberation.
St. Michael and the Battle Against Injustice
The first form, he noted, is bondage to injustice, exploitation, and corruption, a statement that resonated deeply in a nation still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s corruption scandals. This evil, he said, is both institutional and spiritual, demanding courage in the face of moral compromise.
“In such situations,” the cardinal declared, “the ministry of Michael calls the Church to courageous defense—to stand firmly against injustice, exploitation, and moral compromise.”
This framing positioned St. Michael not merely as a warrior against demons but as a moral model for clergy and laity battling social and structural evil.
Raphael and the Healing of a Wounded People
The second bondage, physical illness and poverty, called the faithful to remember the healing ministry of St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals.” Cardinal Advincula reminded the Church that liberation is incomplete unless it includes compassion and concrete acts of mercy.
“Many are trapped not only by spiritual anguish but by economic deprivation, chronic illness, and social marginalization,” he said. “Poverty can suffocate hope. Sickness can isolate. The ministry of liberation must be integrated with works of mercy and solidarity.”
For a country where millions experience economic hardship, this message resonated as a reminder that spiritual renewal must walk hand in hand with social action.
Gabriel and the Crisis of Truth
Finally, the cardinal addressed what he called “the crisis of truth.” Invoking St. Gabriel—the divine messenger who bears God’s word—he urged the faithful to become witnesses of truth amid a world rife with misinformation and digital manipulation.
“In an era often described as the age of fake news,” he warned, “liberation must include the purification of speech and communication. Communities must value truth, verify before sharing, and resist the temptation to use words to harm.”
This call placed exorcism within the Church’s ongoing battle not just against supernatural evil but against lies that divide and dehumanize.
A Sanctuary of Liberation
Throughout his homily, Cardinal Advincula portrayed the St. Michael Center as more than a place for rituals of deliverance. It stands as a sanctuary of healing, a house of prayer and discernment where freedom, compassion, and truth intersect.
The center, he said, embodies the Church’s broader vocation: to liberate the human person in every dimension—spiritual, moral, social, and intellectual. Each baptized Christian, he added, shares this mission through everyday fidelity: by listening to conscience, caring for the suffering, committing to truth, and persevering in prayer.
Entrusting the Mission to the Blessed Mother
Cardinal Advincula concluded by entrusting the new center to the Blessed Virgin Mary, “the woman who crushes the serpent’s head,” inviting the faithful to pray that it may truly become a refuge of light.
“The battle against evil,” he said, “is not fought in isolation. It belongs to every disciple who chooses love over fear, truth over deceit, and faith over despair.”
With those words, the inauguration of the St. Michael Center became not just a ceremonial blessing, but a renewed summons to the Church to wage its most essential exorcism—the daily struggle against the powers that wound the human heart.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Aeleteia
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