The spirit that is cast out through prayer and fasting
Practical Tips from Don Dolindo
In Mark Chapter 9, we read the powerful account of Jesus casting out a demon from a young boy, who had been afflicted since childhood. His disciples had tried unsuccessfully to drive out the spirit, leading to a heated debate with the scribes. When Jesus arrives on the scene, the desperate father begs him to help, if he can.
Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo, an Italian priest from the 20th century renowned for his insightful commentaries on scripture, provides a profound meditation on this passage. His analysis contains critical lessons on combating evil through prayer, sacrifice, and above all - faith.
Lack of Faith Hinders God's Grace
Don Dolindo first examines the inability of Jesus' disciples to heal the boy. He attributes this failure to a lack of faith - both among the disciples and the skeptical crowd gathered around them. Without strong faith, God's grace could not flow through them powerfully enough to expel the demon. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established." (Isaiah 7:9b). Faith is the foundation for withstanding evil and walking in God's power.
Don Dolindo writes: "In the absence of Jesus, the Apostles had not gathered in prayer and had dispersed; perhaps it can be assumed that they had also accepted some lunch invitations, since the Redeemer intentionally told them that this kind of demon could only be driven out through prayer and fasting." As the prophet Daniel proclaims, "I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes." (Daniel 9:3). Daniel's example shows us that united prayer and fasting unlock spiritual power and grace.
The disciples' dissipation and lack of spiritual focus rendered them unfit channels for God's grace. Similarly, the crowd and the boy's father appealed to them out of desperation rather than faith. Jesus rebukes them all: "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?" As the prophet Habakkuk declared, "The righteous person will live by his faithfulness" (Habakkuk 2:4). Without faithfulness to God, we cut ourselves off from His power and grace.
How often do we likewise try to combat evil in our own lives while lacking true faith? We may through sheer willpower try resisting temptations, without opening our hearts to God's power through prayer. As the Psalms declare, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7). Or we casually ask God for help, without believing deeply that he can and will deliver us if we have faith. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, "They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). Like the disciples, we remain trapped by our own weakness, failing to understand that "the Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him" (Lamentations 3:25). We try relying on our own power rather than putting our faith in God.
The Antidote: Fervent Prayer and Sacrifice
Yet Jesus provides the antidote. When commanding his disciples to cast out certain demons, he tells them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). As the Psalms remind us, "Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice" (Psalm 55:17). Don Dolindo explains how these two weapons allow God's grace to flow into and transform us:
"Through prayer, the soul unites with God and attracts His grace; through fasting, and in general through penance, the flesh is subjected to the spirit and the soul becomes more disposed to receive divine favors." As the prophet Joel proclaimed, "Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children" (Joel 1:14). Don Dolindo continues his advice by saying that “prayer increases faith, fasting increases self-control and holy humility”, as Scripture says "the sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit" (Psalm 51:17).
Only through deep prayer can we open ourselves to God's infinite power and grace. As Jesus himself says, “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:8). Sincere prayer allows faith to blossom in our hearts.
Likewise fasting and sacrifice train our will to overcome earthly desires and attachments. As Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Dying to ourselves through asceticism breaks the spell of sinful habits and spiritual blindness.
United, fervent prayer and sacrificial penance make us channels for the divine life rather than obstacles. As the Psalms exhort us, "I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me...Let my prayer be counted as incense before you" (Psalms 141:1-2). Don Dolindo adds, “The praying soul mortifies itself and gazes upon the passionate Jesus, besieging sin in a way from which it cannot escape.” As the prophet Hosea proclaims, "let us know, let us press on to know the Lord" (Hosea 6:3). Let us follow his prescription! As Zechariah says, "And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of prayers: and they shall look upon me, whom they have pierced: and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for an only son, and they shall grieve over him, as the manner is to grieve for the death of the firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10).
Small Victories Plant Seeds of Conversion
Don Dolindo also shares a beautiful spiritual truth: even small victories achieved through prayer and penance “break the spell of a chained will and begins to restore the lost freedom.” As the Scriptures remind us, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength" (Isaiah 40:29). With consistency and grace from God, renouncing even minor selfish acts and whims trains our will and spirit to hold fast against temptation and turn wholeheartedly to the good. As St Paul proclaim, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Don Dolindo encourages us: “We should never despise or neglect the inspiration that suggests it to us.”
We may feel too overwhelmed by lifelong habits to hope for holiness. But as Jesus told his disciples when they failed to drive out the demon, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). As Scripture reminds us, "I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27). Clinging to him through constant prayer and sacrifice, we will gain the strength to uproot sins that have plagued us since childhood. For "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20), and God can make all things new.
This truth applies equally to those struggling to convert souls around us, as Don Dolindo highlights:
“Whoever must convert a soul stained by impurity must convince themselves that exhortations alone are not enough; the holy works of a fervent life are necessary, prayer and fasting are necessary. Through prayer, the soul unites with God and attracts His grace; through fasting, and in general through penance, the flesh is subjected to the spirit and the soul becomes more disposed to receive divine favors.” As Esther proclaimed, "I and my young women will also fast as you do" (Esther 4:16). She called the people to fast and pray for God's protection and favor, and their asceticism moved the king's heart to save the people of God from destruction. Likewise through sacrifice and intercession, we can save souls from spiritual impurity and eternal death.
Our human efforts may fail to transform the most hardened sinners. But uniting our sacrifices to Christ's Passion, while storming heaven through fervent intercession, can accomplish the supernatural conversion of souls. As Isaiah's prophecy of the Suffering Servant declares, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows" (Isaiah 53:4). When we offer our prayers and penances to God in union with Christ's redemptive Passion, extraordinary grace is released for the salvation of sinners. God can triumph over any evil through the faithful offering of our small sacrifices joined to Christ's sacrifice on Calvary.
Jesus’ Passion: Heaven’s Weapons Against Evil
Don Dolindo concludes his commentary by reflecting on Jesus’ words to his disciples about his coming Passion and death on the Cross. He gave his life as the ultimate prayer and penance to defeat Satan’s dominion and win salvation for all humanity.
In the blood-stained face of the crucified Christ, we see both the gravity of sin and the power of God’s grace. Gazing on Jesus’ loving sacrifice for us compels conversion of heart. As Don Dolindo writes:
“The soul prostrates itself at the foot of the Crucifix and, in the luminous reflections of the precious Blood, sees and ponders the horror of its own iniquities, resolving to amend them. When the army is surrounded on three sides, it must fall under the frontal attack and be shattered. The praying soul mortifies itself and gazes upon the passionate Jesus, besieging sin in a way from which it cannot escape."
Let us stay united to Christ crucified through constant prayer and small sacrifices. Together with Don Dolindo, let us echo the father’s words: “I believe; help my unbelief!” Our faith, enlivened by God’s grace, will move mountains in our lives and in the lives of others. We will share in Christ’s ultimate victory over evil when he returns in glory!
O Blessed Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of our Savior, intercede for us that we may grow in faith, prayer, and sacrifice. Teach us, like the prophet Isaiah, to "seek the Lord while he may be found" (Isaiah 55:6) through fervent daily prayer. Help us to fast and offer penances, understanding that "the sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit" (Psalm 51:17). As Queen Esther interceded through prayer and fasting for her people's salvation, may we storm heaven to save hardened sinners. Remind us that “the prayer of the upright is God’s delight” (Proverbs 15:8) and he can redeem even lifelong bonds of sin. May we gaze upon Jesus’ Passion as we pray, uniting our small crosses to Christ’s, trusting that “by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Dearest Mother, draw us close to your Immaculate Heart, that we may rest beneath the Cross in hopeful prayer and sacrifice. For with God, nothing is impossible!
Author’s Note: If you would like to read more about Don Dolindo’s spirituality, check out those books: Don Dolindo’s Books.