The curse takes effect when injustice is involved

The curse takes effect when injustice is involved. For example, if someone wrongs a suffering person, does something bad to them, and that person curses them, then it takes effect.

When I do harm to someone, and that person curses me, their curse works. God allows it, just as He allows, for example, one person to kill another.

But when there is no injustice, then the curse returns to the one who gave it.

And how can someone be freed from a curse?
Through repentance and confession.

I know many cases. People who suffered from a curse, when they realized they had been cursed—because they had done wrong—repented, confessed, and were restored.

If the one who did wrong says, “My God, I did this and this, forgive me,” and confesses with pain and sincerity, then God will forgive him. God is God.

And who is punished, Elder? Only the one who receives the curse, or also the one who gives it?

The one who receives the curse suffers in this life. But the one who gives the curse suffers both in this life and in the next. Because, as a criminal, he will be punished by God if he does not repent and confess.

Because, alright, someone may have wronged you. But by giving a curse, it is as if you take a gun and kill them. And with what right do you do that?

Whatever someone has done to you, you do not have the right to kill them.

For someone to curse means that they have malice. A person gives a curse when they speak with passion and with anger.

A curse, when it comes from someone who is in the right, has great power—especially the curse of a widow.

I remember an old woman. She had a little horse and tied it at the edge of the forest to graze. Because it was a bit restless, she had tied it with a strong rope.

One day, three women went to the forest to gather wood. One was rich, one was a widow, and one was an orphan and very poor.

They saw the horse tied with the rope and grazing and said, “Why don’t we take the rope to tie our wood?” They cut it into three pieces, and each took one piece to tie their bundles. Naturally, the horse ran away.

When the old woman came and did not find the animal, she was upset. She searched everywhere and suffered greatly trying to find it.

Finally, when she found it, she said in anger, "With that same rope, they will carry the one who took it.”

One day, the rich woman’s brother was playing with a gun, thinking it was empty. It was one left by the Italians, and he shot his sister in the neck.

They had to carry her to the hospital and needed a rope to tie her to a wooden ladder.

At that moment, one of the stolen pieces of rope was found—but it was not enough.

The other two women brought their stolen pieces as well. They tied her to the ladder and carried her to the hospital.

Thus, the old woman’s curse was fulfilled: with the same rope they carried her.

And in the end, the poor woman died—may God rest her soul.

You see how the curse fell on the rich woman, who had no real need. The others had their poverty—they had some justification.

Many illnesses that doctors cannot explain may come from a curse. Doctors cannot diagnose a curse.

Once, they brought a paralyzed man to my hut. A full-grown man who could not sit.

His body was stiff like wood. One person carried him on his back, and another supported him from behind.

I placed two logs so he could lean a little, poor man.

Those who accompanied him told me, "Since he was 15 years old, Father, he has been in this condition, and 18 whole years have passed.”

I said, “How could this happen? Something must be wrong.”

I investigated and found that someone had cursed him.

What had happened was this: he used to go to school by bus and would sit stretched out across the seat.

At one stop, an elderly priest and an old man got on and stood next to him.

Someone told him, “Get up so the elders can sit,” but he stretched out even more and ignored them.

Then the old man who was standing said to him:
“May you remain stretched out and never be able to sit.”

And that curse took effect.

You see, the young man was disrespectful. He thought, “Why should I get up? I paid for the seat.”

Yes, but the other person also paid—and he is elderly and worthy of respect, while you are just a 15-year-old boy sitting.

“That is the reason,” I told him. “Repent so that you may be healed. Repentance is needed, my child.”

As soon as the poor man understood this and acknowledged it, he was restored.

How many of the things that happen today come from curses, from indignation?

And when entire families are destroyed, or many members of one family die, know that it may be due to injustice, or sorcery, or a curse.

A father had a child who wandered around. Once, in frustration, he told him the following:
“Come home once and for all.”

That same night, as the child was returning home, something struck him right outside the door…