Posted on 11/28/2015 8:50:31 AM PST by Salvation
Q. In our diocese, it is very hard to get an exorcism performed. I thought that Rome had insisted that this ancient rite be restored and more available.
A. Here’s a reply from Msgr. Charles Pope:
Your summation of Rome’s stance is correct but incomplete. The faithful do have a right to pastoral care when possession is suspected and each diocese ought to have some way of addressing the concerns.
But the first step is always to assess each case to determine if there is true possession or perhaps a lesser form of demonic oppression. Sometimes, too, there are natural causes related to behavioral problems and mental or spiritual struggles.
True possession is rare, and the Rite of Exorcism indicates that the exorcist must not too easily conclude possession. There must be certainty that a person is possessed. Performing exorcism on a person who is not possessed can cause great harm psychologically, spiritually and even physically. Given the rarity of possession and the intensity of exorcism, it should, like surgery, be considered only for cases that are clear, serious and admit of no other cause or solution.
I cannot judge the situation in your diocese, and whatever procedures are used to determine possession are going to be discrete.
It is certainly to be hoped that in any diocese, if true possession is identified, an exorcist is appointed. Likewise, in the majority of cases where lesser forms of demonic oppression occur, some sort of deliverance ministry is needed and helpful.
Thanks for that.
I have to confess that I have never seen an exorcism. I would not even know what to wear to one.
A very reflective and repentant testimonial. May God Bless You and Guide You to Fulfill his Plan through you.
What yous said about the power of the blood of Jesus was very good, and I thank you for this and similar comments. However, it is mistaken to suppose that"revenue generating" has ever been associated with exorcism, even in times of clerical corruption. Selling indulgences, that did happen (and it was rightly denounced by its critics as the sin of Simony, which it is) --- but exorcisms, no.
Exorcism in a case of true possession is a frightfully dangerous thing. Fervent but poorly prepared persons, outside the Catholic Church, have done grave harm to themselves and to others in botched attempted exorcisms that ended in even worse voodou-type infestations and, even, murder.
I don't think there has been any time in history when a Catholic cleric would attempt a real exorcism for money.
“I don’t think there has been any time in history when a Catholic cleric would attempt a real exorcism for money.”
That would be one very foolish individual to try such. The demon would love it!
Yes. I’ve always been told, when sensing the devil’s presence, to not pause to think whether maybe you can outwit, out-argue or effectively resist him. Just make the Sign of the Cross on yourself, say “I belong to Jesus,” -— and get the hell outta there.
Nay I suggest to you Imitation of Christ a medieval classic by Thomas a Kempis, a monk who gave deep thought to these matters. There is a great deal in that work that is relevant to every Christian of whatever denomination and perhaps every person who is not Christian but believes in God.
As a now recovering attorney, I remember when I was active and represented 1100 arrested pro-lifers including many who were of other Christian faiths that were not Catholic. They had generally given much deeper consideration to interior conversation with God and to spiritual warfare in God's service than I had before representing them. I owe them much.
May God bless you and yours!
You are thinking wrong and thinking quite disrespectfully. As others have pointed out, no one is EVER charged any sort of fee for an exorcism or any other spiritual service including indulgences. When Luther complained of the sale of indulgences, he was right and Church authorities who sold indulgences were clearly wrong. The sin was long recognized as simony. Church leaders are fallen men as are we all and they, like each of us, fall far short of the glory of God. Shall we now tear down St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Sistine Chapel with its magnificent ceiling by Michelangelo because their financing was tainted by simony?
As to expertise in exorcism, there have been priests who have served admirably and successfully as exorcists. There ought be no exorcists who are not prepared to so serve.
There was an exorcism in Bethlehem, Connecticut, about 25 years ago. A teenaged church going Protestant girl was possessed by a demon upon moving from Bridgeport to the much nicer town of Bethlehem. The possessing demon appeared to her in her bedroom as an elderly man and only the upper half of his body appeared. She was terrified. Her family consulted with their (Baptist?) minister who referred the family to a Lutheran minister who failed in his attempt at exorcising the offending demon and, in turn, referred them to the diocesan exorcist of the Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, who had training but no actual experience in the Catholic ritual of exorcism.
The priest made the error of allowing the girl's family and boyfriend to be present during the exorcism which was successful as to the girl. The boyfriend, having seen the movie, The Exorcist, blurted out "Take me! Leave her alone!" The young man then, a few weeks later encountered his landlord walking on a road in that peaceful town and stabbed him to death claiming "The devil made me do it!" unsuccessfully as a defense. He is serving a very long sentence. A friend of mine, a life-long atheist and GOP state chairman, attended the trial and, though still atheist, told me that he believed the attempted defense of demonic possession.
The presence of the young man at the exorcism was amateur hour and should never have been allowed by the exorcist.
I would agree with you that it is not the priest who exercises power over the possessing but God Himself via the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The priest is only a pipeline, part of the furniture in the room, but the prayers of the exorcism ritual are simply designed to invoke God's authority over the demon. First comes the command that the demon identify itself (or themselves in cases of multiple possession) and then the command, in God's name, that the demon depart from the possessed. The Church debriefs the exorcist after an exorcism and keeps central records in the Vatican as to each exorcism over many centuries.
You are also correct in suggesting that there is nothing that Satan and his demons fear and hate more than the crucified Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It forever represents the victory of Jesus Christ over Satan and his minions.
You and I quite likely disagree on much theology but we agree on much of what you have posted.
OTOH, your statements about my Church are uncharitable, unsubstantiated, wrong and not worthy of you.
Nonetheless, may God bless you and yours!
In Jesus’ time there apparently were demon possessed people under every bush. What reason is there to believe it’s any different today?
I totally agree with you.
I have noticed an increase in the activity of the demonic spirits recently. After many years of peace and quiet from the real nasties, recently I encountered one. One of the worst in twenty years.
At the same time, Divine Grace is stronger than ever.
I treat any dark spirit as though it is a stop sign. The stop sign has no control over me. It is merely a reminder to stop and proceed with caution.
When I encounter a dark spirit, I immediately turn inward and upward in prayer and thank the dark spirit for reminding me to pray. No fear or anger, just gratitude toward the spirit for reminding me to pray.
Yes, it is best to Love thy enemies as to do so frustrates the heck out of them as they can’t even come close to you out of fear that the light shining through you will destroy them.
Please go back and reread Matthew 13 parable of the “Tares in the Wheat.” It is exactly what is happening right now. The weeds are sprouting along with the good seeds as mankind is awakening. (This is the true born of or baptism of the Holy Spirit) Be careful to learn discernment as these nasties are a bit different in that they are pure logic and have little or no emotion. They are superb at being imitators or impostors. Always remember that the best discernment is the feeling of Love that is radiated through Jesus. The nasties cannot imitate that feeling.
Sparklite2,
It is possible that the priest was correct.
My wife is an MD psychiatrist and presented on this topic at a conference last year. “Breakdown or Breakthrough; Psychosis or Spiritual Experience.” Often it is very difficult to tell the difference as often it is both.
While drugs such as anti-depressants save lives, they also block a persons ability to raise their consciousness in prayer. They block a person’s ability to go low where mole hills are perceived as mountains but they also block the ability to raise consciousness to where mountains appear as mole hills. Anti-depressants and other anti-psychotic medicines are to human consciousness what taking the knob off a radio is to changing stations. You are stuck with the one you are on and cannot change.
For people who actually do this work, it is NOT done in public or in front of groups whenever possible. There is an imitation process that is done by charismatic ministers who use stage hypnosis techniques. It’s somewhat dangerous in that it opens people up to attack.
The author psychiatrist Scott Peck wrote several books about the dark spirits and got in over his head. He was stung and it ended up taking his life. The same is true of most of the people I know who were doing this work 25 yrs ago. I lost a lot of good friends in spiritual combat. Your only strength comes through your weakness. If you think you are strong, you lose.
“call a Catholic priest trained in the ritual”
I generally agree with you as the experience of being human and thus being attached to physical possessions and our own identity make it very difficult to have the purity necessary to do this work.
If you hold onto pride, wealth, or any other physical attachments including your very own life, you are vulnerable. The only thing to be attached to is God through His Son Jesus.
“Personal prayer and fighting back get me out of it, but I found out that others noticed the change in me and were also praying for me. Not a classic exorcism, but close enough to work.”
Remember when the disciples asked Jesus why there were some demons that they could not cast out? His reply was that they must be done in prayer. I say that all exorcisms must be done in prayer. If I accidentally allow my will to enter and my goal is merely to remove a dark spirit attachment, I might be creating an opening for seven demons even worse to come and takes its place.
Prayers for others are critically important, especially when a person is under anesthesia and does not have the ability to exercise their own will for protection. Many spirit attachments happen in hospitals.
“Revenue generating scheme”? Nobody is charged money for an exorcism, so that’s nonsense.
I totally agree. You wouldn’t even think of charging. The experience of having the high volume of Divine Love flow through you while doing this work is in of itself greater than any amount of money.
âI belong to Jesus,â and get the hell outta there.
I often hear the words come out of my mouth in these situations, “I am the Light of Jesus in me.” I will never run from darkness as darkness cannot drive out darkness, only Light can do that.” The perfect Love that fills you in these situations makes it impossible to even experience fear.
“The presence of the young man at the exorcism was amateur hour and should never have been allowed by the exorcist.”
Not even pets should be allowed to remain near the host.
Many years ago I was working with a woman when the demon left and instantly tried to return into the body of another woman 20 miles away. The person who it left felt strong unconditional Love. At the same time, the woman twenty miles away first had her right hand cramp up. It them moved up her arm and paralyzed the right side of her body. She and her husband thought that she was having a stroke.
But then she remembered what I had told her. If her hands or feet become cramped, immediately start saying the Lord’s Prayer from your heart with emotion. She did this and the demon left her body and the paralysis stopped. But it hung around her house opening and closing doors and causing trouble for a few days until I showed up to do house cleaning. This one actually nailed me and sent me flying backwards. It felt as though a 2x4 had been driven through my heart. In prayer I asked why this had happened to me and they explained that it was necessary for me to have this experience in order to prepare me for the work. Very humbling experience.
“In Jesusâ time there apparently were demon possessed people under every bush. What reason is there to believe itâs any different today?”
Satan’s greatest power is his ability to influence us without our knowledge of his existence. Shine Light upon him and he becomes weak.
Even Jesus says to avoid contact with the demons, who prowl around the earth like lions seeking someone to devour. If Jesus wanted us to feel we were invulnerable to them, He would not have described them so fearsomely.
As I pray every day.... (Tagline.)
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