Posted on 11/22/2010 10:20:36 AM PST by null and void
Having just read Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuers's new book, Exorcism and the Church Militant, one of the first things I asked him was whether he was afraid of demons. I shivered more than once reading through its short chapters, arranged as basic questions about the devil, demons, possession, and the rite of exorcism.
"Not at all," Father answered with a smile. "God has given me the grace to remain unafraid."
When I expressed my surprise, he explained, "Demons are basically handcuffed, and they know it."
Father Euteneuer does not speak as a theorist. Since 2003 he's had extensive experience ministering to those possessed by demons. His introduction to the demonic world happened when a family asked him for help for one of their members, and he eventually asked for permission to perform the rite of exorcism. He has been doing them ever since.
Exorcism and the Church Militant is intended, in part, as a warning to parents who allow their children to be desensitized to "the dark world" by books and films like the Harry Potter series and the vampire books of Stephanie Meyer. Father Euteneuer told me possession is almost always a result of someone getting involved in some sort of occult practices, such as witchcraft, Wicca, tarot cards, and Ouiji boards.
"Harry Potter and these Twilight vampires glamorize the power of evil," Father Eutenener explained, "and this has lead to many, many cases of possession among young people." It may begin with a child or teenager simply "playing around" with the occult, but that seemingly harmless act is "opening a window" to possession.
Father Euteneuer emphasized this point, "Demons do not discriminate between intentions -- no matter how innocent -- and children lose the clear distinction between good and evil."
What makes the occult so dangerous is the fact that it is based upon something real -- the preternatural world of fallen angels, headed by Lucifer himself. Below him are the "choirs" of devils and demons who are a reverse mirror, in their fallen state, of the hierarchy of angels.
Yet, as Father Euteneuer made clear, this entire dark spiritual world "cannot operate without permission from human beings." He pointed out that the widely-seen film, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, based upon the actual case of Anneliese Michel, makes it seem like a possession can occur against a person's will.
Demons play by the rules, as it were. They can only enter a person when invited, and they will leave when subjected through the rite of exorcism to the authority of the Church. "All demons understand is authority," according to Father Euteneuer. He told me of a time he was with someone who was possessed -- not intending to do an exorcism because permission had not yet been given -- and the demon spoke to him saying, "The Church is not here."
Father Euteneuer reminded me that as fallen angels, demons are smarter than any human being. "The darkest demon is smarter than I am," he said. An exorcist must remain aware of the demon's ability to know everything about the person they are possessing, including family members, and those who may enter the room to cast them out.
One demon attempted to negotiate with Father Euteneuer, offering to help him with his Latin if he would let him stay put. That story prompted me to ask if demons had a sense of humor. "No," Euteneuer replied. "The demon was only trying to resist being cast out. They know what an exorcism is, what is going to happen to them."
Possession usually involves more than one demon. Father Euteneuer explained that when "one demon gets in it will help to create more invitations to other demons." The more powerful ones have biblical names, and he often runs into demons with the same name, as if they had a kind of demonic family name.
The possession of an individual person is a perverse imitation of the Incarnation. "They know they've lost the war in heaven, now they've come to earth and are doing all they can to exert their power and be an obstacle to heaven." That's why demons experience some form of pain when they are exorcised -- Father Euteneuer said demons will often complain that "It burns." They have been deprived of the satisfaction of entering a body in imitation of the Word made flesh.
By the end of my interview with Father Euteneuer, I realized my initial question about being frightened of demons had betrayed my misunderstanding of the limits of demonic power. Exorcism and the Church Militant is a book that should provide guidance to many for years to come, especially for parents who need a reminder that the occult is not innocent entertainment.
I agree, the Holier Than Thou crowd is out in force today, always having to prove their faith is stronger than anyone who thinks differently.
Distorted practically beyond recognition. Any wizard can decide whether to become a ghost when they die, and it's very clear from the discussion with Nearly Headless Nick that a) the decision has to be made well in advance and b) being stuck in the netherworld between life and the Ultimate Destination (unknown even to wizards) is a BAD IDEA.
As for deciding to either be alive or dead, would you say a suicide has the power to conquer death?
That's an intentional nod to Peter Pan.
and that Harry can decide to either be alive or be dead. Interesting dont you think? So old Harry has the *magical* powers to conquer death apparently.
Harry is given a choice as he stands between the bridge of life or death -- to die, knowing that he has achieved what needed to be done, or to go back and risk more suffering, but with a chance to have a more complete victory.
It's not power over life and death, but rather a test of the will to remain alive despite pain and suffering. And he chooses life.
I wasn’t denying that you could hold lengthy conversations about the books with kids. Just questioning if they serve to supplant works of greater literary value on a class syllabus. Feel free to post an oustanding sentence from one of the books.
See my post #72.
I don’t recommend Potter books in place of the Bible, which is certainly the most important book.
I do reject those who condemn it wholesale as being “dangerous”.
I and millions of others have read the books and found no temptation to get into magic, which is where the real danger lies.
Murder has been a regular in the imaginative culture of the Western World for thousands of years. Among many other unsavory pursuits.
only Christ has the power to conquer death.
Nope. (I'm assuming you are talking about the book, Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health)
Um...whatever.
I was addressing the value of teaching in a classroom as opposed to letting kids read them on their own time.
Your attempt to apply misdirection to avoid explaining what appear to be obvious holes in your theory is noted, and applied to the assesment of the probable varacity of your statements. Have a good day.
“To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle [both over 600 years old], it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.”
Here are a few sentences.
Except for the trail of dead bodies broken minds and permanent disfigurement, of course...
“It is rude to put words into someone’s mouth, as you chose to do by stating that me refusing to answer a question does in fact answer your question.”
You declined to answer me twice.
++++++++++
“You are not capable of having a decent discussion or debate.”
I’m trying to have a debate, but you’re dodging.
+++++++++
“Also, according to Webster, “scull” is “an oar worked from side to side over the stern of a boat.””
Thank you for that information.
+++++++++
Now in the interest of having a debate, (unless you feel I’m just too stupid to debate you), you could go back and answer the two questions. Who knows, you just might cause me considerable consternation for having misjudged your silence.
And please, hold your fire on my punctuation, it’s worse than my spelling.
I just read some Harry Potter and think I may now be possessed. It might just be gas though. I had a corndog earlier. I like taffy.
Touché!
“Your attempt to apply misdirection to avoid explaining what appear to be obvious holes in your theory is noted, and applied to the assesment of the probable varacity of your statements. Have a good day.”
Apparently you missed my point.
A good day to you also.
You know, PatroniusMaximus’s name is scarily similar to patronus, as in Expecto Patronum. If he/she knew how close to Satan he/she is by having a name that is almost similar to a fake spell in a fantasy novel.
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