The Dark Backward: Demons in the Real World

crisis magazine ^ | November 4, 2003 | Tom Hoopes

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Thank you for posting this article. I've taken a greater interest in this as of late.

The Vatican has issued updated norms of exorcism as recently as 1999.

The new exorcism rite doesn't work. The exorcists themselves say so. What is troubling is that those who insisted on the revision refuse to acknowledge it. Thankfully, there are enough copies of the old rite floating around which can be found, and the exorcists are allowed to use it, I think.

I’m not sure I sense a great deal of intelligence there, at all. It’s like they’re working on some kind of animal instinct.”

I partially agree. Demons can be very intelligent. They know you better than you know yourself. They search out weaknesses in an individual and attack there.

Symptoms are as varied as the individual. Attacks can be classified in three ways: temptation, obsession and possession. We all experience temptation. The other two are far more serious, with actual possession being a rare thing. Obsessions are more common than people realize. An obsession is basically an harassment of sorts. Unlike possession where a demon can control and literally take over a person's will, a person experiencing an obsession retains control of their will but suffers through terrible assaults and terrors. It can be hell on earth. The assaults can be physical, mental and spiritual. Many saints throughout history have been subjected to obsessions.

Paul VI explained, “This matter of the Devil and of the influence he can exert on individuals as well as on communities, entire societies or events, is a very important chapter of Catholic doctrine which should be studied again, although it is given little attention today.”

Many bishops and priests today do not believe in the Devil and/or his ability to control humans. It is beyond sad. What was the last estimate on the number of exorcists in the US today? Every diocese is supposed to have one. I think there may be 4 to 8 in the entire country. I strongly doubt California has one. Maybe in Sacramento. If you need help you are out of luck. If they do believe most priests are afraid.

and that it’s only after we invite demons in that they cause us serious problems.

I strongly disagree. Did the saints invite Satan in? Padre Pio was physically beaten with chains by the devil. While in many possessions the victim was involved with demonic invocations, there are many other cases where the individual was the victim of curses or black magic.

All the same, one exorcist told me, “I’ve never found a person who needed an exorcism in a psychiatric hospital.”

Yet another contradiction. James was in a psych hospital. I've worked in a psych hospital and I truly believe some of those people had obsessions/possessions. There was a priest in England who was also a psychiatrist. At some point he started performing exorcisms on patients who did not respond to conventional treatment. Many of those people were instantly cured and walked out of the psych hospital perfectly normal.

James suffers greatly...........“He’s wanted to be a priest but figures there’s no way.”

That's exactly what the devil wants. If James can persevere and throw this off, he will have invaluable experience he can use to help others.

[Domestic Church]

"Am I the only one out here who is afraid to read about exorcisms and demons?"

No and with good reason.
The only part of this I could read were the words of Fr. John Hardon...and I will say the St. Michael the Archangel prayer after posting this.

[fidelis]

It always gives me the creeps to read stories like this too, especially right before bedtime (like right now!).

It's serious business though. I've heard more than one priest affirm from the pulpit his experiences with supernatural evil, mostly in exorcising homes and other locations that had been experiencing some kind of evil oppression. I know a few lay people as well with stories to tell: good, sober, holy people who tell their stories plainly and hesitantly and without sensationalism.

After my reversion to the Catholic Faith, at a time when my faith was particularly strong about 15 years ago, I had my own experience. I won't go into details right now (it's very late and my eyes are starting to glass over) but suffice to say it was brief, terrifying and very real. What brought it to an immediate stop was my saying the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner"). I've had no such experience before or since and, please God, I won't again.

[saradippity]

For years I veered wildly between pooh-poohing the existence of the devil and being convinced that I had a poltergeist in the house.Lots of stories,perhaps at another time.

To make it short I am certain that the devil walks among us,I no longer will allow anyone to even read my horoscope to me.

The only reason I am responding on this thread is that I think,and have thought from the very beginning of the "scandal" that it may have involved the devil;possession,obsession,temptation and then,maybe even exorcism. At times I wonder if that may have been the cause of the silence of some good Bishops.

Is it posssible that in the 60' and 70's,when I believe the devil was running rampant,that quite a few priests were possessed and exorcized and then moved. Some of them,who have had no complaints for twenty or thirty years may very well have been successfully exorcized and I can see why a Bishop might be averse to discussing it.

Sometimes,you know how you read,hear or see something that has that compelling ring of truth? I read an article about 8 years ago in a conservative monthly publication. It was written by mothers,one had a child who haad been sexually abused. After getting the run around from some of the diocesan functonaries,she finally had an appointment to see the Bishop.

After explaining what had happened and to whom she had appealed,he nodded and said "Do you think there is any devil worship or Satanism involved?". She and her friend were indignant and left his office abruptly,in anger. I immediately felt sorry for the Bishop and believed his question was genuine and that he indeed was in their corner.I could understand how two women who lacked knowledge about Satan,might have thought it was an attempt to waylay or forestall honest discussion,but I believe he was sincere. Any thoughts?

[MudPuppy]

wow. I've read all the books you mention.
"Beware the Night" was the scariest for me.

I believe this stuff is true and have spoken to my kids about it. My daughter assures me that many of her peers are into Satanism, paganism, oija boards, etc. The kids think it's a big joke but she knows to stay far away from it.

I can tell you that my family thought I was a little weird when I obtained Blessed St. Benedict medals, Blessed Salt, and Holy Water. The medals are taped over every doorway and I occassionally sprinkle Salt & Holy water throughout the house. I've been known to throw both on the kids while sleeping. Although, we sometimes joke about it they know that I'm serious in believing it gives us extra protection from those things we come into contact with out in the world.

My husband takes his role as protector very seriously. I tell him he's in charge of physical security and I'll work on the spritual :)

[redgolum]

"Beware the Night" by Ralph Sarchie - I got to about page 13, turned it face down and hid it from myself in a drawer. That one scared me a lot.

Don't read that one in the middle of the New Mexico desert around midnight. I did, and when a coyote started to howl I almost started running for truck.

Good book, but needs to be read in daylight.

[fidelis]

ping

[xJones]

I was listening to a really faithful evangalist and he said that at one point in his life he had become really aware of demons, etc. and had started casting them out of this, that, and the other, every day; so much so that he spent more time on the demons than he did worshipping God. And the more time he spent occupied with demons, the more they entered his life. At one point, he even said that he was attacked physically during the night.

He finally realized that xince Jesus had defeated satan at the Cross, his main focus should be on our Lord. When troubled by any evil spirits after that, he'd just start praising God. Praising God has a wonderful immediate effect on the defeated enemy.

[peter the great]

Eastern Orthodox literature on life after death is very interesting reading. A book that I recommend highly is The Soul After Death by Seraphim Rose. It would answer a lot of your questions. One of the things that Orthodox Christians do yearly is have their homes Blessed by their Priest and trust me I have heard a few wild stories. Occasionally you will hear stories, from houses that were not blessed, about demons showing up in pictures, haunted houses etc what happens next is the priest gets a call comes over and Blesses the house and the problem goes away, Also the book that I recommended, assuming that you are Roman Catholic will have plenty of Saints that you will recognize.

[fidelis]

I know exactly what you mean. It is very easy to develop an unhealthy fascination with the supernatural in general and the devil in particular. I don't like reading accounts of true experinces of this kind of thing as it doesn't just spook me, like a good ghost story, but it actually sets off a tiny sense of panic which I have to treat like a temptation: pray and then think about holy things. The most we really need to know, I think, is:

1. Satan and his angels are real and they hate us.
2. God is in control and Christ has already won.
3. My job as a Christian soldier is not to get to know the enemy, but to fight where I am sent. I am in the Infantry, not Intelligence.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our day of battle...

[k omalley]

Thanks for the suggested reading. I am interested in Eastern Orthodox spirituality and believe that it has a lot to teach, even to us RCs.:-)

[xJones]

We agree. Paul loved the Church at Philippi so much, he had less complaints to them than any other church he wrote to.

And he instructed them: Phil:4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things..

I guess that means among other things to not give way to the evil one in your thoughts.

[Markofhumanfeet]

Very true. Remember that greater is He who is within you, than he (Satan) who is without. Plus all the disciples had to say was "The Lord rebuke you".

[dsc]

"Am I the only one out here who is afraid to read about exorcisms and demons?"

You kidding? My hair is standing on end and waving around.

Wish I could go to Mass or pray in front of the Eucharist right now.

[peter the great]

This past Sunday I was in Church and was thinking about you two. Anyway during Holy Week, Holy Saturday to be exact, The Orthodox Church has a service to commemorate Christs descent into Hades where he retrieved Adam and Eve. That right there may answer your questions about Hell. Anyway I still recommend the book.

[Pyro7480]

Bump!

[testifyhisgrace]

Hey,

I've been reading a lot lately.. and one of the books is "He Came To Set The Captives Free". By Rebecca Brown, MD - have you read it? I'm about through it.. and I have to say it has really had me thinking.. I've put in the devo today .. some of the thought provoking scriptures I thought you might be interested in.. When you get a chance read through it all.. because there seems to be something for everyone to think on.

Ok.. well it depicts what happened in the life of someone who opened themselves up to the inflow of satanic power and demon infestation. Pretty heavy stuff actually.. People have and are still actually opening their lives up satan's power. These doorways give satan legal ground, according to God's word, to exert satans power in their lives. Christian's are not protected because when they open these doorways it involves their conscious participation in sin and/or ignorance.

It talks about this in Romans 6:15-16..

"What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

Hosea 4:6 too.. says it this way.. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

That's telling me that not only does a person need to be aware of these areas of influence for themselves but also for others in which one might be wanting to share the gospel with.

2 Cor 4:3-4 "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Any dealings with the occult, no matter how lightly or briefly, is a doorway. So things like horoscope, fortune teller, tea leaf reader, palm reader, etc. are all areas/doorways the enemy can get in. I know this because of what it says in..

Deut 18:10-12 "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you."

Just one visit to a seance out of curiosity is enough to affect the rest of your life. So is studying books on the occult arts, playing with an ouiji board, trying out ESP, psychic experiences, astral projection, meditation of any kind that involves blanking out or "clearing" the mind, water witching, or divining for oil or minerals by using a dowsing rod or pendulum. Same goes for magic arts like levitation, i.e. movement of objects without touching that object physically, consulting a medium or spiritist ini an attempt to locate some missing object, and obviously witchcraft through spells or incantation, etc. And of this will open a doorway to the inflow of satanic power and demons. Street drugs and drunkenness are also doorways. Child abuse almost always results in demonic infestation. Sexual intercourse is another big doorway.

To me it makes more sense to not be caught unaware.

satan likes it when we're uninformed.. and scared.

In Christ alone,
><> cp <><

[testifyhisgrace]

Hey,

I've been reading a lot lately.. and one of the books is "He Came To Set The Captives Free". By Rebecca Brown, MD - have you read it? I'm about through it.. and I have to say it has really had me thinking.. I've put in the devo today .. some of the thought provoking scriptures I thought you might be interested in.. When you get a chance read through it all.. because there seem sto be something for everyone to think on.

Ok.. well it depicts what happened in the life of someone who opened themselves up to the inflow of satanic power and demon infestation. Pretty heavy stuff actually.. People have and are still actually opening their lives up satan's power. These doorways give satan legal ground, according to God's word, to exert satans power in their lives. Christian's are not protected because when they open these doorways it involves their conscious participation in sin and/or ignorance.

It talks about this in Romans 6:15-16..

"What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

Hosea 4:6 too.. says it this way.. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

That's telling me that not only does a person need to be aware of these areas of influence for themselves but also for others in which one might be wanting to share the gospel with.

2 Cor 4:3-4 "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Any dealings with the occult, no matter how lightly or briefly, is a doorway. So things like horoscope, fortune teller, tea leaf reader, palm reader, etc. are all areas/doorways the enemy can get in. I know this because of what it says in..

Deut 18:10-12 "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you."

Just one visit to a seance out of curiosity is enough to affect the rest of your life. So is studying books on the occult arts, playing with an ouiji board, trying out ESP, psychic experiences, astral projection, meditation of any kind that involves blanking out or "clearing" the mind, water witching, or divining for oil or minerals by using a dowsing rod or pendulum. Same goes for magic arts like levitation, i.e. movement of objects without touching that object physically, consulting a medium or spiritist ini an attempt to locate some missing object, and obviously witchcraft through spells or incantation, etc. And of this will open a doorway to the inflow of satanic power and demons. Street drugs and drunkenness are also doorways. Child abuse almost always results in demonic infestation. Sexual intercourse is another big doorway.

People perish due to a lack of knowledge..

><> Cp <><