....The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist
Posted on 01/23/2011 3:25:15 AM PST by markomalley
As the official exorcist for the Archdiocese of Chicago, it’s the Rev. Jeffrey Grob’s job to expel demons from those cursed by the devil. But when it comes to demonic possession, Grob is the first to admit he’s a skeptic.
When he receives the call — “Father, I am possessed by the devil” — he doesn’t drop everything, grab a black bag and run to the victim to say some prayers.
“If only it was that easy,” said the 49-year-old Wisconsin native, who spoke Friday to a crowd of more than 100 people at a Catholic Citizens of Illinois forum titled “The Consummate Deceiver: The Devil in the Modern World.”
Instead, he approaches with caution. According to the Roman Catholic Church, exorcism is a rite performed only by a select number of priests to drive out evil spirits that, on rare occasions, can infiltrate human beings.
“The church is very slow in the process for the integrity of the rite,” said Grob, who has been the archdiocese’s exorcist since 2006 and serves as pastor of St. Celestine Church in Elmwood Park. (For six years, he also served as associate pastor of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity Parish in Winnetka.) “The Church is trying to avoid the sensational approach to things. What’s the proof? Is this genuine?”
First and foremost, when a person claims to be possessed, Grob said he presumes there is a “natural, organic explanation.” More often than not, those requesting his service do not actually need an exorcist.
“I am far more busy than I should be in the sense that I talk to far more people than I need to,” Grob said. “The vast majority, they need to see their parish priest, they need to see a spiritual director or they need to go to confession.
“One good sacramental confession is more powerful than 100 exorcisms.”
In fact, Grob’s identity is typically kept hidden from the general public simply because he does not feasibly have the time to respond to every question or inquiry — and he gets many. Even at the forum, when he was finished with his speech, Grob fielded dozens of questions from a crowd of curious people and listened attentively to those who had stories to share — including a woman who claimed a witch lived on her street.
But in the end, even though demonic possession is rare, Grob said it does exist, as he performs exorcisms two or three times a year. Though no heads spin, he has witnessed objects levitate in the presence of the “darkness.” The devil — “the evil one” — is very real, he said.
“The evil one plays to human weakness masterfully,” Grob said. “He comes to us one person at a time because that’s one less soul that will be able to walk into the paradise that he could not have.”
I have never heard or read an exorcist that says otherwise. Something for we Catholics to keep in mind.
How come this article doesn’t mention the word “Obama” even once?
Something came over me today, and I watched “The Excorcist”...
That is some scary stuff...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN9p-XCCRwU&feature=related
*One* exorcist? They need a batallion of these guys just for the White House. Not to mention a good bug cleaner firm.
“The Consummate Deceiver: The Devil in the Modern World.”
Hey Kids, check out my next autobiography!
Barack
That might get rid of MOOOOOchell but what get's the USERPER-in-CHIEF out?
Oh look. A mainstream newspaper totally uncritical about evil superstitious nonsense.
Ya, they’ll gladly talk about the Devil, but God, well that’s a whole other thing ...
Something for we Catholics to keep in mind.
***
Indeed!
Regarding this from the piece:
...he also served as associate pastor of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity Parish in Winnetka....
WTH?? Never heard of those “saints”.
Just like some people think Hagia Sophia stands for St Sophia.
I think Salman was being sarcastic....
Yes we should. Imagine the feeling a person would get after lifting the burden of his sins to God.
....The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist
That's because many in the media appear to be what Malachi Martin referred to as the "perfectly possessed"
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