In the 1973 film "The Exorcist" Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) prays over the possessed child Regan (Linda Blair)
Posted on 08/21/2010 5:04:30 AM PDT by NYer
In the 1973 film "The Exorcist" Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) prays over the possessed child Regan (Linda Blair)
Recently, a young Catholic scientist was talking to a nun who was a school principal at a Catholic elementary school about the scientist’s son going to her school.
During the conversation the subject of “hell” came up and the school principal assured the father that his son would not be tormented by such a notion because “hell does not exist,” she said.
Somewhat stunned by the nun’s comment, the scientist, who had actually read and assimilated the Bible with a scientific precision, unlike the school principal, knew that Jesus referred to hell or Gehenna more times than He referred to heaven.
Being of good, Sicilian Catholic stock and not prone to wearing his pants upside down, the concerned father sent his son to another school. Unfortunately, such reports are not rare. It happens more and more that our Catholic schools reflect a secular society’s values instead of Biblically-based Catholic values.
Now, here’s the real deal. If Jesus said in the Bible (Matthew 5: 29-30) that hell or Gehenna exists, then it exists. If Jesus said in the Bible (Matthew 4:1-11) that He had a personal encounter with Satan in the desert, then Satan exists. You don’t have to be a scientist to figure this out . Just remember you come from good, common sense roots and you don’t wear your pants upside down. Hell exists and demons occasionally possess people.
Exorcist priest Father Carl Vogl wrote a report that described a 23-day exorcism of a woman in Earling, Iowa, in 1928 which has become one of the most famous exorcism accounts in the United States.
Following is part of the dialog between the exorcist and two demons speaking through the possessed woman and found in the booklet, Begone Satan, by Rev. Carl Vogl and published by Tan Books …
“The exorcist: ‘In the name of Jesus and His most Blessed Mother, Mary the Immaculate, who crushed the head of the serpent, tell me the truth. Who is your leader or prince among you? What is your name?
“Devil, barking like the hound of hell. ‘Beelzebub.’
“Exorcist: ‘You call yourself Beelzebub, Are you not Lucifer, the prince of the devils?’
“Devil: ‘No, not the prince, the chieftain, but one of the leaders.’
“Exorcist: ‘You were therefore not a human being, but you are one of the fallen angels, who with selfish pride wanted to be like unto God?’
“Devil with grinning teeth. ‘Yes, that is so. Ha, how we hate Him!’
“Exorcist: ‘Why do you call yourself Beelzebub if you are not the prince of the devils?’
“Devil: ‘Enough. my name is Beelzebub.’
“Exorcist: ‘From the point of influence and dignity you must rank near Lucifer, or do you hail from the lower choir of angels?’
“Devil: ‘I once belonged to the seraphic choir.’
“Exorcist: ‘Would would you do, if God made it possible for you to atone for your injustice to Him?’
“Demonical sneering: ‘Are you a competent theologian?’
“Exorcist: ‘How long have you been torturing this poor woman?’
“Devil: ‘Since her fourteenth year.’ (26 years of possession)
“Exorcist: ‘How dared you enter into that innocent girl and torture her like that?’
“Sneeringly: ‘Ha, did not her own father curse us into her?’
“Exorcist: ‘But why did you, Beelzebub, alone take possesion of her? Who gave you that permission?’
Devil: ‘Don’t talk foolishly. Don’t I have to render obedience to Satan?’
“Exorcist: ‘Then you are here at the direction and command of Lucifer?’
“Devil: ‘Well, how could it be otherwise?”
What happens next, by the power of God, the name of Jesus and the holiness of the exorcist, is the continued forcing of the demons to tell the truth. At this point in the story the exorcist wants to call up the damned soul of the the deceased father of the woman who cursed his daughter into demonic possession.
The dialog goes on …
“Exorcist: ‘Then I solemnly command in the name of the Crucified Savior of Nazareth that you present the father of this woman and that he give me answer!’
“A deep rough voice announced itself, which had already been noticed alongside the voice of Beelzebub.’
“Exorcist: ‘Are you the unfortunate father who has cursed his own child?’
“With a defiant roar: ‘No.’
“Who are you then?’
“I am Judas.’
“What, Judas! Are you Judas Iscariot, the former Apostle?’
“Thereupon followed a horrible, woefully prolonged : ‘Y-e-s, I am the one.’ This was howled in the deepest bass voice. It set the whole room a-quivering so that out of pure fright and horror the pastor and some of the nuns ran out. Then followed a disgusting exhibition of spitting and vomiting, as if Judas were intending to spit at his Lord and Master with all his might, or as if he had in mind to unloose his inner waste and filth upon Him.’
“Finally Judas was asked: ‘What business have you here?’
“‘To bring her to despair, so that she will commit suicide and hang herself! She must get the rope, she must go to hell!’
“‘Is it then a fact that everyone that commits suicide goes to hell?’
“‘Rather not.’
“‘Why not?’
“‘Ha, we devils are the ones that urge them to commit suicide, to hang themselves, just as I did myself.’
“‘Do you regret that you have committed such a despicable deed?’
“A terrible curse followed: ‘Let me alone. Don’t bother me with your fake god. It was my own fault.’ Then he kept on raving in a terrible manner.”
Obviously, this is just a small exerpt from what one might call a priest’s personal diary and his journey into the realm of the diabolical which has a remarkably similar resonance as the Biblical accounts of Jesus and His encounters with demonic activities.
In conclusion, The South Coast Report, which is also known as the Catholic Investigative Journal, investigates stories that affect our souls, our nation and our nation’s largest denominational family … the Catholic Church. This particular report is also an attempted rebuttal to the school principal who says that hell does not exist, nor do its occupants. Maybe, this educator needs more education herself.
Exorcism is a serious and dangerous business. This investigative journalist has the benefit of having a holy spiritual director who is also an exorcist. He once told me, “stay away from that stuff; it’s very dangerous.” With that advice in mind, this report concludes.
I don’t usually read accounts of exorcisms anymore because they give me nightmares ongoing for years. But I read this one.
Can someone tell me exactly what the devil was saying about suicides at the end. It isn’t clear to me. These taunts are not unknown to me.
Thanks for that suggestion. I just ordered up the book from our regional library system.
Paul and too many gods.
Another inquiring mind re: suicides and what the conversations meant re: this topic.
Anyone? Buehller?
We also find in the gospels, that when Jesus or the apostles cast out demons, they never belaborered for days. They simply said, come of out him/her in the name of Jesus! End of exorcism.
Satan fears the name of Jesus for the Bible says there is no other name under heaven wherein one can be saved. There’s power in His name. The devils don’t tremble at the name God - but, they do at the name of Jesus. That’s why the atheists and other groups have worked so hard to have his name removed from society.
Agreed. Of course the Apostles were hand selected by Christ and walked and talked with him. They saw all his signs and miracles. Christ prayed specifically for them and the Holy Spirit specifically visited them. I would imagine their faith was exponentially greater than we can imagine today.
Exorcists are very brave and must have tremendous faith. When you read about what they endure, it is frightening. You can find the book “Hostage to the Devil” by Malachi Martin in pdf form online for free. It’s very scary stuff.
There is a wonderful book that’s not scary at all, that treats the topic of deliverance, that may be of interest to many - it’s by Neal Lozano, and it’s called “Unbound”
The website is http://heartofthefather.com/
I very much enjoyed the book - maybe others will too.
Paul and others also commanded devils out of people - after Christ had ascended back into heaven. So, I’m not saying Catholic priests aren’t doing true exorcism, I’m just saying, I read the Bible and never read where it took any of them days upon days to have those possessed - freed. However, there is one scripture where Jesus told the disciples that some demons can’t be cast out except by prayer and fasting.
Thank you for your comment.
i was wondering satan and bellzebub are not the same then? some people dont belevie me but i was laying on my couch one day and i heard a voice say Hi marissa this is belzeebub then the next night i heard a voice in my b edroom it as well said belzeebub then i hear more voices telling the name bellzebub to get out of my room. the next day i asked my Boyfriend if he ever heard the name bellzeebub. he said yes then he showed me the name in the bible. i could not belive my eyes. i wonder why he was visiting me cuz i dont no him or never heard of him. o well i guess but now there is other things
Satan goes by many names. Like you, I too had an encounter with this evil spirit. At the time, I was attending a catholic high school. Someone gave me a ouija board as a gift and a group of us gathered at a friend's house to play.
It was a very hot summer day. My friend's mother was hanging laundry outside, to dry. The house was not air conditioned. Two of the girls set the board on a table. The one girl had a spirit guide named eot. As soon as they began to ask questions, eot responded. Suddenly, the spindle spelled out warning. We just looked at other nervously, then laughed. Now the spindle spelled out danger. Still bemused we taunted the board by asking "is anyone there?" There was a delay and then the spindle shot in the direction of the word "yes". The girls responded with: "Is this eot?" The spindle responded with "no". The girls asked: "What is your name?" (I took out a pad and pencil to write down the conversation). The spindle moved rapidly over the board and the girls called out the letters to me. The response came back: "I have many names but my preferred call me beelzebub". As catholics, we knew immediately that this was satan.
I cautioned the two girls to abandon the game but one of them was drawn, out of sheer curiosity, to continue. She asked him to prove it. He responded by saying he wanted to meet with her. She taunted him by asking where. He told her to send everyone out of the room and he would then respond. To ensure he had her full attention, he promised to giver her "anything she wanted including ed". That did not make sense until I remembered that my friend had a crush on a boy named "Ed". (No one besides me and my friend knew about her crush on him!)
I prompted my friend to ask "who are the most evil people here"? Not surprisingly, he named the two youngest children in the household (because they are closest to God). By now, the temperature in the house was becoming cold. When my friend's mother returned from hanging up the laundry, she wondered how the house had cooled down. The family cat began to step inside the house, arched its back, screeched and ran back outside.
I knew something had to be done quickly. I asked one of the young children to bring me a rosary bead. I placed these on the spindle. There was a slight hesitation and then the spindle flew across the room and into the fireplace.
I destroyed the game board that day! Satan is real and his greatest trick is to entice people into believing that he is not. He goes by many names.
i wonder why he was visiting me cuz i dont no him or never heard of him.
Do not invest any time in wondering about this. Rather, turn to God in prayer and sincere repentance for past mistakes. If you are catholic, go to confession. If you are a christian, speak with your minister. More importantly, spend time getting to know God and ask for His assistance.
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