Exorcist Diary #342: Can Demons Pervert the Conclave?

[Michie]

Satan will certainly marshal his strongest forces and attempt to pervert the conclave. It is a pivotal moment for the Church and he will try to sow conflict, spiritual pride, disobedience to God, distrust, power-mongering, anger, wilfullness, and more. Should we be worried?

Certainly the Cardinal electors will be discussing potential candidates and I know that some Cardinals will be actively advocating for their personal choice. There are very human elements to the process. But skeptics posit that the Church is all politics and full of power-grabbing dynamics. Will the Holy Spirit have anything to say?

Continued below.

Exorcist Diary #342: Can Demons Pervert the Conclave?

[Conclave] Satan will certainly marshal his strongest forces and attempt to pervert the conclave. It is a pivotal moment for the Church and he will try to sow conflict, spiritual pride, disobedience to God, distrust, power-mongering, anger, wilfullness, and more. Should we be worried...

www.catholicexorcism.org

 

[RileyG]

St. Michael, protect us!

 

[jmldn2]

Is exorcism true?

 

[Michie]

Is exorcism true?

Yes.

 

[jmldn2]

I have watched movies which depict exorcism. I do believe in demonic possession but always questioned exorcism.

 

[Michie]

I have watched movies which depict exorcism. I do believe in demonic possession but always questioned exorcism.

It’s a real thing. Many outside the Church call upon Catholic priests for exorcisms when all else has failed.

 

[Bob Crowley]

I have watched movies which depict exorcism. I do believe in demonic possession but always questioned exorcism.

There's a copy of an interview by "Die Welt" with Fr. Pedro Barrajon shown here. It's small print and difficult to read so you might need to expand it. It's 20 years old, but still instructive.

A talk with Catholic exorcist Pedro Barrajon about demons, the nature of evil and exorcism today. By Paul Badde​

Pedro Barrajon, Paul Badde: Hell is a state (28/12/2005) - signandsight

The new ordinance on exorcism summarises the criteria for the event of possession very well. The clearest for me as a priest is the deep aversion to holy objects such as the cross, the rosary or the sign of the cross. Also an aversion to the word God – when it is spoken, such people get very nervous. Less significant indications are the supernatural capabilities that these people can suddenly develop. They can speak foreign languages that they've never learned. They can levitate; they can float, they can overcome gravity. Sometimes they become inexplicably strong and violent. But it's not that easy to diagnose cases of possession. I usually suggest that people see a neurologist or a psychiatrist before I get involved in their case. If I am advised by these experts that they can't help, then I can begin a spiritual treatment. As a rule, I would say that of ten people who request an exorcism, one is truly possessed.

When I was a new Christian I was having some spiritual issues. I went to see a couple of people who had deliverance ministries. In my case nothing happened, but two of them said that they had experienced "patients' floating around the ceiling. One of them said "They (demons) don't want to go!"

Demons don't like Hell either, which is where they go when they're driven out. That's why they screamed when Christ drove them out or begged to be sent into the herd of swine at Gerasene. It didn't do them much good - the pigs all ran down to the lake and drowned, which meant the demons had to leave and go to Hell anyway.

Exorcism is real, but as Fr. Barrajon wrote, he thought only about 10 percent of those who were referred to him for possible exorcism actually needed it.

 

[RileyG]

It’s a real thing. Many outside the Church call upon Catholic priests for exorcisms when all else has failed.

Indeed. You don’t hear about many Protestants doing exorcisms.

 

[RileyG]

I have watched movies which depict exorcism. I do believe in demonic possession but always questioned exorcism.

Yup. There are some on YouTube. I cannot post because of language.

 

[Michie]

Indeed. You don’t hear about many Protestants doing exorcisms.

I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about exorcisms gone wrong.

 

[RileyG]

I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about exorcisms gone wrong.

Yup. Especially if someone isn’t spiritually prepared.

 

[Bob Crowley]

Indeed. You don’t hear about many Protestants doing exorcisms.

They do but they don't advertise it. Also most if not all of the "Exorcism" movies seem to feature Catholic priests and nobody else which only tells part of the story.

As Fr. Barrajon said Mary is very important in exorcisms, and that Mary is never insulted during exorcisms, even if everybody else is.

And once it's said it?

At the end, the priest says to the demon, "Go away! Disappear!" The demon usually answers, "No, I don't want to." It rebels and revolts. Sometimes it says "You have no power over me. You are nothing to me." But after a while, its resistance weakens. This usually happens after the invocation of the Holy Mother, she's very important for that. No demon ever dares to insult her during an exorcism. Never.

Does he have more respect for Mary than for God himself?

Apparently. Otherwise no holds are barred, and everyone is insulted: the priests, everyone present, the bishops, the Pope, even Jesus Christ. But never the Virgin Mary. It's an enigma.

Other Catholic exorcists have said the same thing. Personally I think God has made it very clear to Satan that the Mother of His Son is off limits!

Protestants don't avail themselves of her assistance so they rely on prayer and Scripture.

 

[Bob Crowley]

Adding to my post above, in "Interview with an Exorcist" Fr. Jose Fortea stated the following -

92. Are there exorcisms outside the Catholic Church?

Yes. True and effective exorcisms are performed in the different Christian confessions. On the one hand, the Eastern Orthodox churches maintain apostolic succession, in which their bishops and priests are validly ordained and, as such, possess a true sacramental power. On the other hand, the various Protestant churches, though they do not profess a valid ministerial priesthood, profess faith in Christ and in the power of His name. With just such weapons, the devil can be expelled....

 

[Bob Crowley]

There is also an item here by Fr. Gabriele Amorth, possibly the best known of Vatican exorcists, which has more to say on Mary's role in exorcisms.

The Role of Mary & the Saints Against Demonic Attacks

Mary & Grace “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph” Mary’s prophecy at Fátima reassures us that—besides the corporeal struggle with the demon in exorcism—the earthly anticipation of the eschatological struggle between the Mother of God and the ancient dragon (cf. Rev. 12) also has her...

catholicexchange.com

MARY AND GRACE - “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph”

Mary’s prophecy at Fátima reassures us that—besides the corporeal struggle with the demon in exorcism—the earthly anticipation of the eschatological struggle between the Mother of God and the ancient dragon (cf. Rev. 12) also has her attention. Despite rampant sin, the tribulations of the Church will have an end. And the finale will be good: God will have the last word on history.

For this reason, Mary is always invoked during the exorcism. During the prayer, the priest repeatedly invokes her intercession and her powerful action. Without her, little is accomplished in the struggle against Satan. It is always God who liberates one from his influence — it is good to keep repeating it — but His ear is especially attuned to the mediation of Mary, the Mother of His Son.

What role does the Virgin have in the liberation of the obsessed? Mary, as the Hail Mary says, is “full of grace.” She is the mediatrix of God’s every grace for all men, particularly for those who suffer much, including those who suffer from spiritual evils. The enmity between Mary and Satan — proclaimed solemnly by God in the first book of Genesis (Gen. 1:3–15) and manifest in the eschatological struggle with the dragon — makes her the number-one enemy of the demon. She will be the one to crush his head at the end of time.

 

[Bob Crowley]

Way off topic but since the quote above mentioned Mary's role in crushing the head of the serpent, I just thought I'd give the Catholic perspective on the Antichrist, the beast and the dragon (or serpent). Again I'm quoting from Gabriele Amorth's book "Interview with an Exorcist".

33. Is the devil the "beast" in the book of Revelation.

No. The book of Revelation clearly distinguishes between the three key figures who will arise in opposition to Christ and the Church at the end of time: the Antichrist, the beast, and the dragon (or serpent). Whereas the Antichrist is a man, the beast is a political power that brings war to the earth. It is the dragon who is identified with the devil. There is no ambiguity confusion in Revelation between these three distinct realities (see Rev. 12,13).

That's why the cry goes out -

Revelation 13-4 - And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

The beast is an undefeatable military and political power with the Antichrist at its head viz. "Who is able to make war with them?"

 

[RileyG]

There is also an item here by Fr. Gabriele Amorth, possibly the best known of Vatican exorcists, which has more to say on Mary's role in exorcisms.

The Role of Mary & the Saints Against Demonic Attacks

Mary & Grace “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph” Mary’s prophecy at Fátima reassures us that—besides the corporeal struggle with the demon in exorcism—the earthly anticipation of the eschatological struggle between the Mother of God and the ancient dragon (cf. Rev. 12) also has her...

catholicexchange.com

Ora pro nobis!