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.
lol
Lolita is perfectly consistent with Christianity. Have you read it?
Obviously, Slytherin was the house of outright dishonor, intimidation, and domination. Gryphindor had to cut a lot of corners to counter Slytherin, which was also a point that I think Rowling tried to make.
I loved the books. But--I wouldn't buy a Ouija board for any kid.
Could be worse, you could have read Dreams of My Father...
I see your point. The lies he told were not for personal advancement. That doesn’t make them right, but he didn’t tell a lie to get a better grade on a test or something. I just saw the lies as like those that most teenagers tell, the ones that get them out of whatever mischief they got themselves into. Hufflepuff was the house of hard workers who didn’t complain about their work. I like your analysis of the houses, though. I will bring that up in class.
I got the point. It just doesn't pass a consistency check.
Are you spying on me? Not only have I tried to get my broom to fly, but I frequently stand in the middle of my house, wave a wooden spoon, and yell “Scourgify!”. Sadly, my house won’t cooperate and clean itself.
That’s Rowling at her best? Using adjectives like ‘incredible’ and ‘wonderful’ without apparent irony? Cliched phrases like “very, very long day”, “such a wonderful thing” and “As much (insert nouns) as you could want!”?
No kidding! I’ve begged my husband for a house elf but he just keeps telling me we don’t have the money, they’re a little creepy, blah blah blah.
I can’t get Scourgify to work either and the dammed house elf is AWOL.
Probably not....
But even if he had, a guy who goes looking for the devil is certain to find him, no matter where he looks.
I wonder what demons our exorcist friend has found in, say, the Narnia books....
Compare to Hemmingway. In the rain.
Did you even get the point of the quote? One does not need to use five dollar words to be impressive. The point that Dumbledore is making is impressive. Unfortunately, you can’t see the forest for the trees.
Another Hemingway: “The shortest answer is doing the thing.”
OMG, a classic novelist used “thing”!
Well put.
Where is God?
God is everywhere.
So, apparently, is Satan...
Not much of a rousing defense of the faith of either Pelosi or Rowlins, those fine upstanding christian ladies. LOL
Blubber, nitwit, oddment, tweak! ~ Albus Dumbledore
It sort of puts me in mind of Alan West (now Rep from FL 22) who fired off a pistol next to the ear of a terrorist to frighten him into identifying an ambush. It worked, but was not protocol. He didn't do it for himself, but it was not something a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw would have done. I sent him money for his campaign, the naughty boy...
I think you'll have fun with your class. Tolkien provides more in the way of solid scholarship, though, if you go back to all his Anglo-Saxon sources.
“I got the point. It just doesn’t pass a consistency check.”
And some loose comment about serial killers and paper clippings does?
Who’s doing these checks anyway???
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