Posted on 10/29/2007 8:13:19 AM PDT by NYer
Audience members at Church of the Annunciation, Rosedale, were so intently focused on Father Thomas J. Euteneuer’s exorcism talk Oct. 21, that when someone in the crowd muffled a sneeze – they flinched.
About 130 people attended “An Evening with an Exorcist,” listening carefully as Father Euteneuer talked about how demons target their victims and how an exorcism takes place.
Father Euteneuer, a priest for the Palm Beach, Fla., diocese who is living in the Archdiocese of Arlington, Va., said he’s been involved in exorcisms for nearly five years and has performed three or four that expelled demons as well as several deliverances, which use prayer teams for people who aren’t fully possessed.
The priest, who heads the pro-life organization Human Life International, said he is investigating three current cases of possession.
“The church does not have a magic wand they wave … exorcism and its deliverance from evil is a process,” he said.
Demons tempt and persecute people, he said, but if they get inside the person, that’s obsession; when the devil has complete control over the person, that’s possession. “If you live in a state of grace, you have no problem with the devil getting in you,” Father Euteneuer said. “I don’t want people to think because the devil is so powerful there’s a demon around every corner.”
But people unwittingly invite a demon in, through an Ouija board, a séance or “New Age stuff,” he said, adding, “if you live a life of totally unrepentant mortal sin for a length of time, that’s an invitation.” People who are victimized can be targeted because of their vulnerability, and demons also prey on people not in a state of grace who have contact with someone practicing the occult.
Sometimes God allows the possession, and he cited an example of an exorcism in Germany that ultimately increased faith and spirituality there.
Before an exorcism is considered, doctors must rule out physical causes or mental illness. He detailed the case of an 18-year-old who initially was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but no drug could stabilize him, and when asked to read the Bible, he read it in a language that he didn’t speak.
Speaking a language the person doesn’t know is a classic sign of possession; others include knowledge of things or events they couldn’t possibly know, being told what to do by beings and a failure to respond to all forms of medical treatment.
If an exorcism is warranted, it must be approved by the bishop; Father Euteneuer estimated only about 5 percent of all cases investigated are strictly demonic possession. The question-and-answer period lasted as long as the lecture, with participants asking everything from has anyone ever died during an exorcism to what Father Euteneuer thought of Harry Potter to why isn’t the Eucharist used on the possessed person during an exorcism.
One woman, dressed from head to toe in black, with pronounced black eyeliner and black fingernails, identified herself as a paranormal researcher and began to ask about demons growling. But Father Euteneuer cut off her questions.
“Let me encourage you to stop doing this – this kind of fascination is not normal,” he told her. When she tried to continue, he said, “I reiterate my request that you get out of this completely because this can seduce you.”
When the event, sponsored by Friends in Faith, concluded, the audience still had so many questions that Father Euteneuer continued to answer them while everyone enjoyed light refreshments.
“I’ve never seen a captive audience stay more than two hours – the installation of our new archbishop went on for two hours flat,” said Annunciation pastor Father William P. Foley.
“It spooks you a little bit but it reinforces some of the notions you have,” said Matthew Marshall of St. Thomas Aquinas, Hampden, who is participating in 40 Days for Life. “It’s an awareness-raiser.”
“I found it very interesting – it’s certainly informative,” said Jennifer Schmidt of St. Casimir, Canton, who came because she’d recently read a book on exorcism. “He’s a very good speaker.”
Ping
BTTT! The battle — good over evil.
Christ won it over the devil. It can be won again and again.
There are a lot of unclean spirits as well as demons etc. in the general population. GLBT’s invite trouble but can be healed, if they so choose.
“It can be won again and again.”
With His help, of course.
**With His help, of course.**
Double Amen to that.
The exorcism in Germany to which he refers was that of Annaliese Michel (which was the subject of the film “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” albeit with great liberties taken in the storyline).
http://www.modernhometheater.com/movies/revs/emrose.shtml
It is widely considered that Annaliese Michel was a “victim soul.” I have heard that many young people visit her grave to place flowers there.
F
My guess is that there are a lot of demonically "oppressed" people too. My understanding of demonic oppression is where the demons are outside the person, but constantly attacking. I think I had a year long experience with it myself. I was chatting on-line with a nasty atheist when a wave of gloom washed over me. It was very abrupt and unusual. I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. For over a year I was preoccupied with heretical ideas that I couldn't get out of my mind. About a year and a half later, I felt the gloom lift as suddenly as it had come upon me... Don't want to go through that again.
Someone can also open themselves up for possession or oppression by abusing alcohol or drugs.
This is the priest who stood up to Sean Hannity’s on-air bullying. I think he is supposed to have a book coming out on this topic.
That was one scary movie! I watched it with my 16-year old daughter (hope it put the fear of God in her). lol
It can be interior too. One of the methods of spell casting is ingestion. I'm sure Fr.'s talk was informative and interesting, but I get concerned when priests claim victims bring it on themselves. That is not true in all cases. Most of the saints suffered terribly. Think of the Ladder of Divine Ascent icon.
Also, there is a fine distinction between oppression and obsession which I've never seen well delineated.
What exactly is a victim soul?
VICTIM SOUL
A person specially chosen by God to suffer more than most people during life, and who generously accepts the suffering in union with the Savior and after the example of Christ’s own Passion and Death. The motive of a victim soul is a great love of God and the desire to make reparation for the sins of mankind.
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
The reports of Annaliese’s possession state that in an apparent period of lucidity, she consented to all that was done to her although she was slowing dying. She was, in fact, a form of martyr whose faith had a profound effect on that of others who did not fear the devil. The movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, did not convey how deeply spiritual she was. That shocks some people but it has happened to some great saints. The “dark night of the soul” is another type of manifestation of this.
See 16, Deb.
Peace!
Thanks Frank ;-)
Annaliese’s story breaks my heart. Now she is at peace, no more suffering.
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