Exorcisms and AbusesPosted on 06/25/2010 3:05:49 PM PDT by mlizzy
Exorcisms and Abuses
One of the three commands that Jesus gave to the disciples was to "drive out demons" (Mk 16:17) in His Name. "Heal the sick" and "preach the good news" (Lk 10:9) are regular ministries of the Church, but the ministry of exorcising demons has received less attention. It is my view that the next decade will force the Church - and priests in particular - to embrace this ministry of casting out demons with professionalism and zeal as we will have to deal with the nuclear fallout of the pervasive occultism in our society now. In order to do that however, the Church needs to give people a proper understanding of spiritual warfare against the devil and his minions.
Unfortunately, many false and illusory images of fighting the Evil One define people's thinking about exorcism and demonic possession. The only correct view of the power of evil comes from faith, not the culture. Popular movies like The Exorcist (1973) and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), while containing some truthful elements, create the picture that even when the Church "wins" an exorcism battle, the Church is somehow damaged and the devil gets his hour of glory. Hollywood would have us believe that Christ's Church cowers before the power of the devil - nothing could be further from the truth!
I am also concerned about real abuses that happen in spiritual warfare when people are trying to deal with evil without the protection of the Church. They may have a legitimate desire to be free from demonic forces but they can unwittingly get caught up in the very evil they are trying to quell. Some recent reports of "exorcisms" or allegations of possession are listed below but only for the purposes of indicating what happens when exorcisms are attempted without the shield of the spiritual authority that Christ gave to His Church. These have all occurred within the past couple of years and are not exorcisms - they are abuses - but it is easy to see how the devil might use these distortions to further his purpose of leading people away from authentic faith:
In 2007 there was a disturbed man in Phoenix, Arizona trying to violently "exorcise" his three-year-old granddaughter while the girl's unclad mother participated in the bizarre and bloody ritual. The girl was injured and traumatized and the perpetrators went to jail.Due to the mysterious nature of evil, possession and exorcism will never be entirely removed from popular distortions, but the Church has an obligation to give a correct understanding of what is a legitimate pastoral ministry and a Gospel imperative of the Church. A correct understanding of exorcism can also divest many of an unholy and dangerous fascination with the occult. No sane person who truly understood the nature of demons would be fascinated with them!
A 58-year-old central Iowa man set his couch on fire and burned down his house, according to him, as a way to get rid of demons in the home.
In New Zealand, a 22-year-old woman was killed by drowning in a native Maori "makutu-lifting" ritual after having her eyes gouged out because, it was said, that the devil could be seen in her eyes. Forty family members watched the killing and then attempted to do the same to her 14-year old niece.
A 70-year-old Tunisian grandmother was killed in a mental hospital in France by her daughter and a friend who suffocated her with a plastic bag trying to "trap the devil" inside of her.
A 44-year-old Haitian man in Florida thought his girlfriend was possessed and hit her in the head with an iron in order to "release the demons that were inside her." When his mother tried to fend off the attack, he bit off her fingertip and started to actually pull out his own teeth. As he fought with police he was chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," and praying in Creole.
A 33-year-old Washington D. C. woman killed her four teenage and pre-adolescent daughters with blunt force trauma, strangulation and stabbing claiming that all four of them were possessed. She stored their bodies for four months in her house until they were discovered by police in a badly decomposed state.
The videos of "exorcisms" that are available on the Internet are utterly dehumanizing and abominable, but the "entertainment" value of such postings, in the modern mind, is immense for a faithless age.
If you have not had the chance to purchase my new book, Exorcism and the Church Militant, please do so today! You can find it at www.exorcismbook.com and make sure to buy its companion edition called Demonic Abortion where I explain the satanic nature of the abortion industry. Hopefully it will build your faith and lead you to a greater awareness of the power of Christ operative through His Church!
Sincerely,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,
President, Human Life International
[graphics: mine]
No sane person who truly understood the nature of demons would be fascinated with them!Good line! Prayers for Fr. Euteneuer ...
The late Fr John Hardin wrote this outstanding description of the devil...
One more description of the devil. The devil uses civil authority, call it the State to war against the followers of Christ. It is surely not coincidental that Pontius Pilate, the civil governor of Palestine, condemned Jesus to a shameful death on the Cross. Over the centuries, the enemies of Christ have used the power of the State to undermine the moral teachings of the Savior. The legalized murder, under State authority, in most of the countries of the world, is surely the work of the devil. He uses State power. As I heard from a man just recently, “I have spent the last four years of my life in prison for praying the rosary before abortuaries.” As I said before, the State is the organized battalion which is being used by the devil to destroy the mystical body of Christ.-Fr John Hardin
The following is more outstanding advice from the Late Fr Hardon..
One strong recommendation, never engage the devil in conversation. I mean never. If you must tell the devil to depart; if you want the devil to go, tell him, but never engage him in what could even be interpreted as a friendly conversation. I have had enough experience of people foolish enough to engage in conversation with the devil who have suffered disastrous consequences as a result.-Fr John A Hardon
I recommence praying the Chaplet of Saint Michael on a daily bases( I pray this daily myself every morning and include protection for family members and many others)..
The Chaplet of St. Michael
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.
[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]
1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.
2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.
3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions. Amen.
5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.
6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.
9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven. Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.
Concluding prayers:
O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence.This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Thank you for that chaplet.
Thanks very much! Very good description. Father Hardon is so inspiring to read. Here's a photograph of Fr. on his First Communion. Click the photo and there are many other pictures of him (several with Mother Teresa of Calcutta as well). Thanks also for the St. Michael Chaplet. I don't know that I've ever seen that before ... it's rather mandatory for these times.
The good father and Raymond Arroyo were recently in my town talking to us about Exorcism.Were you in attendance? Or did you hear by radio/television? I see "the good father" (I like that!) will be with Fr. John Corapi July 17th.
A 58-year-old central Iowa man set his couch on fire and burned down his house, according to him, as a way to get rid of demons in the home.
In New Zealand, a 22-year-old woman was killed by drowning in a native Maori "makutu-lifting" ritual after having her eyes gouged out because, it was said, that the devil could be seen in her eyes. Forty family members watched the killing and then attempted to do the same to her 14-year old niece.
A 70-year-old Tunisian grandmother was killed in a mental hospital in France by her daughter and a friend who suffocated her with a plastic bag trying to "trap the devil" inside of her.
A 44-year-old Haitian man in Florida thought his girlfriend was possessed and hit her in the head with an iron in order to "release the demons that were inside her." When his mother tried to fend off the attack, he bit off her fingertip and started to actually pull out his own teeth. As he fought with police he was chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," and praying in Creole.
A 33-year-old Washington D. C. woman killed her four teenage and pre-adolescent daughters with blunt force trauma, strangulation and stabbing claiming that all four of them were possessed. She stored their bodies for four months in her house until they were discovered by police in a badly decomposed state.
The videos of "exorcisms" that are available on the Internet are utterly dehumanizing and abominable, but the "entertainment" value of such postings, in the modern mind, is immense for a faithless age.
Diversity is our StrengthTM.
Cheers!
Quite a few folks in my parish got tickets and said it was very good.
Much of what was said on the initial thread was touched on. Especially that you should not try to chat with Satan.
To be honest, I have never seen the movie or read the book, The Exorcist.
It is just too spooky. I won't watch any movies with a Satan theme to it.
You're welcome ,dear friend.
Thank You,dear sister. Father Hardon holds a special place in my heart and many of his writings lead me back to the Catholic Faith.
Fr Hardon's devotion to Eucharistic Adoration is an inspiration to me
You probably are aware that Fr Harden wrote thousands of teachings on his knees in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament?
Thanks also for the St. Michael Chaplet. I don't know that I've ever seen that before ... it's rather mandatory for these times.
You;re welcome. I believe praying the Chaplet is absolutely mandatory these days as is many Rosaries and the Divine Mercy Chaplet ,it only takes around 15 to 30 minutes for each.
Adoration is so very important to me as well.
To be honest, I have never seen the movie or read the book, The Exorcist. It is just too spooky. I won't watch any movies with a Satan theme to it.Same here -- too spooky. All my friends went to see it, and I took a pass. And as it stands, Father Euteneuer says it was not at all accurate either, which just gives the devil another hand up in the situation. I'm so glad Father Euteneuer is working hard on this issue, because he seems the perfect priest to do so; calm and exacting.
Thank you. ESPECIALLY on some of these threads as we engage this is necessary.
Some of what’s said on RF is truly demonic.
Great quote from Father John Hardon.
The Chaplet of St. Michael And here:
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