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.
Catholic ping!
I sincerely hope that the Church tracks down these evil people, and removes them from any position of power or authority over anyone.
Amen.
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.
This is really off of the subject of the article, but this misconception is a particular peeve of mine, and it seems so widespread that I feel that I must address it ...
Jesus did not speak more of hell than He spoke of heaven.
In this modern day, it is easy to do a search of terms to demonstrate that this widely held notion is false.
As would be expected by the objective student, Jesus, whose home was heaven, after all, ... spoke much more of His home (heaven) than He spoke of hell (in any form).
Even without doing such a search, one has only to consider the number of times Jesus spoke of the "kingdom of heaven" in His parables ... to be persuaded to understand that this is true.
Read the book Hostage to the Devil by the late Malachi Martin. Will scare the pants off of you. He goes into painful detail the story of 5 individuals who became possessed in contemporary America. How patient, seductive and devious Satan is, how he is a long term thinker not a Hollywood movie. How we becoming self worshipping, navel gazing, selfish and removed from God and Satan steps in the spiritual void. Basically the movie plot of that tripe Eat, Pray Love with Julia Roberts
Agreed, but I doubt it will happen.
Just axin'.
At the very least the parent of the child knew with what he was dealing and took the next best course of action by withdrawing his child from said school.
Absolutely!
She was one of the catholics who also votes democrat
So... Do you think there could be a credibility issue here?
I don't know ...
Everybody who's anybody in the Christian world seems to believe this misconception.
Ultimately, I'd have to say that not enough christian leaders are being like the Bereans. Unfortunately, it's much easier to believe what's popularly held to be true than to find the real truth of the matter (Study to show thyself approved ... II Tim. 2:15)
“Hostage to the Devil” is one of the most frightening books that I have ever read. Years ago, I actually hid it from my teenage children because I did not think it appropriate for them.
I had the honor to meet and speak with Malachy Martin before his death. He was a very perceptive man, and had a deep faith.
If you want to know his interpretation of what is going on in the modern Church, read his last novel, “Windswept House.”
So much for scientific precision. Maybe he needs to recalibrate his hell-o-meter.
If hell doesn’t exist, then Christian Theology is false. I wonder if the nun realizes this or has her own version of Christian Theology that can accomodate just about everything.
I enjoy Malachi Martin and his books. Churches of all denominations avoid the conversation about Satan and the real spectre of tangible evil. Sure many of them talk about human frailty and human manifestations of evil but not the chief ringleader and entity who is the catalyst of all this mayhem.
Exactly and well put. If there is no Hell, than why did Jesus come to save us from it? A sizable portion of the populace would trade willingly 82 years of unbridled hedonism and sin for a formless and endless sleep. What Jesus came to save us from was an existence without him from a place the polar opposite of Heaven. A place of endless torment and torture.
Bump for thoughtful reading.
God bless.
Tatt
To your excellent book I would add “The Final Hour” which gives a historical overview of all Mary’s apparitions and details her struggle with the devil on our behalf.
Well put.
We don’t have to state it that way. All we need to know is that Christ DID speak of hell many times and that the Gospels detail His personal struggle with the devil. We know the devil and hell exist. End of discussion, as far as I’m concerned!
“Pants upside down”????
Is that a catholic exression?
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