Posted on 11/11/2010 8:38:52 PM PST by marshmallow
Pity the poor exorcist, caught between evil spirits eager to invade human bodies and a society skeptical that demons exist outside of Hollywood horror movies.
Even some church leaders look askance at exorcists as peddlers of a practice best left in the Middle Ages. Most American exorcists, particularly the handful of priests appointed by the Roman Catholic Church, keep a low profile, hesitating to open themselves — or their church — to ridicule and quacks.
But exorcists may soon be moving out of the shadows.
U.S. Catholic bishops are sponsoring a conference this week (Nov. 12-13) in Baltimore on the "liturgical and pastoral practice of exorcism." Fifty-six bishops and 66 priests have registered to hear about the shortage of trained exorcists and the growing interest in the mysterious rite, according to Catholic News Service.
That's good news for the Rev. Gary Thomas, a loquacious, Silicon Valley priest eager to dish about exorcism and the art of spiritual warfare.
Thomas is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga, Calif., and the official exorcist for the Diocese of San Jose. According to Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., who is helping organize the Baltimore conference, Thomas is one of only five or six active exorcists in the U.S.
Last year, Thomas wrote to 121 Catholic bishops and 41 seminary rectors, urging them to train more priests in demon de-possession. Included with the letters were copies of "The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist," a book by journalist Matt Baglio that details Thomas' three-year journey from California clergyman to university-trained "spiritual detective."
"I hope that you will take the time to read this book and become better informed about a subject that many Catholics priests deem superstitious and medieval," Thomas wrote in the letter to the bishops. These are apocalyptic times, the.........
(Excerpt) Read more at newsok.com ...
No more calls please, we have a winner.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have a exorcism at the WH.
Really?
My understanding of Roman Catholic protocol is that they won't even interview a subject until an unbiased psychiatric evaluation has ruled out any mental illness.
If you have any aquaintences who are extreme rabid lefties, ask them if they will look you in the eye and say, "Jesus Christ is Lord" or, alternately, "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh."
You'll see some interesting reactions. If they can see through their rage they sometimes cannot stay in the same room where His names is spoken.
Just sayin.'
INDEED.
That was fast!
The Swimmer is already gone. But, Bawney Fwank’s available and Harry Reid, Miss America and some others in DC, Joe Bite Me, etc.
Yes. If I was a priest, I have no doubt I’d be called to be an exorcist. I am only sad one has to be a priest to do so properly.
Is there any way to find out which bishops/priests are registered to attend? I’d really like to know if any of them are from my area. Thanks
I’m sure that Satan is delighted with the snarky, cynical, sophisticated tone in which this article is written. May God have mercy on the ignorance of this vain author. As C.S. Lewis noted, the Devil is pleased when humans don’t believe in him.
But before I knew this the salesperson in the Front would look all around me. Then call me goody two shoes. He would mock me. So eventually I would plead the blood of Christ. He would walk away until I was done in the store. Some times with a small snarl. Just remember these days are getting weird. The blood of Cavalry! Praise Jesus!
I'll grant that the Satanic Bible is Satanic (by definition), but what magazine titles could you buy at Tower Records that were "Satanic"? I'm not aware of the Church of Satan ever publishing a news stand magazine...
Well, what do you expect? If I was writing an article on a superstition such as astrology or witches having magic powers I would certainly try to be sophisticated about it; and as for being snarky and cynical...why not? Some beliefs deserve to be mocked.
Why should an article on another superstition (demonic possession) be any different?
I have read many exorcist articles and books over the years. Basically that can be the rule but there are exceptions. I have read about a few priest in a Rome church where people from Italy or the world go to be delivered. These priests are so attuned to the spirit they can tell right away. They do it almost everyday with lines. Just by the massive experience.
Also remember according to one book people can be both mentally ill and possessed. But you have to have some patience. I remember reading about Smith Wigglesworth He once delivered by just singing Jesus with others. Then another time took days to deliver.
This was the 1990’s. To me this is poison. So I do not want to remember. Aversion. So I believe if I can remember something like Satanic coven magazine or just a pentagram with hardly words on the cover. Dark colors always. Spellcasters magazines. I only saw this at this place only. I do not remember any where else.
Well, welcome to FR.
One must know what he’s doing to fight these demons. Read the Bible about the man attempting to casting out a demon and the demon beat the crap out of him. I would never attempt it.
great example. no I would never attempt it either unless I was a trained priest.
The AP may call him a lonely exorcist but I suggest he is always in high spirits.
TOO BAD SOME DON'T BELIEVE IN MARK 16:15-18 . . . and that it is for the priesthood of all Believers in the Saving Blood of Jesus The Christ and in a Spirit-led life of walking WITH AND IN HIM:
17-18"These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."
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14-16Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up. Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.
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Mark 16:15-18 (Amplified Bible)
15And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole [a]human race]. .
16He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [[b]from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
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17And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
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18They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
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Mark 16:15-18 (English Standard Version)
15And he said to them, (A) "Go into all the world and(B) proclaim the gospel to(C) the whole creation. 16(D) Whoever believes and is(E) baptized(F) will be saved, but(G) whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And(H) these signs will accompany those who believe:(I) in my name they will cast out demons;(J) they will speak in new tongues; 18(K) they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them;(L) they will lay their hands(M) on the sick, and they will recover."
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Cross references:
A.Mark 16:15 : Matt 28:19
B.Mark 16:15 : Col 1:23; Mark 13:10; Acts 1:8; Rom 10:18
C.Mark 16:15 : Rom 8:22
D.Mark 16:16 : John 3:18
E.Mark 16:16 : John 3:5
F.Mark 16:16 : Acts 16:31; Rom 10:9; 1 Pet 3:21
G.Mark 16:16 : Mark 16:11; Luke 24:11, 41; Acts 28:24; 1 Pet 2:7; 2 Thess 2:12
H.Mark 16:17 : Mark 11:23
I.Mark 16:17 : Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:18; 19:12; Mark 9:38
J.Mark 16:17 : Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; 1 Cor 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:2, 4
K.Mark 16:18 : Luke 10:19; Acts 28:3-5
L.Mark 16:18 : Mark 5:23
M.Mark 16:18 : Acts 5:15, 16; 8:7; 9:12, 17; 28:8; James 5:14, 15; John 14:12
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