Posted on 12/16/2010 10:55:36 AM PST by mgstarr
A movie starring Anthony Hopkins explores exorcism. The man who wrote the book behind the film talks about what chasing the devil really entails.
Matt Baglio’s curiosity was piqued.
An exorcism course at a Vatican-affiliated university in Rome? It was an unusual topic. As an American journalist living in the Eternal City, he thought it might make for an interesting article; as a non-practicing Catholic at the time, he approached it with some skepticism.
Taught by exorcists and experts in theology, satanic cults, criminology and psychology, the course he took challenged many of his assumptions. But what really intrigued him was the openness and honesty of a fellow student, Father Gary Thomas, a priest from the Diocese of San Jose, Calif., whose bishop, Patrick McGrath, had asked him to undergo training as an exorcist.
As the two got to know each other, a friendship — and a book — were born. The book, in turn, gave rise to a major film starring Anthony Hopkins, The Rite, to be released in theaters Jan. 28.
Baglio’s book, The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist , follows Father Thomas through his hands-on training with an experienced exorcist in Rome and accompanies him on his first exorcisms. At the same time, Baglio’s research provides a more detailed understanding of the history, rites and rituals of exorcism according to Catholic teaching.
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
Ping
Movie Bookmark.
Too cool. I would LOVE to take a course on that stuff.
Should be good.
Interesting article. Thanks for posting!
Agreed. Perhaps my wife will let me pick the monthly movie this time. :-)
“Intriguing”, yes, “cool”, NO!
Very scarey and dangerous stuff.
The temptation to offer your own soul, in exchange for the freedom of the possessed, is very powerful.
It is not some sport or test of will.
It requires much prayer and sacrifice, and a very holy life.
You’re not auditing a CSI class here...
“The temptation to offer your own soul, in exchange for the freedom of the possessed, is very powerful.”
I remember listening to the commentary of “The Exorcist” and the person talking stated that permission to enter the body of the exorcist is the very one thing the demon is aiming more, above all else.
Read excerpts from the book here...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/43209605/The-Rite-by-Matt-Baglio-Excerpt
I have the book...scary stuff. Excellent Book. Cannot wait to see the movie.
actually, you may not want to know more about that stuff...if you delve too deeply into it, the evil may rub off on you, and if you chose to fight it (e.g. as a prayer warrior) you might find unexpected problems coming at you.
But if you really want to know more about it, try reading Malachi Martin’s Hostage to the Devil...evil is...evil. I once lent my copy to a friend who “loved” new age stuff and occult movies, both of which glamourize evil/spirits/demons. She said the book was “horrible” and never finished it.
I found the book full of horrors, but with hope: Because Jesus heals.
there is also a book out by the Vatican “exorcist”, but I read it, and as a doc, I figured most of these cases were natural problems (psychiatric or medical) where demonic oppression was involved, not really possession.
The scary part is not possession with exorcism, or oppression with mental illness. It is that some folks actually made a pact with the devil to be successful in life...
I once tried to read it, but I was going through some psychological issues, so I stopped.
“The scary part is not possession with exorcism, or oppression with mental illness. It is that some folks actually made a pact with the devil to be successful in life...”
While the Devil gives a perfect life, you pay for it for eternity.
“actually, you may not want to know more about that stuff...if you delve too deeply into it, the evil may rub off on you, and if you chose to fight it (e.g. as a prayer warrior) you might find unexpected problems coming at you.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m interested, but not to the extent of watching an actual exrocism. I simply see the battle going on and good winning a cool thing. It’s the win that’s cool.
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