Cardinal Cottier on Exorcisms - "The Church Must Speak About the Devil"

Zenit News Agency ^ | January 22, 2006 | Cardinal Georges Cottier

[TheCrusader]

Thanks for posting this GREAT article. I'm going to print it out and read it again.

[kenth]

I was just thinking that too; thank you NYer for the great posts and pings.

[Frank Sheed]

Just ordered a book called "The Deceiver" which is on Satan and how he works in our lives. I'll write to let you know how it is when it arrives.

F

[GSlob]

He is misunderestimating. The devil reads hearts and minds like an open book, and frequently writes in it and makes corrections.

[onedoug]

With so much certainty of goings-on high, one would think all would be well with the world by now.

"If I knew God I'd be Him."

[kstewskis]

Great, yet chilling post, NYer!

Somewhere I read, perhaps in one of Amorth's books, that the Rite of Exorcism was altered or changed at Vat.II, and he felt that it was not as effective (for lack of a better word) as it once was.

Anyone heard of this?

Frank, your book sounds interesting. Keep us posted.

[Pyro7480]

I have that book, Frank, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet (along with tons of other books). I hope to read it soon. It looks really good.

[NYer]

Just ordered a book called "The Deceiver" which is on Satan and how he works in our lives. I'll write to let you know how it is when it arrives.

Thanks. Two of your recommendations are already on my amazon list :-)

[185JHP]

Attempts to entice, harass, torment, compel, enslave, deceive, defile and weaken are sins of evil activity spawned by the evil one and/or his demons. Trying to control other people is a sign that evil's on the loose...

[Antioch]

Thanks for posting this- I missed it in the news. I just finished "The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel" the original case study from which the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose was made. The book is far more harrowing and lethal that the (very truncated) plot in the movie. It's a very faith-strengthening read-it reminds one of the inescapable spiritual origin and nature of our world and our place as creatures in it.

[Desdemona]

Somewhere I read, perhaps in one of Amorth's books, that the Rite of Exorcism was altered or changed at Vat.II, and he felt that it was not as effective (for lack of a better word) as it once was.

Fr. Amorth said, plain and simply, it doesn't work. The exorcists themselves were not consulted when it was written and all the aspects of the old rite that truly drive demons out were removed.

[goodform]

He is misunderestimating. The devil reads hearts and minds like an open book, and frequently writes in it and makes corrections.

From what I understand it is true that demons can not read hearts and minds. But, the demons can closely monitor us and get to know us very closely so as to almost be able to read our minds kind of the way we can read the mind of someone very close to us only they are much more observant. They can throw thoughts into your mind which is one way they tempt us. So when combining the ability to throw thoughts into our mind and then watch our reaction, they get to know us very well.

[GSlob]

Devil can not only read hearts and minds, but write in them, too. This is reflected in the usage "and he put... in his heart". Reading most minds, however, is an incredibly boring proposition. So is writing in them, too - if one is to look at protocols of the witches' processes, then what was the devil putting in them?- mostly the things like drying the milk in the neighbor's cow, sophomoric pranks about making some girl's ex-boyfriend impotent, settling minor scores about regular quarrels in their small villages and other things of similar sophistication. From the devil one would expect more. Imagine having to write [on purpose] at the level of 5-year old. It is boring.

[goodform]

I'm with you on the "put...in his heart" comment. I believe that is what I was trying to say by "throwing thoughts into our minds". But I'm not so sure about the "reading" part. I'm no expert on this, and I'm not trying to be combative with you. But this goes against things that I've heard, and read in the past. I'd be interested to see if there is official Catholic teaching on this.

[Coleus]

bttt

[kstewskis]

Fr. Amorth said, plain and simply, it doesn't work. The exorcists themselves were not consulted when it was written and all the aspects of the old rite that truly drive demons out were removed.

Now, that is frightening. I hate to think of what would truly happen in an authenticated case of demonic possession...what does one do then? (other than fly to Rome and consult Amorth!)

[Salvation]

CARDINAL SAYS THAT GREATEST DANGER OF DEVIL IS NOT POSSESSION BUT TEMPTATION

[Desdemona]

Now, that is frightening. I hate to think of what would truly happen in an authenticated case of demonic possession...what does one do then?

Use the old rite when a bishop will give permission and when he won't use it anyway. In the US, under some metropolitans, exorcists operate underground, so it doesn't matter if the exorcist receives permission or not. The bishops who actually have exorcists on staff (like they are supposed to), know the value of using the old rite, so they give permission.

The whole thing is really rather interesting.