Face to face encounters with the devil
is all in a day’s work for an exorcist; followed by dinner, prayers, and a good night’s
sleep. They walk amid evil on angels’ wings with unwavering confidence in the power of God.
is all in a day’s work for an exorcist; followed by dinner, prayers, and a good night’s
sleep. They walk amid evil on angels’ wings with unwavering confidence in the power of God.
A few years
ago, I was invited to the movie junket for The
Rite, a story about the training of an exorcist. I considered backing out after watching the
movie trailer. Films that include
post-traumatic stress are not my cup of tea.
But after interviewing several exorcists to do a preliminary article, my
fears were calmed. I still don’t like
exorcism movies, but I’m no longer afraid to walk into my basement afterwards. Since
that junket, I have occasionally done articles on exorcism and deliverance. Through
talking with exorcists, their secret for faith-filled living has eclipsed my
previous fear of evil.
ago, I was invited to the movie junket for The
Rite, a story about the training of an exorcist. I considered backing out after watching the
movie trailer. Films that include
post-traumatic stress are not my cup of tea.
But after interviewing several exorcists to do a preliminary article, my
fears were calmed. I still don’t like
exorcism movies, but I’m no longer afraid to walk into my basement afterwards. Since
that junket, I have occasionally done articles on exorcism and deliverance. Through
talking with exorcists, their secret for faith-filled living has eclipsed my
previous fear of evil.
Here
are some of my favorite quotes from Exorcists:
are some of my favorite quotes from Exorcists:
When I walk into a room to do an exorcism, the devil doesn’t see
me, he sees Jesus Christ.
me, he sees Jesus Christ.
I am not an
exorcist; I am a priest who does exorcisms. My major power is in my priesthood.
exorcist; I am a priest who does exorcisms. My major power is in my priesthood.
Confession is more
powerful than an exorcism. One is a sacrament and the other is a blessing. One confession is worth 100 exorcisms.
powerful than an exorcism. One is a sacrament and the other is a blessing. One confession is worth 100 exorcisms.
The devil wants to
destroy the soul, and the soul is healed by confession. If people want to decrease the work of Satan,
they should increase the use of confession.
destroy the soul, and the soul is healed by confession. If people want to decrease the work of Satan,
they should increase the use of confession.
Once the
confessional line gets thin, the activity of Satan increases. To decrease the
work of Satan, increase the use of confession.
confessional line gets thin, the activity of Satan increases. To decrease the
work of Satan, increase the use of confession.
The power
of Satan increases when people don’t believe he is real. God is “I am, who am,” but the devil wants to
be “I am who is not.”
of Satan increases when people don’t believe he is real. God is “I am, who am,” but the devil wants to
be “I am who is not.”
.
It is
better to protect yourself from evil than to try and rid yourself from it. Stay away from the occult, pray, and frequent
the sacraments.
better to protect yourself from evil than to try and rid yourself from it. Stay away from the occult, pray, and frequent
the sacraments.
It’s really
the Lord’s fight. I was going against a satanic ritual abuse and a mentor told me
to just look to the Father. “Trust the Father and you don’t have to do
anything,” he said.
the Lord’s fight. I was going against a satanic ritual abuse and a mentor told me
to just look to the Father. “Trust the Father and you don’t have to do
anything,” he said.
Sometimes
deliverance [from evil] can happen instantaneously or it can take awhile. It is
a deliberate decision to develop healthy relationships, come to reconciliation,
and grow with the Lord.
deliverance [from evil] can happen instantaneously or it can take awhile. It is
a deliberate decision to develop healthy relationships, come to reconciliation,
and grow with the Lord.
We are
called help people to help themselves. I will pray over people and tell them: now you have to say and do things differently than your nature says. It is human nature to fall back into old habits. People need to turn to God and pray for grace. Then they need to be ready to accept those graces and strive to make good choices.
called help people to help themselves. I will pray over people and tell them: now you have to say and do things differently than your nature says. It is human nature to fall back into old habits. People need to turn to God and pray for grace. Then they need to be ready to accept those graces and strive to make good choices.
Renounce the
occult or the evil. I can pray over someone but if she is still in tune with
the occult, it’s still going to influence her. She has to break that
relationship by her own choice.
occult or the evil. I can pray over someone but if she is still in tune with
the occult, it’s still going to influence her. She has to break that
relationship by her own choice.
Fearlessness
is a grace. If I let fear bother me, I can’t do this.
is a grace. If I let fear bother me, I can’t do this.
A woman
came to me worried about her son and the influence of evil in her home. I told
her that she and her husband could take authority over their home. In
situations like this declare your authority in prayer–you are in charge of
your home. She did that and the problems went away.
came to me worried about her son and the influence of evil in her home. I told
her that she and her husband could take authority over their home. In
situations like this declare your authority in prayer–you are in charge of
your home. She did that and the problems went away.
There was a
spirit visiting someone’s son. Kids see these as angels or lost souls. You can
often get into trouble if you explore this. Don’t offer to help or ask who they
are. Let the Lord take care of it and just pray for them.
spirit visiting someone’s son. Kids see these as angels or lost souls. You can
often get into trouble if you explore this. Don’t offer to help or ask who they
are. Let the Lord take care of it and just pray for them.
Stay away
from the psychic world. Don’t try to communicate with ghosts or try to help
them.
from the psychic world. Don’t try to communicate with ghosts or try to help
them.
Retaliation
is good because it means you are doing the right thing. Take away the
drama. It’s not the worst thing in your
life. Evil spirits don’t like being
kicked out but the Lord has something to say about it. It’s not drama but a
response to God’s love.
is good because it means you are doing the right thing. Take away the
drama. It’s not the worst thing in your
life. Evil spirits don’t like being
kicked out but the Lord has something to say about it. It’s not drama but a
response to God’s love.
It’s not
our battle; it’s the Lord’s battle.
our battle; it’s the Lord’s battle.
Jesus Christ is ultimately
the one who will give freedom to people.
the one who will give freedom to people.
I will help people of other
faiths, but if someone has no connection to religion, I will not help
them. There would be no purpose to do an
exorcism if the people aren’t acceptable to growing in faith. Their situation could become even worse. It says in Matthew 12:45, “Then it goes and
takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in
and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than
the first.”
faiths, but if someone has no connection to religion, I will not help
them. There would be no purpose to do an
exorcism if the people aren’t acceptable to growing in faith. Their situation could become even worse. It says in Matthew 12:45, “Then it goes and
takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in
and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than
the first.”
Possessions are rare.
I’ve only seen two in over forty years, but between possession and
temptation, the devil can also oppress and obsess. Those are situations where
he devil is able to harass people.
I’ve only seen two in over forty years, but between possession and
temptation, the devil can also oppress and obsess. Those are situations where
he devil is able to harass people.
A Ouija board is associated
with occult activities, and this can be a way that people open up a doorway to
evil. People should stay away from anything occult. They might think they can control it but they
can’t. We need not
fear it, but we should make a point to stay away from it.
with occult activities, and this can be a way that people open up a doorway to
evil. People should stay away from anything occult. They might think they can control it but they
can’t. We need not
fear it, but we should make a point to stay away from it.
If someone does not have
a prayer life and a relationship with God, then exorcising him or her could be
like a revolving door. A person’s behavior is what allows a demon to enter.
It’s easy for demons to enter people who open themselves up through the occult.
a prayer life and a relationship with God, then exorcising him or her could be
like a revolving door. A person’s behavior is what allows a demon to enter.
It’s easy for demons to enter people who open themselves up through the occult.
We are living in a very
dark world, but we need not fear because prayer drives out evil and protects
us. Prayer and a relationship with God protect us from evil.
dark world, but we need not fear because prayer drives out evil and protects
us. Prayer and a relationship with God protect us from evil.
People forget that it is
not a fight between two equal powers.
God is the Creator and he created the devil. God will be the victor.
Jesus is God, and through the power of Jesus, the devil is vanquished.
not a fight between two equal powers.
God is the Creator and he created the devil. God will be the victor.
Jesus is God, and through the power of Jesus, the devil is vanquished.
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