The scariest thing about the horror film, The Conjuring is that it’s based on a
true story. It is about an evil presence doing hair-raising
things. The story happened in 1971 and
centers around the Perron family, a couple and their five daughters who were
terrorized by a dark presence in their secluded Rhode Island farmhouse.
true story. It is about an evil presence doing hair-raising
things. The story happened in 1971 and
centers around the Perron family, a couple and their five daughters who were
terrorized by a dark presence in their secluded Rhode Island farmhouse.
Andrea Perron was eleven–years old
then. “We were just moving into a charming, lovely old house as far as all of
us where concerned,” she said in a YouTube interview. There were former owners of the house who had troubled lives, one is said to have hung herself while another was accused of murdering her baby but the charges were dropped for lack of evidence. As an adult, Andrea wrote about the
experience of living in that house in her book, House
of Darkness, House of Light. After
the evil presence began terrifying the Perrons, they contacted world-renown investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens were Catholic and always
answered pleas for help without charging. They felt it was a calling to help
people.
then. “We were just moving into a charming, lovely old house as far as all of
us where concerned,” she said in a YouTube interview. There were former owners of the house who had troubled lives, one is said to have hung herself while another was accused of murdering her baby but the charges were dropped for lack of evidence. As an adult, Andrea wrote about the
experience of living in that house in her book, House
of Darkness, House of Light. After
the evil presence began terrifying the Perrons, they contacted world-renown investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens were Catholic and always
answered pleas for help without charging. They felt it was a calling to help
people.
Lorraine at age 86 now, still helps people but
only over the phone. Her husband, Ed, died in 2006. He grew up in a haunted
house and on his resume has listed: “The only
non-clerical demonologists recognized by the Vatican.”
only over the phone. Her husband, Ed, died in 2006. He grew up in a haunted
house and on his resume has listed: “The only
non-clerical demonologists recognized by the Vatican.”
It is important to note, however, that the
movie is a Hollywood version and not a documentary. As such there was great license taken, but
according to Lorraine, there was indeed an evil presence that was harassing the
family. She said that she and Ed were
greatly concerned that the Perron children were unbaptized. “They had no protection and were in great
danger because they were not baptized,” Lorraine said. “They told us they were
not a church-going family.”
movie is a Hollywood version and not a documentary. As such there was great license taken, but
according to Lorraine, there was indeed an evil presence that was harassing the
family. She said that she and Ed were
greatly concerned that the Perron children were unbaptized. “They had no protection and were in great
danger because they were not baptized,” Lorraine said. “They told us they were
not a church-going family.”
The Warrens relied on prayer and their
Catholic faith in their work. Although Ed and Lorraine’s website comes across as sensationalized and
uses many secular terms rather than Catholic ones, Lorraine said that they
always consulted priests when evil seemed to be involved. In such cases a
priest would often take over.
Catholic faith in their work. Although Ed and Lorraine’s website comes across as sensationalized and
uses many secular terms rather than Catholic ones, Lorraine said that they
always consulted priests when evil seemed to be involved. In such cases a
priest would often take over.
Exorcist Perceptions
I consulted three exorcists for their impressions about the movie and the work that the Warren’s did.
Fr. Patrick (not his real name) is a parish
priest and therefore, keeps his work as an exorcist secret so as to function in his
parish without undue attention. Cases
come to him through his bishop after a person seeks help. Fr. Patrick, like many modern exorcists, uses a team of experts as well as a prayer
team to assist him. His professional team includes a clinical psychologist, a psychiatrist, and medical
doctor.
priest and therefore, keeps his work as an exorcist secret so as to function in his
parish without undue attention. Cases
come to him through his bishop after a person seeks help. Fr. Patrick, like many modern exorcists, uses a team of experts as well as a prayer
team to assist him. His professional team includes a clinical psychologist, a psychiatrist, and medical
doctor.
I asked him if he thought people should see
this movie. He himself had not seen it
but said he probably will. “For some
people, it’s emotionally dangerous because of their imaginations,” he said. “People should know themselves and be careful.”
He stated that after the movie The
Exorcist, many people feared that they were possessed.
this movie. He himself had not seen it
but said he probably will. “For some
people, it’s emotionally dangerous because of their imaginations,” he said. “People should know themselves and be careful.”
He stated that after the movie The
Exorcist, many people feared that they were possessed.
“People should not feel bad if they are
sensitive or worry that they will be made fun of if they don’t want to watch a
movie,” he said. “I did not like horror
movies when I was a kid and I think it was because I was sensitive to the
existence of evil.”
sensitive or worry that they will be made fun of if they don’t want to watch a
movie,” he said. “I did not like horror
movies when I was a kid and I think it was because I was sensitive to the
existence of evil.”
In his work, Fr. Patrick said he sometimes
comes across people with imaginations that have convinced them they are being
harassed by the devil when in fact, that turns out not to be the case. “I find
people who read too much of this stuff. That might build up their faith in some
ways, but it can also build up their imagination.”
comes across people with imaginations that have convinced them they are being
harassed by the devil when in fact, that turns out not to be the case. “I find
people who read too much of this stuff. That might build up their faith in some
ways, but it can also build up their imagination.”
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| Fr. Gary Thomas |
Fr. Gary Thomas of the Diocese of San Jose in California is a parish priest and was trained as an exorcist at the Vatican in 2005.
He is the priest that inspired the movie The Rite. Although he had not seen the movie when I
spoke with him, he said he planned to watch it.
Thomas was familiar with Lorraine through a priest who called him
several years ago to consult about a case Lorraine was helping with.
He is the priest that inspired the movie The Rite. Although he had not seen the movie when I
spoke with him, he said he planned to watch it.
Thomas was familiar with Lorraine through a priest who called him
several years ago to consult about a case Lorraine was helping with.
“I don’t think you open yourself up to evil
just by going to a movie,” he said. “The problem is when evil is glorified
which is very different than going to a movie on the topic of evil.” He said that when he was involved in
consulting on the movie The Rite the
focus was on God and faith in the face of evil.
just by going to a movie,” he said. “The problem is when evil is glorified
which is very different than going to a movie on the topic of evil.” He said that when he was involved in
consulting on the movie The Rite the
focus was on God and faith in the face of evil.
“I think when you go to a movie where evil is
glorified, it can make you interested in delving more into the realty of evil
which is a bad idea,” Thomas said. “It’s good to cautious.”
glorified, it can make you interested in delving more into the realty of evil
which is a bad idea,” Thomas said. “It’s good to cautious.”
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| Msgr. John Esseff |
In his exorcism and deliverance ministry,
Thomas works closely with a woman who has the gift of discerning evil spirits
and can hear what they are saying. He
said before he became an exorcist, he might have been skeptical of such a gift,
but has no doubts now.“There are people who are gifted in this way,” he said. “Even
though I’m a mandated exorcist, I rely on the help of others in my work.”
Thomas works closely with a woman who has the gift of discerning evil spirits
and can hear what they are saying. He
said before he became an exorcist, he might have been skeptical of such a gift,
but has no doubts now.“There are people who are gifted in this way,” he said. “Even
though I’m a mandated exorcist, I rely on the help of others in my work.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff was
ordained a priest in the Diocese of Scranton on May 30th 1953. He has been an
exorcist in the diocese for 45 years.
While he warns against getting attracted to evil by becoming overly
interested in it, he said we do not need to fear it.
ordained a priest in the Diocese of Scranton on May 30th 1953. He has been an
exorcist in the diocese for 45 years.
While he warns against getting attracted to evil by becoming overly
interested in it, he said we do not need to fear it.
“The power in the warfare against Satan isthe power of Jesus.” He said. Often,
according to him, the movies make it look as if there is a battle between
equals and that sometimes God loses.
“That is totally wrong,” Esseff said. “God made the devil. He is a
creature of God, who rebelled. There is no man who wants to worship and serve
God that will be under the power of the devil. Man makes the choice.”
Esseff noted that the power of Jesus is in
every baptized Christian and the Catholic Church has also been given tremendous
power over evil. “Every baptism is an exorcism and drives out
Satan,” he said. “It drives out original sin which ends Satan’s reign over that
person. Jesus came to break his power.”
every baptized Christian and the Catholic Church has also been given tremendous
power over evil. “Every baptism is an exorcism and drives out
Satan,” he said. “It drives out original sin which ends Satan’s reign over that
person. Jesus came to break his power.”
Watching a movie or any
acknowledgement of evil should not leave one afraid, Esseff said. “With Jesus,
we have nothing to fear.”
acknowledgement of evil should not leave one afraid, Esseff said. “With Jesus,
we have nothing to fear.”
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