Exorcist Talk

[sixpence]

So I just went to a talk by Fr. Gary Thomas (who "the Rite" was based upon). It was a very very informative and insightful, I probably can't do it any justice but I will try.

He started and ended the talk by asserting that we Should NOT be afraid. Why? Because Satan has been defeated by the sacrifice of our Lord. This was a very powerful and great concept to start off with. He also talked about his own story, how his Bishop asked him to get trained when he went to Rome, how he had trained under another exorcist. How when he is contacted by someone asking for help, it is a long discernment procedure, determining if there is truly demonic influence or something else (mainly mental health issues, or abuse issues which he said made up about 80% of the cases). This involves a team with a psychologist and psychiatrist. He talked about signs of a real demonic possession such as fear of the sacred (ranging from not being able to take communion or stay in a church building for very long to full on terror in the presence of the Eucharist), speaking languages they do not know, and other physical manifestations (he said the scene with the pregnant woman in the movie was very realistic). He also said that the exorcist he trained under as well as others he know have witnessed things like the spitting nails that occurred in the movie, but that he personally had not.

When he described what made one prone or open to demons, he described any number of evil/occult/pagan/satanic activities ranging from tarot cards to satanic masses to pornography!! He said he does believe some people can curse others (this is how people end up spitting up nails for example).

Theologically, he made some interesting points that I was not very familiar with. For one, that Lucifer was God's most powerful angel, and that it was the fact the God was going to/did become human that pushed him over the edge. He could not stand to be below a human (even if He was divine also); on a side not imagine how Satan feels under the feet of the Blessed Mother then!

I totally plan on reading his book...

[Nihil Obstat]

I have that book The Rite: Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio, which in theory is supposed to be about this Fr. Thomas.
The book, all in all, was rather forgettable. I believe the information was better presented in Fr. Amorth's two books. Fr. Euteneuer's book Exorcism and the Church Militant is also good, if you can get your hands on it. Last I heard Human Life International was refusing to sell any more copies, after the controversy with Fr. Euteneuer.

[Basilisa Marie]

I don't know, I actually preferred The Rite over Fr. Amorth's books. Maybe that's because I chafe at "all rock music is satanic" and the like. I also found it much more readable. The movie, however, completely butchered the book. As usual.

That being said, I definitely think Fr. Amorth's books should be required reading for anyone interested in learning more about exorcisms.

[cmaD2006]

For anyone who speaks spanish, Fr. Fortea is great. I *think* he's spoken in english too, but he has a number of books in spanish.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1349240830' post='2489501']
I don't know, I actually preferred The Rite over Fr. Amorth's books. Maybe that's because I chafe at "all rock music is satanic" and the like. I also found it much more readable. The movie, however, completely butchered the book. As usual.

That being said, I definitely think Fr. Amorth's books should be required reading for anyone interested in learning more about exorcisms.
[/quote]


Yeah, Father Amorth is idiosyncratic to say the very least. When he starts talking about music and video games and whatnot, I generally interpret what he is saying as potentially being an overreaction, but a reaction that still recognizes legitimate dangers that can be present if one is not careful.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Satan [b][u]was[/u][/b] the greatest angel ([b][u]was[/u][/b] being the operative word.). Lucifer means bright light or something like that. He was cast from heaven and lost that position, possibly he has no light of his own anymore, hence why he tries and steals ours. I think possibly satan is insanely jealous of humans and how GOD created our souls in his image and likeness and that satans hate for us has been going on since before christ came to the living room. But maybe not that but this that he hates GOD and therefore hates us because where created in the image and likeness of GOD, if he can ruin one of us that's one less person he has to look at that looks like GOD.

:edit: All are created in his image and likeness and not just christians, therefore all prone to the attack of the devil and it's legions. I was thinking about this just then and how sometimes in evangelising it may be better to start the mission talking about sin and the nature of sin and it's devastating effects before talking about holyness and He that saves us from sin.

Edited October 3, 2012 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye