Holy Water Compared To "blood Of Jesus"

[littleflower+JMJ]

but for kids to watch it?

and to think that thats how it really is?

the priest?

the girl?

i''ve read catholic reviews that its all wrong (hollywood tends to do that with catholic stuff)

and that it portrays everything falsely....

[Paladin D]

Thanks Katholikos. :)

[Katholikos]

A documentary was shown of the true circumstances of the story depicted in the Exorcist. I saw it on the A&E channel, the Discovery channel, or the History channel -- I don't recall which, but it was on a couple of times. (I no longer have cable.) It's fascinating. All the priests involved were interviewed and the real exorcism scenes, which were filmed when they occurred, are shown.

The documentary is not as scary as the movie, but it has its moments, especially since it's real and not pretend. The real person possessed was a boy and not a girl. He was a Lutheran, but he and his parents became Catholic.

The video of the documentary is for sale. You could probably find it on the Internet.

It makes a believer out of you . . . very powerful.

I had a "favorite" saved of a story written by an Italian journalist who witnessed an exorcism. He went in as an atheist -- and left as a believer. I lost it in the great computer crash of 2002.

Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us!

Katholikos

[Jake Huether]

Paladin, those were some great answers, listen to them!

I wanted to add, just for crystal clarity:

It doesn't matter what state the Priest is in when he blesses the water. He represents the Church, and it is the Prayers of the Church that are what makes the water "blessed". Christs Grace is "effective" through the Sacramental when a priests blesses water with the correct form and with the right intention.

Your friend didn't know what he was talking about when he said holy water has no effect on spirits because they aren't physical. It isn't the "water" that does the damage. It is the prayers of the Church (the Graces present in a Sacramental) that is attached to the water which does damage.

Demons flee in the name of Jesus, but not everyone can envoke the Presious Blood of our Savior and expect results. Remember the Bible verse about the guy who tried to cast out a demon. The demon said something like, Paul I know and Jesus I know, but I don't know you. I'll look it up...

Anyway. Holy Water on the other hand can be used by anyone, because it doesn't depend on who uses it, it depends on the Sacramental graces attached!

Hope that helps.

[hyperdulia again]

isn't there a lay-blessing for holy water? i seem to remember coming accross it in one of my prayer books.

[Jake Huether]

Here ya go...

Acts 19: 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon- possessed. They would say, In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 One day the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour.

We MUST always hold the name of the Lord Jesus in "high honour".

That makes me thing...

Protestants do Love Jesus. But I think that manytimes (and I don't say that Catholics are an exception) they would like to hold Jesus in a "budy budy" status. Yes, Jesus is our Friend. But for crying out loud, he is our MAKER! I think in many protestant denoms there is exactly that: a lack of holding Jesus name in high honour.

Why do you think that when it comes to castin' out the demons Catholic priests are the "go to" guys!? ;)