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Truth About the
Devil
by
Very Rev. Dominic Szymanski, O.M.C., D.D., J.U.D.
Co-Founder of Marytown
Topical Index
Influence
of the Evil Spirit
The influence of evil spirits in human affairs is far greater than most men are
willing to admit. Although God has created all things to His own glory, the
“Evil One” exerts all his tremendous powers to frustrate this plan of God by
claiming creatures for himself. The almighty God does not stop the “Evil One”
any more than He stops a human being from committing murder or any other sin.
God triumphs over the malice of the devil by turning evil into good. Adam and
Eve sinned in Paradise through the influence of Satan. God did not prevent this
sin, but provided a Redeemer who assumed human nature and elevated it above the
Angelic Choirs – so much so that the Angels adore the Humanity of Christ.
Indeed, God turned this great evil into a greater good. “Ubi abundavit
delictum, superabundavit gratia.” (Rom. V. 20)
The Holy Scriptures clearly depict this influence of the Spirit of Darkness in
the beginning of the human race. This same influence of evil intervenes in
the life of every human being. God created man to His own image, and
claims as His own all who bear this stamp of God’s likeness. The devil
strives to destroy this “likeness to God” in the human soul by inducing man to
sin, and thereby substituting his own likeness. God does not prevent this
activity any more than He prevented the fall of Adam. God rules every soul
by love; the devil seeks to rule by hate, destruction of grace, and frustration
of God’s mercy. As God never changes, so also the devil never changes; he
always was and always will be the enemy of God, the hater of souls, the father
of lies and deceit, and the one through whom death has entered the world.
The foregoing is nothing new. No one denies it, but it is also true that
few apply it in practical life. As a general rule the sinner will
acknowledge the sin, admit his guilt, but will deny all influence of the devil.
This denial does not make him more learned; on the contrary, to his own
detriment, he fails to understand the entire issue. It would be as though
one acknowledged and treated an illness, but neglected to consider the cause of
the sickness. In human affairs we both cure the disease and prevent is
recurrence. The children of light in their spiritual world should use the
same prudence, and both acknowledge sin and recognize its evil instigator.
When a sinner at the point of death refuses to be reconciled with God, it is not
St. Michael who hardens his heart, but it is the enemy of God and of souls.
Exclude the enemy and the hardened sinner will turn to God, with tears and
contrition.

Story of the Hardened Sinner
The following story is an illustration of this. In a certain Illinois city a
man lay dying of cancer of the throat which doctors had pronounced as incurable,
and had declared that death would follow soon. The good sisters of the hospital
in which he was a patient had tried in vain to have him go to confession,
sending priest after priest to speak to him.
Each priest was treated in the same way. As soon as he would mention
confession the sick man simply turned to the wall, saying that there were other
sick who wanted to confess their sins, but that it was a waste of time for the
priest to talk to him about it, because he did not want to go to confession.
The continual insistence of the priests and sisters so angered him that he left
the hospital. After a few weeks another hemorrhage occurred, and the
family in haste and desperation again sent for a priest, hoping against hope
that he would not die without the Sacraments. Two priests of the parish
had visited him previously without success, so this time a priest who had had
some experience with a number of cases of exorcism went to the sick man.
As usual he turned to the wall. The exorcist stood at the foot of the bed
and ordered the devil: “I command you, evil spirit, in the name of the Most Holy
Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, to depart, I
command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Crucified to leave this room so that
this soul will return to its God and Creator.”
These words were said secretly. The sick man turned and said, “ I do not
know how to confess.” The answer of the priest was: “I will help you.
I will ask you questions, you merely answer yes or no.” Once the
confession was begun the sick man broke into tears, and made a most humble and
contrite confession. The priest then hurried back to the Church and
brought him Viaticum. Meanwhile, in the rectory, a spirited debate was in
progress among the other fathers. Some maintained that the man was a
hardened sinner who would never give in even to the point of death; while others
maintained that the exorcist would drive out the devils and make it possible for
the sick man to confess. They even made bets on the outcome … those who
had greater faith collected. The next morning the poor man died.

The Devil Interferes with Parish Projects
Another illustration of the power of the devils to hinder a good work, and the
power of exorcism to render them helpless:
A certain priest in North Dakota was trying to introduce Perpetual Adoration into
his parish, so that at no time during day or night would the Prisoner of the
Tabernacle be alone and unattended. His efforts aroused a storm of
objections and criticism. Certain prominent members of the parish objected
strenuously to the practice, and loudly claimed that the parish had existed for
many years without it, that it was something unheard of, that no other parish
practiced it, that the pastor should try to get the careless Catholics to
practice their religion with a fair degree of regularity, and leave all that
extra-ordinary piety to the cloistered nuns (who did nothing anyway) and had
plenty of time for new and strange devotions.
The following Sunday the pastor announced to his people before the sermon that he
was going to read a special blessing for them, composed by Pope Leo XIII as an
antidote against the powers of evil. He asked them to kneel down and join
with him in prayer that the powers of evil be diminished, and that the blessing
would extend to their homes, their farms, places of business, to the members of
their families and to their relatives and friends. He then read the
Leonine Exorcism from the Rituale Romanum.
Immediately after Mass several of those same men who had opposed the introduction
of the practice of Adoration into the parish pledged themselves to make hours of
adoration, and use their influence with the members of their families to do the
same. All opposition to the practice of Adoration immediately disappeared.
It is evident that the objections were overcome by eliminating the objector.

Open Rebellion
Another example of a very practical value of the official prayers of the Church
against the devil is the following: A certain young lady told her pastor that
she had a very normal desire to marry, that she wanted to have a home and a
family as other women had, but that she could not hold any young man, that she
seemed to repel rather than attract them. She told of her past experience and
admitted that her life was far from being exemplary. The pastor told her that
she was rebelling against the will of God, and taking her salvation into her own
frail hands, that it was necessary for her to submit to God, that she was trying
to live her own life and not the life which God was pointing out to her.
She replied: “I have prayed to God, I have made novenas, I even have fasted, and
God has no right to deprive me of this human happiness. If God refuses to
hear my prayers for a husband I will never submit to Him, I will hate Him
eternally.” The pastor excused himself for a moment and returned with the
ritual and holy water. The girl was asked to kneel down before him, and he
recited “The Exorcism.” After this was done the girl seemed to be entirely
different. With tears of contrition she recited a formula of submission
suggested by the pastor, and promised that she would repeat it daily.
The strong diabolical influence in this case, and effectiveness of the exorcism,
is evident. If you are anxious to save souls of obstinate sinners, recite
the exorcisms over them. The power of the devil will be broken and they
surely will be converted.

Priestly Powers
To curb the influence of Satan, Christ has given priests necessary powers – the
powers of exorcism, but in our days they are buried deep in the ground for fear
that sometime they may be used. The servant who buried his talent in the
parable of the gospel was called a “wicked and slothful servant” by the Master,
and he ordered him to be caste into “the Darkness outside where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Every priest is an exorcist by virtue of his
ordination. This power must be used, and used very extensively, with firmness
and authority, otherwise the enemy creates havoc among the sheep of God,
unmolested even by those who have the duty and the obligation to guard the flock
of Christ. Priests should exclude the infernal wolves, not by meekly begging
them to depart, but by a firm command. “I command you to depart in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified.” The Church does not ordain priests with the
power of forgiving sins only, but she gives them the power to exclude the
assassin who is the cause of all sin. The civil government maintains a police
force and the Church of God also has the authority to cast into the abyss even
the prices and powers of hell who are the prime perpetrators of crime against
God.

The Priest Should Not Fear
Good priests should not fear to undertake an exorcism – and by good priests is
meant those who habitually live in a state of grace. It is not required that
the exorcist be a saint worthy of canonization, or even close to it. If a
priest can stand at the altar and offer the Most Holy Sacrifice with a clear
conscience, he can also be a successful exorcist. This work is a spiritual one,
and Christ stands ready to help whenever our strength falls short. “Behold, I
have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the
power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Luke X, 19.

Valuable Experience
Exorcisms are uplifting and instructive. One exorcism brings us closer to God,
and fills our lives with more spirituality than many retreats. One exorcism
will teach us more about the devil and his machinations than can be learned from
many books.

Fasting
Fasting is necessary. During my own exorcisms I observe a “black fast” (total
abstinence from food and drink) for three days, then eat normally for a period
of three days, and so on during the entire exorcism. My experience with these
fasts is that the first day is the hardest, the second not so hard, and since
the fast ends on the third day at 3:00 PM, it is bearable. For those who have
no experience with total abstinence from both food and drink for such long
periods, I would suggest that they fast for a period of 24 hours only, then eat
normally the following day, and fast again on the third day – and so on.
Without fasting it is impossible to drive out the devils.

The Stole
A stole about ten feet long should be prepared, one long enough so that it may
be tied around the neck of the possessed person and still be long enough to be
worn by the exorcist. One end of the stole should be tied around the neck of
the person exorcised after the prayer: “Omnipotens Domine, Verbum Dei Patris,
etc.” has been recited.
The prayers of exorcism begin with the Litany of All the Saints, after which are
recited the prayers contained in the Roman Ritual in the section entitled “RITUS
EXORCIZANDI OBSESSOS A DAEMONIO,” and they should be continued without
interruption for at least two hours at a time. From eight to ten hours
each day should be devoted to the work of exorcising, until the evil spirits
have been expelled. The physical condition of the exorcist and the
afflicted one should always be considered. Prudence is the best guide.
The psalms which follow the rite of exorcism may be omitted and that time devoted
to the recitation of the direct prayers contained in the formula itself.
The leonine exorcism, which begins with the prayers of St. Michael, may be
recited with the longer formula.
Once the exorcism has been started it should continue until the possessing evil
spirits have been driven out. This may be a matter of hours or days, or of
weeks or months; but the length of time is not so important as the fact of
expulsion. The exorcist must command the demon to indicate the day and the
hour of his departure, and what sign he will give when going out.
Generally the demon repeats his name three times before leaving. The
exorcist must never place too much reliance on any statement or promise of the
demons, but should continue the prayers of exorcism even if the signs of
departure have been given, to eliminate the possibility of deception. The
devils are liars. They will tell the exorcist that they will not resist
any longer, and that they are ready to leave. They will mention their
names three times as agreed, the possessed person will appear normal, but all
this is often only a maneuver of the devil to deceive the exorcist. For
this reason, even after the signs of liberation have been given, the exorcisms
should be continued for two or three days. If the devil did not leave he
will not be able to remain hidden under the ordeal of exorcism for such a length
of time.

The Relief Obtained in Certain Cases
Some possessed persons can hardly be liberated, others will never be completely
freed; but even in these cases the exorcism will bring relief. The exorcist
should never be discouraged, because even in cases where the afflicted one is
never completely freed, great battles are fought against the enemy of God, and
his powers are weakened. Such exorcisms might be compared to “delaying actions”
in warfare, which are never accompanied by victory, but nevertheless serve an
essential purpose in the general plan of battle. It is quite possible and in
fact it often happens that relieved persons again become possessed. Such
possession cases should be treated the same as any other case of possession.

Causes of Possession
The question: “What causes possession,” is often asked, but it cannot be fully
answered because some of the causes are known and some are not. The general
impression that possessions occur because of an obstinate sinful life may or may
not be true in a particular case. Even pious and holy persons have been known
to be possessed. The following are some of the causes of possession.
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FORTUNE TELLERS AND THE LIKE. Those who seek information from fortune tellers
and ouija boards, or cures from spiritualists, often become possessed. They
seek information, not from God, but from forbidden sources. Hence it is no
wonder that the devils enter and give them even more information than they care
to have. God complained of Ochozias, the King of Israel: “Is there not a God in
Israel that ye go to consult Beelzebub, the god of Accaron?” Some spiritualists
effect apparent cures by prayers, but afterward the cured persons are afflicted
in other ways day and night. The devil makes them pay a heavy price for
services rendered.
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MALEFICIUM. Maleficium placed in food or drink will cause possession. The
devil has his agents who prepare this diabolical substance by which he is able
to enter human and animal bodies. In this way even innocent victims may become
possessed. The blessing of such food and drink will break the maleficium and
render it harmless. For this reason the Church blesses all things, expelling
the evil one, and dedicating them to the purpose for which they were created.
The unseen benefits of every blessing will only be known in eternity.
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CURSING. Cursing by those in authority, especially parents cursing their
children, may sometimes cause diabolical possession. Some children have been
found to be possessed because their parents directly offered them to the devil
even before they were born. On the contrary, in the lives of the saints we find
that some were offered to God before their birth. This practice is praise
worthy and it should be followed by every Christian mother.
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DIRECT INVOCATION. Should it ever happen, quod Deus Avertat, that a person
would directly give himself to the evil one, possession by the devil would
almost certainly follow. God is just, even in His dealings with the devils and
as he would recognize the free choice of the creature who would choose Him as a
Master, so also will He permit the evil spirits to take possession of those who
deliver themselves to the enemy.
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PERMISSION BY GOD. For the greater glory of God, and for His triumph over His
enemies, God sometimes permits that the devil take possession of perfectly
innocent people. These are His “Victim Souls,” who offer themselves to God to
suffer every possible torture in order that sinners may be saved. In such cases
there is no question of guilt, or just retribution for faults committed; but
such possession is permitted in order that the powers of Hell be weakened and
glory be given to God.

The Blessed Sacrament in Exorcisms
The Rituale Romanum cautions that the Blessed Sacrament should not be placed on
the head of the possessed, or otherwise brought in contact with him, where there
is danger of irreverence. But if this danger does not exist, for example, where
the devils use no violence, this caution does not apply; and the Blessed
Sacrament can be used. When the Blessed Sacrament is used, it is placed in an
ordinary sick call pyx, and held on the head of the possessed by the exorcist.
Its effectiveness is remarkable, and it shortens the exorcism.

Holy Water
Holy water is blessed for the purpose of expelling demons. That which is
blessed on Epiphany is especially efficacious because it is blessed with all the
exorcisms. It should be given to the possessed at regular intervals about every
half-hour, or even oftener.

Routine
A good routine to follow during the exorcism is to have the possessed person
kneel for fifteen minutes and then be seated for a similar period. A crucifix
should be place on the table, and when the time comes to kneel he should adore
and kiss the crucifix, and continually pray for his deliverance.
If these lines will arouse interest, and help the future exorcist to weaken the
power of the devil over God’s creatures, they will have served their purpose.

Permission to Exorcise
Exorcism is a command to the demon, given in the name of God to depart from a
person, place or thing.
The formula of exorcism as given in the Roman Ritual is not reserved. It
can be used by anyone, even by a lay person. There is no prohibition
forbidding its use and the Church did not reserve those beautiful prayers,
exclusively to the Sacred Ministers.
Exorcism may be solemn or simple; public or private. The exorcism is solemn
if it is performed to expel the demon himself; simple if it is performed to curb
the influence of the demon.
The Exorcism is public if it is performed by an ordained minister who acts as an
Exorcist in the name and by the authority of the Church, in virtue of the powers
received in Sacred Ordination. This power over possessed persons cannot be
publicly used without special and express permission of the Ordinary. This
prohibition is clearly defined in Canon 1151 No. 1: “No one endowed with the
power of exorcising is allowed to pronounce an exorcism over a possessed person
unless he has obtained special and express permission to do so from the
Ordinary.” Hence, permission is required for solemn public exorcisms over
possessed persons. No permission is needed for solemn public exorcisms
over homes, field, animals, to places and in all private and simple exorcisms.
The Ordinary to grant this permissions is the Ordinary in whose diocese the
exorcisms are performed or the Ordinary of the Priest. If the priest is an
exempt religious his major superior may grant the permission.
The Exorcist having obtained the required permission exercises his power received
in Sacred Ordination and he acts in the name and authority of the Church,
therefore, he must use only the prescribed formula in the Roman Ritual excluding
all private formulas, regardless of how pious they may be. The formula
prescribed by the Church is self-sufficient, capable of expelling all spirits of
darkness, hence private prayers should not be used by the exorcist during the
exorcisms.
Exorcism is private, if it is performed not in the name and authority of the
Church, but in the name of the expelling person. If some good holy layman
would undertake to exclude the devil from a possessed person, he would be
performing a solemn private exorcism for which no permission is necessary from
the Ordinary. The Church restricts the public use of the power of her
Ordained Exorcists, not private persons. What is permitted to a lay person
cannot be denied to a priest. When the priest acts as a private person, he
should not use the exorcism stole.
Although public exorcisms performed by the authority of the Church are more
effective, nevertheless the demon may also be expelled from possessed persons by
private exorcisms. Christ has promised not only to His Apostles but to all
who will believe in His Name, that they will cast out the devils. “These
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they
shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands
upon the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark XVI, 17-18.
Exorcisms should be used often, and whenever they are needed. When the
permission is necessary, it should be obtained, and Ecclesiastical Superiors are
not free to say yes or no. If the case is certain it must be yes, because
the Sacramentals cannot be denied to a person who reasonably asks for them.
It is a serious infringement of duty and inexcusable sin to leave a person in
the power and tyranny of the devil, who torments his victims, day and night.
In case of doubt the exorcisms can be recited conditionally, and these trial
prayers should be so continued until more definite certitude is obtained.
Sacraments are given conditionally, and even greater liberty is permitted with
the sacramentals.
When the time does not permit the recitation of long formal prayers, as for
example, during the sacramental confession, when the confessor notices the
danger of a sacrilegious confession or a difficulty in confessing sins, a simple
command in his own words pronounced with faith will suffice … e.g. “I command
you, evil spirit, in the name of our Lord Jesus Crucified to depart.
Observe and notice the change that will follow.

Use of Exorcism in the Church
Exorcisms are used very extensively in the Church. In the blessing of salt and
of holy water, exorcisms are used so that these creatures of God in turn may
break the power of the enemy wherever they may be sprinkled, and even put to
flight the enemy himself and all his angels. The Church admits the necessity of
expelling demons in the ordinary affairs of our every day life. We find water
blessed for that purpose at the entrance of every church. This water is blessed
the same by priests who are so reluctant to admit the necessity of expelling
demons. The Church wants us to sprinkle our homes and everything we use with
holy water, to break the power of the devil. Can anyone claim that this
diabolical power does not exist?
In every baptism the priest uses exorcisms when he says “exi ab eo, immunde
spiritus, et da locum Spiritui Sancto Paraclito,” and when he says, “Exorciso
te, immunde spiritus, in nomine Patris; et Filii; et Spiritus Sancti; ut exeas,
et recedas ab hoc famulo Dei (N.). Ipse enim tibi imperat, maledicte
damnate, recognosce sententiam tuam, et da honorem Deo vivo et vero, da honorem
Jesu Christo Filio eius, et Spiritui Sancto, et recede ab hoc famula Dei (N.),
qua istum sibi Deus et Dominus noster Jesus Christus ad suam sanctam tratiam, et
benedictionem, fontemque Baptismatis vocare dignatus est.” It is a direct
command to the evil one to depart.
Thus in the blessing of the sick the Church says: “Effugiat ex hoc loco omnis
nequitia demonum, adsint Angeli pacis, Donumque hanc deserat omnis maligna
discordia.” When she blesses sick animals: “Extinguatur in eis omnis
diabolica potestas et ne ulterius aegrotent.” In the blessing of linens
for the sick the priest prays: “Domine Jesu Christe qui … spiritus nequam ab
infirmis easem virtute fugasti sanitatem … percipere mereantur.” The
official prayers of the Church admit a diabolical power to produce storms and
other disturbances, for she says in the prayers for repelling tempests: “Nibil
proficiat inimicus in nobis, et filius iniquitatis non apponat nocere nobis.
A domo tua, quaesumus Domine, spiritales nequitiae repellantur, etaerarum
discedat malignitas tempestatum.”
In the blessing of gold, myrrh and incense: “Exorciso te creatura auri, myrrhae
et thuris, per Patrem, etc. … ut a te discedat omnis fraus, dolus et nequitia
diaboli, et sis remedium salutare humano generi contra insidias inimici.”
Again, even in the blessing of the simple and pure flowers of the field on the
Feast of the Assumption there is an element of exclusion of diabolical powers:
“Concede ut contro diabolicas illusiones et macinationes et fraudes tutamen
ferant in quocumque loco positum vel portatum aut habitum aliquid ex eis
fuerit.” From these references one can read the mind of the Church in the
practice of blessing. Blessings have a two-fold purpose; to bread the
influence of the devil, and to consecrate the object to God.
Since the Church in her official prayers and practices admits the influence of
evil spirits in the sicknesses of men and of animals, in plants and flowers, and
even in inanimate objects, it would be quite presumptuous to hold a contrary
opinion. To assert that the evil one has no influence over external
objects is in direct opposition to the teachings and practices of the Church.
Exorcisms, then, should be recited in sickness, in disaster, and war, in every
disturbance, in fact, in everything which brings harm to mankind; over persons
who refuse to attend divine services, and over those who are habitually in the
sate of sin. In all of these cases the influence of the evil one is
clearly seen, and Holy Mother Church has provided a clear and efficacious remedy
in her prayers against the devil. Exorcisms may be recited at a distance
from, and in the absence of, the persons molested.
It behooves every Christian, and especially the priests of Christ, to challenge
the devil at every turn. The demon is the author of evil, and there is no
evil which does not come from him. It is the devil who prompts all
disobedience to God’s laws, it is he who instills the pride of unbelief, and it
is he who sets creatures above God. He is the author of temptations, and
were it not for the restraining power of God he would tempt us more than we
could stand. God sets a limit that the temptation be not beyond our
strength, and gives us power to fight and overcome every temptation.
Temptations may arise without the tempter, but very seldom will they end without
him. The cunning serpent will take every opportunity to bring about our
downfall. “The devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may
devour.” Peter V, 8-9.
In the prayers of exorcism in the Roman Ritual the demon is thus addressed: “Audi
ergo, et time Satana, inimici fidei, hostis generis humani, mortis adductor,
vitae raptor, justitiae declinator, malorum radix, fomes vitiorum, seductor
hominum, proditor gentium, incitator invidiae, orgo avaritae, cause discordiae,
excitator dolorum, … exi trangressor. Exi seductor, pleni omni dolo et
fallacia, virtutis inimice, inocentium persecutor … Deus es Filio eius Jesu
Christo Domino Nostro, quem tantare ausus es et cricifigere presumpsisti.
Tibi et angelis tuis inextinguibile preparatur incendium; quia tu es princeps
maledicti homicidii, tu auctor incestus, tu sacrilegorum caput, to actionum
pessimarum magister, us hereticorum doctor, to totius obscoenitatis inventor.”
In these prayers of exorcism the demon is called the enemy of faith, the enemy of
the human race, the author of death, snatcher of life, sources of evil, fomentor
of vice, origin of avarice, seducer of men, betrayer of nations, instigator of
envy, cause of discord, producer of pain, persecutor of the innocent – he who
has tempted, and even presumed to crucify, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is
called the master of evil, the doctor of heretics and the inventor of all
obscenity. Since the Church admits the influence of the evil one in all
vices, it follows that the tempter should be curbed and put to flight whenever
vice appears. Certainly figs are not found on thorn bushes. Good
comes from God – evil comes from the devil. Many sins can be prevented,
and much trouble in parishes avoided, by curtailing the activities of the evil
one. It is easier to curb the demon than to try to cure the disorders
caused by him.

The Devil Should be Exposed
The faults of a community are not secret to anyone. The bad fruit is visible to
all, but many fail to see the tree on which it grows, and to recognize the demon
as the originator of the evil. The blindness means success to the enemy of
salvation. Many a soul would lead a much holier life if the demon were
recognized as the source of sin; and sinners would not be so proud of their
vices if they knew that they were following the devil, and that he was an actual
reality and not a vague enigma, existing only in human fantasy.
The Church sees the devil in every evil, and provides a remedy in her numerous
blessings and exorcisms; but there are clergymen who, even after many years of
experience, do not recognize the instigator of all vice, and will say that they
have never seen a person under the influence of the devil. They have seen
sinners dying without confession, they have parishioners who have led sinful
lives for years, but they will maintain that these are all free agents, that it
was all their own doing, and that the sinners alone are responsible. They
will absolve the tempter from all blame, and, in effect, defend the enemy.
This attitude is not in accordance with the mind of the Church. Such
blindness is truly regrettable. The general who would survey a battlefield
and view the corpses of his slain soldiers, and still maintain that the enemy
had not been there, would be removed because of stupidity. Christ
has sent his priests to lead souls to heaven, and when Christ’s anointed observe
that many souls are slaughtered and lost for eternity, it should not be
difficult to conclude that the enemy of God has done this. Show the devil
to Christian souls as he really is, and his ugliness will not attract them; hid
the devil, and in ignorance they will follow him. The devil has been
hidden too long – not by the Church, but by the some who pretend to possess
greater wisdom than the Church. The power of the devil vanishes as soon as
it is discovered.

Possession
Besides the sporadic influence of evil beings in persons as evidenced by
temptations and other evils that come to them, the devil often tries to claim
for his own dominion not only men but material objects as well. When persons
become possessed the condition is accompanied by various phenomena. They are
forced to say and do things quite contrary to their will. They are annoyed and
even tortured to an incredible degree. Food and sleep are curtailed. These
manifestations differ in every case. Two elements constitute possession:
presence of the devil in the body, and dominion exercised by the devil over the
body. The devil does not enter the soul; he affects it indirectly through the
body.

Signs of Possession
The Roman Ritual mentions three principal signs of possession: speaking unknown
tongues or understanding them when used by another, making known hidden and
distant facts, exhibiting strength out of proportion with one’s age and
circumstance. These signs are not by any means exclusive, for the Ritual says:
“These and other similar signs, when they occur in great number, are the surest
indications of possession.” It is quite possible to have a perfect case of
diabolical possession without any of the above mentioned signs. The devil is
not anxious to prove his presence by speaking unknown tongues or to disclose his
identity by marvelous signs. Like the submarine, his power lies in his ability
to remain hidden while striking from ambush. On the other hand it is impossible
for the devil to possess a person without giving some sign of his presence. If
the devil is there he will act. He will assert his dominion over the body by
tyranny and torture. He may be able to hide some signs of the possession, but
he cannot hide them all. In all cases of possession there are evidences of dual
personality – the person himself and the possessing spirit. The physical person
will complain of the intrusion of the other, and of the volition of his
liberty. He will indicate how he is forced to act by that “something inside of
him” contrary to his own conviction and violation. The possessed person will
desire to eat, something will stop him; he will desire to pray and that other
personality will interfere. These persons did not lose their mind, they know
exactly what ails them; they are conscious of another intelligent force within
them, which interferes with their freedom. They need help, and that help should
be given by those who have the care of souls. It is their duty and obligation
to see that these victims of diabolical possession receive the benefit of
Sacramentals instituted by the Church for that purpose. It is cruel and unjust
to leave them without help.

Procedure
In such cases a prudent priest will ask the afflicted person to kneel and pray
and say that he will recite some prayers over him – without mentioning that it
is an exorcism. He will recite the Leonine Exorcism, observing well if there be
any reaction. If there is, then immediately he should stop the prayer and say:
“I command you in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in the name of God the
Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Ghost, tell me your name.” It
is even better to propose the question in Latin in order that the person
afflicted may not be made conscious of his condition. A useful formula is:
“Praecipio tibi in nomine Sanctissimae Trinitatis, in nomine Patris + et Filii +
et Spiritus Sancti + dic mihi nomen tuum. Praecipiat tibi Deus Pater + Deus
Filius + et Deus Spiritus Sanctus +. Dic mihi nomen tuum.” If no reaction be
observed, recite the entire exorcism a few times at least, and then propose the
questions. If the evil spirit answers, then ask: “How many are with you? How
long have you been in this person, and why?” If the priest receives answers to
these questions, then there is no longer doubt about the possession. Once the
fact of possession has been established, permission of the Ordinary should not
be difficult to obtain but gladly given. “Sacramenta et sacramentalia sunt
propter homines, et legitime potenti denegari nequent.”
Bishops are successors of the apostles, sent to spread the Gospel and establish
the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in the souls of men. But to do so the
dominion of the devil must be broken, and souls freed from his oppression.
Ecclesiastical superiors should beg good priests to undertake this strenuous and
hard work of exorcisms – not that the priests should beg them. Frequently
it is very difficult to convince the authorities of a possession case and obtain
the necessary permission. All priests are exorcists. This was one of
the first powers given by the Master to His apostles, and it is one of the first
priestly powers given in Holy Orders. If ecclesiastical superiors would
tell their priests that they would be called on to undertake cases of
possession, and to prepare themselves for it, we would have less skeptics and
more piety. This alone would be a very efficient urge to every exorcist to
a holy life. The nightly vigil advocated by Father Matteo, and an hour a
day before the Blessed Sacrament, would become a universal custom.
If, after few recitals of exorcism, no answer is received, it does not mean that
there is no possession. In some cases the demon gave answer to the above
questions only after ten days of exorcisms. In milder cases the answers
are given almost at the very beginning.

Possession Not Rare
Let no one think that possession cases are so rare that it is necessary to go
back to the time of Christ to find one. There is no city, not even a single
parish, free from cases of possession. This is not a wild assertion made
without thought or consideration, but is based on personal experience. I have
discovered so many cases of possession that I could not handle them all, even if
I worked at them 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The possession of
animals is even more frequent. Inanimate objects and articles used for sinful
purposes may be possessed. The possessed ouija board will give answers, but if
such a board be blessed it will not give any answers. Satan establishes his
claim on places and articles of sin, because by sin they have been dedicated to
him; just as by blessings of the Church, objects and places are consecrated to
God. Hence, it is useful to bless places often. The Church advises that the
homes of the faithful be blessed every year. As the state of grace is lost by
sin, articles loose their blessing when they are used for sinful purposes, and
places become defiled when sins are committed in them. For this reason the
Church reconciles Churches and cemeteries when crimes were committed in them.
It is a known fact that there were many cases of possession in the time of Our
Saviour. Christ is mentioned about thirty times in the Gospels expelling
the demon. The Apostles frequently used their powers, and their successors
throughout the ages have done the same. Of this we have many examples in
the lives of the Saints.

Criticisms
Constructive criticism which throws more light on the subject is welcomed and
appreciated, but criticisms based on ignorance and inexperience only multiply
the hardships of the exorcist. He should be helped by sacrifice and prayers in
a work which so few are willing to undertake, rather than be laughed to scorn by
those who do not know. To all skeptics and critics who have no experience in
such matters, and only criticise “a priori,” there is only one answer: “Your
criticism is a contra factum.”
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