Things That Go Bump In The Night

Last evening I waved off a priest friend of mine who was with me for the last few days; he is heading back to Rome after the summer, to continue his postgraduate studies.  As part of his priestly ministry, he is an exorcist, and over the last couple of days was filling me in on recent developments in the Church and his work.  His experiences would make your hair turn white!  He tells me that things are taking a turn for the worst in terms of the occult, and the few exorcists that are working are run off their feet.  His major complaint, which I have heard from other exorcists, including the great Fr Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist for the Diocese of Rome, is that bishops are not appointing exorcists, probably because they do not believe in possession, or the other forms of supernatural demonic activity.

Now this blog is not here to attack bishops - I believe, as does the Church, that they are our fathers in the faith, and deserve, and need, our prayers and affection.  The faithful ones merit our full support, the unfaithful ones, our prayers and sacrifices and, when necessary, charitable correction which respects the office they hold.  So in this matter, we must encourage our bishops to appoint exorcists, as Pope Benedict has already asked them to, and as required under the law of the Church.  Why they haven't probably reveals a number of issues.  Many do not believe in the devil or demonic activity - we must pray that their faith will be strengthened in this regard.  Some trust in God's power, and so see no need for exorcism because they truly believe God in his love would not permit a child of his to fall victim to the evil one.  I understand that - God's love and power are infinite and have already overcome the evil one, but reality is more complex than this position of simple faith: free will and people's engaging in the occult must be taken into account.

That said, many people are messing around with the power of the occult, and it is both frightening and dangerous.  The New Age cult is growing in Europe and the Americas, and that is bringing more and more people into the realm of the occult with disastrous results.  Many of these practices are considered innocent or beneficial.  "Treatments" like Reiki are even patronised by government health systems, and Catholic religious are practicing such treatments and exposing innocent people who are looking for healing, to the powers of occult forces.  I remember delivering a sermon on the occult a year or so ago and it caused a little controversy in the parish.  Some people who saw nothing wrong with these treatments were deeply offended because I had classed them as occult.  Well, I said to them, they are: they channel, not energies, but demons and many of their "patients" end up looking for deliverance or exorcism.  They were not convinced by my arguments, but then I did not expect them to be: who wants to admit that they are working with the evil one? The whole cult of Angels, as I mentioned a few posts ago, has been perverted by the New Age, and it is duping many innocent people.

My friend told me that he and his colleagues need prayers.  The Lord's teaching that some demons can only be expelled through prayer and fasting is true.  All exorcists in the Church offer prayer vigils and fasts for days before they conduct a deliverance or exorcism.  They need people to accompany them in this.  Thankfully they are surrounded by prayer groups who  are very faithful in their prayer.  My friend can call on his prayer team when he needs them and they will do all-night vigils with him in preparation for this work. If you reading this post could remember my friend and his colleagues in your prayers and fasts, please do, that prayer and sacrifice are precious and powerful.

Now, just to let you know: exorcisms of the type we see in the movies are rare.  Most of those brought to exorcists tend to need only deliverance.  The Church is quiet about the rite because it does not want to sensationalise the issue and seeks to protect the people involved - hard enough for the possessed person to endure the sufferings imposed by the demons - they don't need the curious gawking at them.  No harm for us as Christians to be aware, but not to become fascinated - the evil one can use our curiosity for his own ends.  If you want to inform yourself, read Fr Gabriele Amorth's books, An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories.