Safeguarding The Faithful

I see another priest is being lambasted for warning the faithful against yoga, reiki and other such practices. As readers will know when I blogged on them there was interesting reactions from certain quarters, reactions which only confirmed what I said. 

Totally unrelated in time to the item on the Irish priest, a new book on the topic has been published. Written by a De La Salle brother, Br Max Sculley, Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki: A Guide for Christians explores the topic in detail.  Exorcist for the Archdiocese of Westminster, Fr Jeremy Davies has reviewed the book and also wrote an article in the Catholic Herald in recent weeks. It is well worth getting Br Max's book. I would recommend it in particular to those who have to deal with such issues on the frontline. The book can be ordered directly from the publishers.

Pray For Exorcists Today

 

Today in Carmel we celebrate the feast of Blessed Francis Palau y Quer, Discalced friar who, for most of his religious and priestly life, lived in exile from community life.   Living in Spain at a time when the Church and religious orders were being persecuted, Francis was forced to leave his community and live his religious life almost as an isolated member.  That, however, led him to a deeper prayer for the Church in her suffering, and he was given many great insights into the life of the Church and her mission in the world. 

 

It also allowed him carry out various ministries one of which was the ministry of exorcism, so today as we celebrate his life and venerate him, let us commend to his intercession those priests and laity who work in the hidden ministry of deliverance and exorcism.

Yoga, Anyone?

When it comes to deliverance ministry, as far I can see, there is very little grey.   As the Church tries to live with various pastoral difficulties and reach out and tolerate, when it comes to the spirit world, the demons tend not to be so pastoral in their approach and use every opportunity, regardless of intention, cause or situation, in order to take up residence.   Many exorcists tend to be very black and white, certainly the ones I know, and I suppose this comes from having to work at the coal face knowing that pastoral niceties and subtleties don’t actually work when it comes to expelling a demon, only tough love and Christian integrity. 

That is why, when a person is being exorcised, or in the process of deliverance, they will be urged to live a sound Christian life, adhering to the Commandments – in particular the moral teachings of the Church, and have to attend the sacraments regularly – Mass every Sunday (at least – daily Mass is often recommended) and frequent confession.  Like a physical ailment, neglect to take the medicine and the condition will not only not heal, but in fact will probably get worse.   In terms of deliverance ministry, if one refuses to begin living a virtuous life then the demon will borrow himself (or themselves if there is more than one) in even deeper.  Hard things to hear, but experience has shown them to be true.

Why this reflection on deliverance?  Well I am prompted by a recent news story about a priest in Southampton, Fr John Chandler, who has banned yoga classes from the parish hall.  It goes without saying that the priest was absolutely correct: in charge of the property he has to ensure that no practices which are contrary to Catholic teaching go on there, and that is what yoga is. 

Now I may have a load of apologists on to me telling me that yoga is perfectly okay, it is purely exercise and many people benefit from it.  Well, people might like it, but does not mean it is sound.  As for it being just an exercise, well we need to remember that posture in prayer and meditation is important: yogic exercises have significance for a particular occult practice and they cannot be divorced from it.  Besides, when people practice yogic exercise there is a form of meditation and ritualistic breathing that goes with it and experience has taught that that opens people up to forces.  As one of its apologists said in response to the priest’s actions: “yoga is spiritual, not religious”: there it is: can you hear the warning bells? 

Yoga means “union” and it is orientated towards union with a force which some consider divine, and in that way achieve enlightenment.   The exercises are not just there to keep you fit and make your muscles supple, or help you relax, they are a means of attaining this union.  What we do with our bodies is significant – if I give someone the two fingers that sends a message – I might intend it to mean something different, but those who see the two fingers draw on the general understanding of the gesture and interpret it accordingly and correctly; I am the one who, in trying to reinvent the gesture, is mistaken, not them.  So too with yoga – the exercises and positions send a message and the force they are designed to invite in interprets them as they are to be interpreted.

“But surely, Father, if we approach it intending it to be open to God, then it’s alright?”  Well, no, you can approach a Ouija board intending to contact God and the angels, but that will not redeem it and the ones who contact you through it will not be God or the angels.  There are some things which channel forces not of God and regardless of good intentions they cannot be transformed into instruments of God.   Yoga is one of these, as is Reiki, Tarot Cards, fortune telling, “Psychics Live” and other New Age practices.  And if anyone should doubt me, talk to an exorcist or someone involved in deliverance ministry and they will put you straight.  Working at the coal face they deal with people who thought these practices were innocent, good, and they even benefited from them – for a while; but they opened a door and the forces they were dabbling with entered in, and soon enough they discovered that these forces were not as friendly as they first thought. 

Dabbling in the occult is contrary to God’s law and Church teaching, not only can they not be redeemed, but in engaging in them one is in rebellion against God whether one realises it or not.  The Lord will never bless such a rebellion, and so these instruments of the occult can never be used to come closer to God no more than one can say adultery can bring someone closer to their spouse.

So, if you are doing yoga, stop it and go to confession.  If you are engaged in Reiki or other New Age practices, stop it! Well done to Fr Chandler; he had the courage to take on what is becoming a serious trend, even among Catholics, one which is producing disastrous results.   Speaking just of Ireland, the few that are involved in deliverance ministry here are run off their feet dealing with cases, some of them pretty difficult, and many of them are the result of people practicing yoga, Reiki, fortune telling and other New Age practices.  They do not have enough priests to deal with them (there only a few priests in Ireland working in this area).  So pray for these dedicated people who work in silence at a hidden ministry which is demanding and dangerous. 

Of Governments And Demons

The Villa Spada, the former Irish embassy to the Holy See

Further to my post below on the Irish public's dissatisfaction with the government's decision to close the Irish embassy to the Holy See, it seems that a number of TDs (members of parliament) and senators share the public's concern. 

Last week I was told that a large number of TDs and senators turned up at a protest in Buswell's Hotel, just across the road from Leinster House (the parliament building), the Ireland Stand Up campaign.  Michael Kelly in an article for Catholic World Report, says that 82 of them made it their business to attend, including, I believe, the Leader of the Opposition, Micheal Martin. 

Another interesting piece of information provided by Kelly is that, so far, the government has received 96,000 postcards protesting the closure.  I wonder how that will translate into votes?  I'm sure the government parties have already worked that one out.  But, I suppose, given that they have an absolute majority and, saving any mass protest by backbenchers, which is unlikely, the government will run for a full term, so the will of the people is of no consequence on this matter.  They will probably hope the issue will go away.

On another issue, Steven Greydanus has a very good review of the new exorcism movie gracing our screens: The Devil Inside.  I am afraid it does not get good reviews, and it seems it is another opportunity for film makers to bash the Church, but this time from the extreme traditionalist side, which I suppose is a novelty. The Rite, which starred our own Colin O'Donoghue, gets a favourable mention in the review.  Which reminds me I must see if I can persuade the Film Club in Dublin to show The Rite some evening, perhaps we might get a guest exorcist in for the talk and he can scan the crowd for potential clients!  I joke, as usual!!

UPDATE:  Can we hope for a revolt within Fine Gael which may force Enda Kenny to do a u-turn with regard to the embassy?  I hope so. 

I see one suggestion being made by a Fine Gael TD is that the two embassies could share the Villa Spada.  Having been in it a few times when living in Rome, I do not think that would be practical - it may be too small.  I presume if a u-turn is on the cards, the ambassador to the Holy See and his office will probably take up residence in an apartment near the Vatican City State. 

Signs of Demonic Possession

The Council of the Fraternity had a "Rite Night" recently - we went out en masse to watch the movie, followed by a very nice Italian meal - Genesius would have approved.   Having the read the book, I was brushing up on a few things and I was rereading a pamphlet by Fr Jeremy Davies, exorcist of the Archdiocese of Westminster, which is a very good introduction (available here).  Fr Davies pointed that while the Major Rite of Exorcism is reserved to the bishop and those priests to whom he gives the faculty, the minor rite, used in cases of demonic obsession and oppression, and for deliverance, can be used by any priest.  He advised priests to use this prayer very often, praying it over their parishes and over those who may be disturbed by the evil one.  I must look into this.  Brother priests who read this blog, this is worth considering.   Any ideas or suggestions.

The modern world actually manifests many signs of demonic activity - the evil one is having a whale of a time with men and women today, so there is a need for greater prayer, particularly the prayer of deliverance.  That said, the following video convinces me of this.  You may have seen this, but if you have not, watch it and you will clearly see the devil at work in the lives of poor souls.  Abortion is the fruit of demonic activity: Satan convinces women and men that a life does not exist in the womb until they decide it is a baby, and so if this child may be an incovenience, then an abortion is a praiseworthy thing to do.  As you watch this pray for the people you see. 

Here is an interesting question which I ask of my brother priests, and anyone reading this blog who may know: does your diocese have an appointed exorcist?   Each diocese is supposed to have one.  Let me know by email rather than through the combox (fatherdirector@stgenesius.com).

The Rite: A View

Well, last night myself and Caroline of the St Genesius Blog donned the glam gear and headed out on the town to the European Premiere of the The Rite in the Savoy.  Thanks to Warner Brothers for the invitations.  It had been a long day - the Divine Mercy Conference kept Frat volunteers busy - thanks to all of them, and welcome to the many new members who joined the ranks of our family of prayer over the weekend.  After a hard day's work we looked forward to the film.   There was a good crowd, though the auditorium was not full, afterwards there was a party at Whelan's - Colin O'Donoghue's band provided the music - good group.

So what did we think of the movie?  Well I do not want to spoil it, so I will not give the plot away.  Performances - very good.  By far the best was Anthony Hopkins - and he is being praised for his role by critics.  He plays the part of a crusty old priest very well, balanced between unorthodoxy of approach, humanity, faith, struggle and fatherly tenderness: there is also a tough side to him.  Unfortunately while Hopkins is a great actor, you  cannot escape his most famous role - Hannibal Lector, and I'm afraid there are lots of Hannibal moments.  While the image of Hannibal Lector in a stole may be a bit extreme, it's not too far off the mark either.  But his performance is great - and he gets all the great lines - and he has some brilliant lines.

Colin's performance was excellent.  You probably expect me to wax lyrical about him, but I think I can be objective as well.  Colin plays the serious young man role very well, and the part of seminarian Michael Kovak is made for him.  I know a number of online reviews are not positive, but I would have to argue with them.  No, he is not bubbling over, hamming it up, or doing the extreme hero, he is playing the quiet and conflicted seminarian who finds himself confronting a reality which he refuses to acknowlege even exists, and he does it very well.   Interestingly he provides a good contrast to Hopkins who is hamming it up and making a meal of his role.  Having seen Colin in a number of roles in various productions, this is his best and that is a good thing given it is his big screen movie debut.   In fact le he manages to quieten down the movie: perhaps this is what the American critics didn't like, but to be honest, the director needed a character to bring depth to the film, to quieten it down given the subject matter that is very necessary - it is very easy to turn exorcism into Vaudeville - in this movie you are dealing with serious subject matter.  I think Colin manages to do that and provide a contrast which keeps the movie rooted (in the first part anyway - more on that later). 

Ciaran Hinds is the other actor I was very impressed with.  Hinds is one of the finest Irish actors working at the moment.  He plays a Dominican priest who is teaching the Exorcism course and puts the seminarian in touch with the crusty old exorcist.  Hinds, or Fr Xavier, is the confident even arrogant academic who sknows his stuff, who knows he's right most of the time and a thorn in the side of the doubting seminarian.  I have one complaint about Hind's role - it is not developed enough.  I think there was so much potential in the role and Hinds has the ability to bring it much further, but the writers seemed content to leave him as he was and to allow him drop out altogether as the movie moves towards its climax - that is a pity.  I would have loved to have seen the relationship between Hinds and Hopkins - there would have been endless possibilities there - including some comic ones, which would have been good. 

What about the movie itself?  It is really a film in two parts.  The first is good.  The researchers did their work and seemed content to present the reality of exorcism in the Church today rather than the Hollywood conception.  Overall the movie's presentation of the Church and exorcism is positive and it is great to see movies like this being made.  Mingled with Kovak's personal history, there is an interesting story there and it will keep you engaged, although his personal story comes as no surprise - stock material for conflicted young man.  But it works.

However, for me, the second part does not live up to the first - I think the movie turns "Hollywood" at that stage.  While there are a few factual errors in the first part (seminarian giving the Last Rites?) you can ignore them and get on with it.  In the second part there are a number of errors, and one particularly glaring one which really cannot be ignored.  If the writers had done any research they would have known this error was a no-no.  This error, however, forms the basis of the storyline in the second part, so to be true to reality the writers would have had to take the movie in a different direction.  But I think that was the moment the writers/director etc felt they had to work to a climax and had to shift gear to please an audience.  I was disappointed with that.  However, the performances were still excellent and, if you can suspend your critical faculties, the second part was entertaining and we enjoyed it.  The last scene was very good - the outcome of the seminarian's faith crisis: full marks to writers and director for that one.

So - verdict? Very good.  Second best exorcism movie I have seen so far - Emily Rose is still the best.  I would advise you to go and see The Rite, critique my critique if you wish (don't forget the competition).  You will enjoy it.   It presents a positive view of the Church, takes a chance on trying to understand it from within, and for that the movie deserves our praise and support. 

On Its Way



The new movie, The Rite, starring our own Colin O'Donoghue, is on its way.  It opens tomorrow in the US and in Ireland and the UK on the 25th February.

The movie is getting good press in the Catholic media, though many are exercising caution - Hollywood tends to do things in a way which can distract from the reality, but as one commentator said, it is still drawing people's attention to the fact that the devil exists and he is working among us - we need to be reminded of that.

Reviews: CNA, NCR, Headline Bistro, Get The Big Picture review, ciNews (we get a mention, though the membership figure is incorrect: now we are almost 1,000 members in 14 countries).

Progressive Bishops

Meet Beelzebub, he lives next door.......in the neighbours!

Great news from the US regarding the important ministry of exorcism.   It seems the bishops there realise that there is a real need for exorcists and are going to do something about it.  The National Catholic Register has the story.  My exorcist friend in Rome will be delighted to hear that.  The bishops are sponsoring a two-day conference just before their Autumn meeting, and it is all booked up!  I would love something like that in Ireland, as the problem of extraordinary demonic activity is growing.  Well done, your Excellencies. 

The Rite

Hollywood's new exorcist movie, The Rite, is due to be released on January 28th next in the US - not sure when it will hit Irish cinemas.  I will be interested to see it for a few reasons - firstly because of my interest in the area and my realisation that we need more priests dedicated to the ministry of exorcist given the rise in the occult in these times.  Secondly, I have read the book on which the movie is based.  It is a brilliant read and it does away with many of the myths surrounding the ministry.  I also like the personal dimension as the priest in the question, Fr Gary Thomas, shares his life experience and his vocation story with us.  I see, though, the producers have wandered somewhat from the book, so I hope the movie is not sensationalist.  We will have to see.  The opening lines in the trailer do cause me to worry......

The other reason I have an interest in the movie is because a friend of our Fraternity, Colin O'Donohue, is playing the young priest.  Colin is a wonderful young actor, and we are all delighted that his career is going so well.  Colin travelled to Rome with us on our first Fraternity pilgrimage in 2008.  I hope this movie is the beginning of bigger things for him.   I must say, looking at the trailer, our Colin looks good in a collar, so he does!

Trailer: