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TSB1
Guest
If one is possessed is it possible for the demon to leave on its own accord or is an exorcism required?
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the_coppersmith
Guest
Ok, bucket of cold water on this one.
First: possession per se is very rare. It’s like a major illness. A flu may hurt and make us feel miserable, but it’s not pneumonia or lung cancer.
Second: who knows why the Lord allows a demon to possess someone? The modalities change. Some demons leave on their own after a while. Others stay until kicked out by a good sacramental life.
Third: when none of the above works and the patient (the faithful) discussed the issue patiently with a Catholic mental health counselor and then with a priest who will listen (talk to the Chancery if you cannot find one, and be very polite about it), there is the option of treating this spiritual illness either with prayers of deliverance or, more rarely, with repeated sessions of the Rite of Exorcism. The latter requires a priest who has been appointed as exorcist by his bishop and has received permission to perform the rite on the person deemed possessed beyond the shadow of a doubt. This means after psychiatric care and a holy, sacramental life have failed to address the situation, and when some clear symptoms are identified.
More common than possession is to be harassed by demons more or less intensely. A good sacramental life (going to Church, saying our prayers, using holy water, praying to St. Michael using the simple short prayer, praying to Our Lady especially the Rosary) usually suffices. Demons don’t like to live where the grace of God is very strong. Small prayers (ex. ‘Jesus I love you’) can be said at any time.
In any case I always wear a crucifix (possibly a crucifix of St. Benedict) and a Miraculous Medal (or medal of the Immaculate Conception). They are my tokens of love to Chirst and to my heavenly Mother. Love is more powerful than the devil, than sin, even than death.
First: possession per se is very rare. It’s like a major illness. A flu may hurt and make us feel miserable, but it’s not pneumonia or lung cancer.
Second: who knows why the Lord allows a demon to possess someone? The modalities change. Some demons leave on their own after a while. Others stay until kicked out by a good sacramental life.
Third: when none of the above works and the patient (the faithful) discussed the issue patiently with a Catholic mental health counselor and then with a priest who will listen (talk to the Chancery if you cannot find one, and be very polite about it), there is the option of treating this spiritual illness either with prayers of deliverance or, more rarely, with repeated sessions of the Rite of Exorcism. The latter requires a priest who has been appointed as exorcist by his bishop and has received permission to perform the rite on the person deemed possessed beyond the shadow of a doubt. This means after psychiatric care and a holy, sacramental life have failed to address the situation, and when some clear symptoms are identified.
More common than possession is to be harassed by demons more or less intensely. A good sacramental life (going to Church, saying our prayers, using holy water, praying to St. Michael using the simple short prayer, praying to Our Lady especially the Rosary) usually suffices. Demons don’t like to live where the grace of God is very strong. Small prayers (ex. ‘Jesus I love you’) can be said at any time.
In any case I always wear a crucifix (possibly a crucifix of St. Benedict) and a Miraculous Medal (or medal of the Immaculate Conception). They are my tokens of love to Chirst and to my heavenly Mother. Love is more powerful than the devil, than sin, even than death.
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Michael16
Guest
Amen; coppersmith. I wear a blessed Saint Michael’s medal and pray a lot; especially the Saint Michael Prayer and the Rosary. I’d suggest frequent Confession and Mass.
M
MtnDwellar
Guest
The normal remedy for possession is exorcism. The demon has free will and could leave on its own accord. I wouldn’t count on it.
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the_coppersmith
Guest
Spirits (angels and demons) do not have free will as humans do. Humanity as a whole was redeemed by the Sacrifice of the Cross. Every human, even one who is not remotely familiar with Christ and His Church, is not alone in the fight against the Evil One. The devil does not have free rein. That is why possession is very rare and also very difficult for theologians to understand and explain.The demon has free will
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TK421
Guest
There is no exact rulebook concerning demons, possession, or oppression.
Generally speaking, when a possession happens, it is because the person in some way invited for it to happen, such as by being involved in the occult or trying to communicate with spirits, either because of a reckless, immature curiosity, or for darker reasons.
But it can theoretically happen to anybody. Two Biblical examples are Job & Sarah, daughter of Tobit. Job experienced intense demonic oppression by Satan, and he was a righteous man. Sarah was being tormented by the demon prince Asmodeus, and she was also righteous.
There is nothing that says a demon absolutely can’t be banished except through an exorcism, but an exorcism would be the ordinary way. In very extraordinary scenarios, God might be permitting Satan to continue to torment somebody (i.e. St Padre Pio). St Padre Pio experienced fantastic visions, private revelations, and supernaturally imbued knowledge, and he was routinely tormented by messengers of Satan to keep him as humble as possible; spit on the face, thrown from the bed, beaten, flogged, serenaded by demons appearing as naked women, laughed at, insulted, etc. Satan would appear in the guise of penitents, friends, an angel of light, or the Blessed Mother. Letters from his spiritual adviser were blank until he applied holy water to them. The list goes on.
There are reports that possessions are on the rise in places such as Europe.
Also, a layperson should never be performing their own rites. Only the designated clergy should do that.
This isn’t something we should ever be concerned about beyond everyday practical things that every person ought to be doing anyway: receiving the sacraments, abandonment, prayer, thanksgiving, penance, and spiritual communion with Mary, our Angel, saints, etc.
Generally speaking, when a possession happens, it is because the person in some way invited for it to happen, such as by being involved in the occult or trying to communicate with spirits, either because of a reckless, immature curiosity, or for darker reasons.
But it can theoretically happen to anybody. Two Biblical examples are Job & Sarah, daughter of Tobit. Job experienced intense demonic oppression by Satan, and he was a righteous man. Sarah was being tormented by the demon prince Asmodeus, and she was also righteous.
There is nothing that says a demon absolutely can’t be banished except through an exorcism, but an exorcism would be the ordinary way. In very extraordinary scenarios, God might be permitting Satan to continue to torment somebody (i.e. St Padre Pio). St Padre Pio experienced fantastic visions, private revelations, and supernaturally imbued knowledge, and he was routinely tormented by messengers of Satan to keep him as humble as possible; spit on the face, thrown from the bed, beaten, flogged, serenaded by demons appearing as naked women, laughed at, insulted, etc. Satan would appear in the guise of penitents, friends, an angel of light, or the Blessed Mother. Letters from his spiritual adviser were blank until he applied holy water to them. The list goes on.
There are reports that possessions are on the rise in places such as Europe.
Also, a layperson should never be performing their own rites. Only the designated clergy should do that.
This isn’t something we should ever be concerned about beyond everyday practical things that every person ought to be doing anyway: receiving the sacraments, abandonment, prayer, thanksgiving, penance, and spiritual communion with Mary, our Angel, saints, etc.
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JamalChristophr
Guest
I don’t know if it is always required. How is that for an answer.
I think that sometimes a deliverance prayer can cause the demons to leave, but I’m uncertain. Some demons are quite weak and easily evicted, others are quite powerful and hard as heck to cast out.
You sound like a person who has lots of questions on this topic. Your question may possibly be answered by a book that happens to be sitting on my coffee table right now. You would probably find it interesting. It’s called Interview with an Exorcist by Fr. Jose Antonio Forteas. It’s format is composed of questions, such as the one you just asked, with fairly short / concise answers to these questions. I will have a look inside and see if I come across a question and answer that approximates your own.
But I would say, generally, yes, an exorcism is required for a case of possession but probably not always.
Are you asking just out of curiosity?
Peace of Christ be with You!
I think that sometimes a deliverance prayer can cause the demons to leave, but I’m uncertain. Some demons are quite weak and easily evicted, others are quite powerful and hard as heck to cast out.
You sound like a person who has lots of questions on this topic. Your question may possibly be answered by a book that happens to be sitting on my coffee table right now. You would probably find it interesting. It’s called Interview with an Exorcist by Fr. Jose Antonio Forteas. It’s format is composed of questions, such as the one you just asked, with fairly short / concise answers to these questions. I will have a look inside and see if I come across a question and answer that approximates your own.
But I would say, generally, yes, an exorcism is required for a case of possession but probably not always.
Are you asking just out of curiosity?
Peace of Christ be with You!
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JamalChristophr
Guest
If you have some personal concerns, the first thing you need to do is go and talk to a priest in some fashion. One way you can do this is simply by going to confession and speaking to him about the issues, or you can call and make an appointment to speak with him.
I looked in my book and I don’t think I can say for certain either way. Most of the time, an exorcism would be required if, in fact, a person is possessed which must be carefully discerned by a priest to see whether that is the case.
I looked in my book and I don’t think I can say for certain either way. Most of the time, an exorcism would be required if, in fact, a person is possessed which must be carefully discerned by a priest to see whether that is the case.
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buglady
Guest
Some cases take years. In the United States they have increased the number of exorcists. They needed them because more cases of possession were surfacing.
With satanists pushing their agendas, you can bet that there will be more cases of possession in years to come. Right now some think it’s “cool” to pledge their allegiance to Satan only to become possessed later on. Unless they are very lucky, it could create havoc in their lives.
With satanists pushing their agendas, you can bet that there will be more cases of possession in years to come. Right now some think it’s “cool” to pledge their allegiance to Satan only to become possessed later on. Unless they are very lucky, it could create havoc in their lives.
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the_coppersmith
Guest
And also a good Catholic psychologist or psychiatrist. Many things have a natural root and the devil may simply be tormenting the person by increasing a natural problem that could be cured naturally.If you have some personal concerns, the first thing you need to do is go and talk to a priest in some fashion. One way you can do this is simply by going to confession and speaking to him about the issues, or you can call and make an appointment to speak with him.
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BoomerangToo
Guest
Demons are very territorial. I highly doubt they would ever leave on their own. You have to evict them.
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