Is diabolical possession a fact or a myth?

[JurisPrudens]

If you have not spoken to a priest about this…please do. Of course the evil one would attempt this when one is trying to get closer to the Lord…a holy experienced priest can give you much help.

I will keep you in my prayers,

Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Dorothy

Thank You.

I talked to a priest twice. I was advised to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, to feel the God’s presence. It helps. Holy images around also help. It’s sometimes hard to concentrate during the prayer, though. It seems, I lack a full trust in God, that He can cure me of any mental disease.

 

[Bookcat]

…Malachi Martin wrote a book called Hostage to the Devil, detailing 5 cases of diabolic possession…

Not what I would suggest.

But there are other good books out there on the Subject from Exorcists etc.

(Also be sure they come from good publishers etc and are say from Catholic Exorcists…also avoid reading too much and focusing overly on the subject.)

 

[Bookcat]

Fact.

See the Sacred Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the reality of Exorcists (and their experience with such) and the Rite of Exorcism…etc

Catechism:

1673 When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. In a simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. The solemn exorcism, called “a major exorcism,” can be performed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop. The priest must proceed with prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c4a1.htm#1673

 

[tonyrey]

I posted this elsewhere–I can’t figure out how to copy the post it links to so I apologize for the maze like aspect of this.Fr Ripperger’s talks are very informative, and he also says that a lot of demonic activity can be taken care of with meditative prayer and frequent (like weekly) Confession.

Have you clicked on “here”?

 

[tonyrey]

It is most assuredly real.

Fr. Malachi Martin wrote a book called Hostage to the Devil, detailing 5 cases of diabolic possession. It’s a true story. It is also the most terrifying book I’ve ever read, so much so that it made an impact on me for years afterward. I recommend it highly, assuming readers could get through it. This stuff is no for the faint of heart or faith.

Many thanks for that information. I’ve had far more than I expected when I started the thread.

 

[tonyrey]

M.Scott Peck’s book *People of the Lie *is instructive.

A psychiatrist, Peck attended several exorcisms as a skeptic; but later, based on his observations of the ones being exorcised, he expressed his conviction that demonic possession is a fact.

Why possession occurs is anybody’s guess. Peck seems to think that the victims of possession have somehow given themselves over to possession by consent. This would be to surrender to the supreme lie that evil is preferable to good.

John 8:42

“42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Thanks for that, Charlie. I needed no convincing after my experience but I thought others may be sceptical.

 

[tonyrey]

I’m sorry to hear about your friend. My condolences and sympathy.

I think you may be confusing oppression with possession. A soul can be oppressed by a demon. In your friend’s case, it is most likely the case. I’m not really sure about that, but that is what I read before.

You are certainly correct in your statement about Christians who reject the notion of possession… Those who do are those in which it is written in 2 Timothy 3:5:

“having a form of godliness** but denying the power thereof. **From such turn away.”

Psychology and science makes it all too easy to dismiss spiritual notions as fantasy. Its a terror when those in charge of the church employ those studies to cover over that which could be spiritual. It denies a soul in need of hope.

Thanks, Anne. Carol was certainly oppressed but the evil look in her eyes, her reluctance to be on her own and the terrible way she chose to die Sometimes the Church has been too stringent but it’s obviously better to err on the side of caution with so much at stake.

 

[tonyrey]

Demonic possession (and exorcism for that matter) is in the Bible.

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luke 8:27-33

It must have been a very grim experience for those who were with Jesus…

 

[Micosil]

It must have been a very grim experience for those who were with Jesus…

Speaking of this, what always surprised me was how casually and nonchalantly the Gospel authors speak of possessed persons, as if it were something common. It most certainly isn’t common now (though still within the realm of possibility), so I wonder what gives.

 

[tonyrey]

I’m not sure what acceptable evidence of a fact would be, but I would say it is incontrovertible that people have been, and some currently are possessed.

How does it happen? Basically people need to call upon a spirit and give permission for it to enter. As has been stated, this could be through action such as a ouija board or calling upon a spirit to show up such as visiting a medium, psychic or ghost hunting.

This is why the “kid’s games” which call upon spirits are so dangerous.

I don’t think everyone who is possessed explicitly invites a spirit but there is no doubt in my mind that it is fact rather than fantasy!

 

[tonyrey]

To be sure. If we can be successfully tempted to sin by the devil, we can be successfully tempted by the devil to let him into possession of our bodies. In a gamble with the devil, the house usually wins.

Yet as Vivian noted above, the devil is not so clever (perhaps even idiotic) in the long run. His short gain is possession of a body, but he suffers a heavy loss in the revelation that he truly exists and is the personification of evil. This strategy is self defeating, since if we become increasingly convinced of the devil’s existence, we have all the more reason to believe in the existence of his chief adversary … God Almighty.

That’s a very good point, Charlie. It would be a very one-sided view of reality…:whacky:

 

[Vivian42]

It is most assuredly real.

Fr. Malachi Martin wrote a book called Hostage to the Devil, detailing 5 cases of diabolic possession. It’s a true story. It is also the most terrifying book I’ve ever read, so much so that it made an impact on me for years afterward. I recommend it highly, assuming readers could get through it. This stuff is no for the faint of heart or faith.

Really? It scared you? I read it and I laughed at many of the passages. The demons seemed to troll everybody. I guess that’s how I viewed it…

 

[Micosil]

Really? It scared you? I read it and I laughed at many of the passages. The demons seemed to troll everybody. I guess that’s how I viewed it…

Not to give demons too much credit, but there is no comparison between an Internet troll that goes around provoking people and a fallen angel. You’ll note that people, even nonbelievers, that eventually experience something related to fallen angels are all invariably shocked and frightened.

 

[tonyrey]

Speaking of this, what always surprised me was how casually and nonchalantly the Gospel authors speak of possessed persons, as if it were something common. It most certainly isn’t common now (though still within the realm of possibility), so I wonder what gives.

They had less scientific knowledge then but it doesn’t follow that everything can be explained scientifically. That would be a truly vicious circle!

 

[tonyrey]

Catechism:

1673 When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. In a simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. The solemn exorcism, called “a major exorcism,” can be performed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop. The priest must proceed with prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c4a1.htm#1673

The Church sometimes errs on the side of caution but that is better than being imprudent.

 

[tonyrey]

Thank You.

I talked to a priest twice. I was advised to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, to feel the God’s presence. It helps. Holy images around also help. It’s sometimes hard to concentrate during the prayer, though. It seems, I lack a full trust in God, that He can cure me of any mental disease.

You also lack trust in yourself! I spent half my life being a pessimist until I realised how foolish I was. There’s a good book on the power of positive thinking but it’s a question of habit - and a good resolution for Lent. Punch ourselves (gently) whenever we find ourselves being negative!

 

[tonyrey]

Really? It scared you? I read it and I laughed at many of the passages. The demons seemed to troll everybody. I guess that’s how I viewed it…

That must be one of their wiles! They can think of every trick in the book and a joke can be deadly serious…

 

[tonyrey]

Catechism:

1673 When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. In a simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. The solemn exorcism, called “a major exorcism,” can be performed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop. The priest must proceed with prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c4a1.htm#1673

Thanks for that reference - which endorses the reality of possession.

 

[tonyrey]

Fact. 100%

Read Hostage to the Devil. There are 5 documented cases of possession detailed in the book. They go in depth with each victim, as well as the exorcist. It’s quite eye opening. I was terrified of possession before, but now in understanding it more I fear it less. The devil is real- and he can only take over if you give in. Unfortunately for those who are possessed- most don’t understand what’s happening to them since they either don’t believe, or are just too broken to know what to do.

Thanks for that reference, Joelle. Ignorance isn’t always bliss. It can be soul-destroying in more ways than one…

 

[tonyrey]

Father Juan José Gallego, the exorcist for the archdiocese of Barcelona, Spain has done interviews - look it up on the internet.

With a doctorate in theology and a degree in Philosophy his opinion is not to be taken lightly. For me the most amusing case was that of the boy who had his shirt set on fire by the devil at night, and the demons told him that if he made a pact with them, it would all stop. Not amusing for him…