Saints Question

[Bix]

I have yet another question about saints…

There are many posts on this forum regarding spiritual warfare, deliverance, etc and I started thinking what happens if a priest becomes possessed? I imagine it’s possible. Then I began thinking about some of the saints who had issues.

I’ve read about a few saints who endured quite a bit of spiritual warfare and I believe I read about a few who were possessed. However, I don’t recall reading about any of them being or undergoing an exorcism. Why is this?

This is a poor example, but Saint Pio and Saint Gemma dealt with quite a bit and I don’t recall ever coming across anything as to how they dealt with this aside from their own prayers. I believe I read Saint Gemma had a spiritual director or priest, but that was about it…

So, am I misinformed that some of the saints were ever possessed? Or did they just choose to suffer?

Forgive me for my morbid curiousity

Clearly, I have too much time on my hands to think…

 

[ByzCathCantor]

In reading your O.P., it appears as if you are assuming that personal trials of faith and demonic possession are somehow one and the same.

We experience temptation and may lose faith, or find difficulty finding faith within ourselves at times, but that doesn’t mean we are demonically possessed.

Are you thinking of the life of a particular saint? What is prompting you to think in this way?

Pax Christi !

 

[puzzleannie]

I have yet another question about saints…

There are many posts on this forum regarding spiritual warfare, deliverance, etc and I started thinking what happens if a priest becomes possessed? I imagine it’s possible. Then I began thinking about some of the saints who had issues.

I’ve read about a few saints who endured quite a bit of spiritual warfare and I believe I read about a few who were possessed. However, I don’t recall reading about any of them being or undergoing an exorcism. Why is this?

I don’t think you read anything about saints being possessed
I think you may have read about saints who were tormented by the devil, but that is not at all the same thing
some examples are St. Gemma, Padre Pio, St. John Vianney
simply because they were so holy the devil had to attack them directly even physically, but he was unable to possess them because of their holiness

what demonic possession is NOT:
mental illness
developmental delays
autism
personality disorder
physical illness
habitual sin
struggles with overcoming sin
addictions to substances or behaviors
subjective emotional distress of various kinds
neuroses or persecution complex

neither is it
direct confrontation with evil spirits, such as some saints have reported, or Jesus himself has in the gospels, such as last week’s
“hauntings” of places
contention with the devil

subjecti

 

[Bix]

In reading your O.P., it appears as if you are assuming that personal trials of faith and demonic possession are somehow one and the same.

We experience temptation and may lose faith, or find difficulty finding faith within ourselves at times, but that doesn’t mean we are demonically possessed.

Are you thinking of the life of a particular saint? What is prompting you to think in this way?

Pax Christi !

Oh, goodness- nooo. I don’t believe that at all. At all.
Sorry for the confusion.

Someone had asked me a question about spiritual warfare.

I thought perhaps recommending they read about a few holy people who experienced attacks (as not all people who experience this have dabbled with the occult or other things)…would be helpful.

I know Saint Pio was tormented, Saint Gemma, and a few others. I recall threads that made mention of this fact and I seem to recall mention of possession, but I dont recall who or the specifics and definitely don’t recall exorcism.

I just don’t recall ever reading anything of an exorcism with any saint and … Was just too lazy to look it up as to the numerous thread on the subject matter…

 

[FraLeones]

Annelise Michel, possessed by seven demons, is being considered for sainthood

i remember st mary magdalene exorcised by Jesus Himself

a beatified vietnamese nun was subjected to a series of demonic possessions due to a curse made to her. (forgot the name sorry)

 

[Bix]

Annelise Michel, possessed by seven demons, is being considered for sainthood

i remember st mary magdalene exorcised by Jesus Himself

a beatified vietnamese nun was subjected to a series of demonic possessions due to a curse made to her. (forgot the name sorry)

Thank you for the information.
I also recently read there is some belief Saint Gemma could have been possessed in her last days and had asked her priest for an exorcism several times. He never obliged, but many thought he had decided one was not necessary as he knew she was in a state of grace.

Have you heard this?