Official N.y. Exorcist Sees The Exorcist As Correct Portrayal Of Manifestation

[ddlewis86]

OFFICIAL N.Y. EXORCIST SEES THE EXORCIST AS CORRECT PORTRAYAL OF MANIFESTATION

There is the temptation to see him as in the movie: dressed in black, Holy Water and stole and prayer book at the ready, standing in front of a mist-enshrouded house. Wasn't that the image in The Exorcist?

Most of the time, Father James LeBar, one of three official exorcists in the New York Archdiocese, and based near Poughkeepsie, is at a desk working at a psychiatric hospital, or conducting other priestly tasks. But when he's called, he goes where he is needed to cast away the devil and his demons in the time-honored fashion -- indeed, very much like in the movie, he says.

"The Exorcist is about the most accurate portrayal of what can happen at an exorcism that I have ever seen," Father LeBar told Spirit Daily yesterday. "There were some Hollywood embellishments, to be sure -- but the story itself was correct, except that they changed it from a boy to a girl to protect the identity."

We have written about that before. Indeed, three years ago, we interviewed one of the priests involved in the case that spawned the blockbuster movie [see story]. Is there more of a need for exorcism and deliverance than there was when the movie was released, or, say, twenty years ago?

"Yes," says Father LeBar after contemplating the question for a moment. "I think it's a number of things. Since there wasn't much attention paid to these problems for years, they built up. Some of the problem has been caused by society, some is from other problems. But perhaps now, with the proliferation of public evil, people are looking at things differently."

Is the Church addressing issues more than it did back in the 1970s and 1980s? "I think so," says Father LeBar. "I get calls from bishops now and again to help." He comments that there was one year that 25 exorcisms had to be conducted in the archdiocese, while, another year, there were only two.

Are all the people who need full-blown exorcism ministered to? We'd have to say that's highly unlikely. In our experience, deliverance is necessary more frequently than is addressed. But that's our opinion. "The charts would be erratic," says Father LeBar. "Because many dioceses don't have an exorcist, sometimes they call me and when the bishop gives me permission I go and help other bishops somewhere else."

The old ritual called for the priest to fast three days, but that's no longer a rule. Fasting helps because there can be intense manifestations. Father LeBar says he has seen phenomena similar to what was portrayed in The Exorcist. Father LeBar says evil spirits react strongly to the Name of Jesus, and to the Archangel Michael. "Besides those, the demon does not like to hear the name of the Blessed Virgin. There are strong reactions. Sometimes there are no reactions from the devil because he is trying to make you go away; we invoke all the saints in the litany of saints at the beginning and usually there's not much reaction there. But in the prayer itself when we pray the Rosary or invoke the intercession of Blessed Mary to help us, this invariably gets some kind of reaction, and St. Michael sometimes and I invoked St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars, several times. The devil was not happy with that."

Father LeBar says he has not read the Harry Potter books and so has no discernment of what effect they can have, but the exorcist says that he now finds many children in need of deliverance. "There are more, yes," he comments -- adding that at times a demonic presence will follow a family's genealogical line. But it's tough to predict who and when the devil will attack. "I have had cases where the children of families have been attacked and times when they were not involved at all in the same family. There's no set pattern. The devil would not let us make a pattern."

Why him? Why was Father LeBar, originally from The Bronx, chosen as an exorcist?

"Who knows," replies the priest, who is now 66. "In 1973 I joined the Office of Communications for the archdiocese and one of the tasks given me was to look into the cult problem -- Unification Church, Hare Krisna, all that -- and around 1987 and 1988, there began to be inquiries about devil worship and satanism.

"And so that came into my sphere and we looked into it and determined that there were satanic cults and people who dabbled in it and possession by the devil.

"In 1988 and 1989 I had the first cases. With Cardinal [John] O'Connor's help, we were able to help the people, and finally a few years later, he decided that we needed our own exorcists. I was appointed along with four others."

Now there are three. There have been criticisms that some dioceses have none -- that the intellectualization of the Church has quashed belief in the devil in certain regions. But Father LeBar says he hasn't had problems with bishops. "For the most part they have been very helpful and cooperative when a case appears in a diocese," he says. "Sometimes they call me, sometimes they appoint somebody themselves. I have never been turned down flat by any bishop."

Is there a distinction, we asked, between demonic and satanic possession?

They are basically the same thing, asserts the expert. And this is the time of year, leading up to Halloween, that there is special activity. There is also an upswing, he says, on other satanic holidays.

Do curses exist? Yes, he says. People can call down evil on somebody else. But just as quickly, we can dismiss those curses in the Name of Jesus.

No demon, no matter how melodramatic -- no matter how prone to Hollywood -- can rise above that Name.


http://spiritdaily.com/Lebar.htm

[Joyfilly]

You know I have sometimes wondered if they are really exorcising a demon or if a demon is actually just having some fun with these priests and making them believe they are being cast out. The reason I am thinking like this is because they tend to bow down to Mary more than the do Jesus, thus this would make me think they don't have full power from the holy spirit, given by Jesus to cast out demons, not Mary. Does that make sense or do I need another cup of coffee? :D:

[ddlewis86]

Originally posted by Joyfilly
You know I have sometimes wondered if they are really exorcising a demon or if a demon is actually just having some fun with these priests and making them believe they are being cast out. The reason I am thinking like this is because they tend to bow down to Mary more than the do Jesus, thus this would make me think they don't have full power from the holy spirit, given by Jesus to cast out demons, not Mary. Does that make sense or do I need another cup of coffee? :D:


both

:D:


edited to ad: On the coffee question. :thumb

[antsinmypants]

Originally posted by Joyfilly
You know I have sometimes wondered if they are really exorcising a demon or if a demon is actually just having some fun with these priests and making them believe they are being cast out.


The Latter.

Read the Alberto Riviera Comics by Chick. One more proof of it.

[Joyfilly]

Read the Alberto Riviera Comics by Chick. One more proof of it. I just did and thanks a whole bunch for directing me to those comics! A lot of what was said there was eye opening (the computer with all of our names in it, the inquision etc...) :wave

[filosofer]

If you use Chick comics for understanding, well....

The sad reality is that many do not take seriously the threat of demons, nor the work that God does through Christians who take a stand against demons. Sometimes by our quick "judgment" of other Christians (regardless of denominational affiliation) involved, we aid the demons more than we think.

Having come into contact with demonized people in the past, I find it not a light subject at all, but one which requires humility, forgiveness, patience, and a support team of Christians. Ephesians 6:10-20 provides at least a framework for dealing with this.

[antsinmypants]

Filo, coming from the background I do- I totally agree.

You have to know what the enemy is doing, and you kinda have to know "in depth" so you have a healthy "respect" (distance from) of what he's doing.. instead of such a fascination that it's playing with fire.

[Joyfilly]

If you use Chick comics for understanding, well.... Are you addressing me? If so I don't use these comics for understanding, I use the bible. I was directed to them, read one of the strips and found out some stuff about the cath. church I didn't know before from a former priests' testimony. I don't get how you came up with that equation

Sometimes by our quick "judgment" of other Christians (regardless of denominational affiliation) involved, we aid the demons more than we think.
How can we aid them more? If someone (now this is just my opinion) isn't filled with the holy spirit I question how they can "cast out a demon". The holy spirit indwells us with the power to be able to cast them out to being with....remember the men in the bible who were trying to cast out demons only to get the crud beat out of them? The demons recognized that they didn't belong to Christ. God Bless - Joy

[RedMGT]

Originally posted by Joyfilly

Are you addressing me?

If someone (now this is just my opinion) isn't filled with the holy spirit I question how they can "cast out a demon". The holy spirit indwells us with the power to be able to cast them out to being with....remember the men in the bible who were trying to cast out demons only to get the crud beat out of them? The demons recognized that they didn't belong to Christ. God Bless - Joy

Joyfilly,

I believe some Catholics have the HS indwelled in them. I truly believe my mother has the HS in her. She is one tough nut to crack but my heart tells me she will be saved. So I don't doubt that Catholic priests can exorcize demons in the name of Jesus Christ.

Peace,

J

[seeker42]

So I don't doubt that Catholic priests can exorcize demons in the name of Jesus Christ.

==========


I do – the overwhelming majority of the time.

It seems in the case of the priest-exorcists, that at least two beings need to be rebuked in the Name of Jesus:

1) the Demon and

2) the Catholic Priest in question.


As to the fact that there are catholics who are saved, I am sure that this IS true. But concerning the issue of the Catholic Priest rebuking an evil spirit, this would seem to be something which is Entirely Contrary to what the Bible says.

The first thing that the Bible says is that Jesus Christ is the only one 1) who forgives Sin and 2) who has the Power and Authority to forgive us of our sins.

How can a Catholic Priest talk to a Demon and expect to have true Spiritual Authority over that demon – without having Acknoledged for himself – that Salvation and forgiveness of Sins can come ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ and NOTHING ELSE ?

Are we forgetting that this Catholic Priest is the same priest, who, a few hours earlier, will go and do his penance and go into a confessional or into a private meeting with another Catholic Priest, at which point that exorcist would
hear the priest that he has just finished confessing to – say to him:

“Your sins are forgiven”

WHat a terrible lie. And the worse of it is – that those sins are NOT forgiven. They are there in the heart, in the soul and in the spirit of that Priest – who is now going to leave his “confessional moment” and go and interact with the demonic realm.

We have to ask ourselves: The exorcist-priest may have had good motives, but he is NOT meeting that demon in the state of being forgiven by Jesus Christ. He did not talk with Jesus Christ. Remember the beginning of the Confessional:

Forgive me FATHER for I have sinned. Which father is he talking to ? It is Priest who hears his confession, and NOT GOD-THE-FATHER.

So this exorcist-priest, whose true sins are unconfessed to Jesus Christ, meets a Demon inside another person. So the formula there – at that moment is:

1. one sinner possessed by a Demon, and

2. one priest who is a sinner also, and who is not in a state of being forgiven by the Blood of Jesus.


What does your Bible Now tell you about this situation ?

That the likely outcome of this exorcism ceremony will be either 1) the Demon does not leave or 2) the Priest invites demonic possession into himself, by directly confronting a demon without the true protection of the Blood of Jesus.

The Catholic Church teachings do NOT require someone to place their faith in Jesus Christ exclusively, but rather require their priests (and lay catholics) to place their faith in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic Theologians try to say that “Faith in the Catholic Church” is not a substitute to faith in Jesus Christ. It is a supplement . But that is not what the Bible says: Any faith in someone or something other than Jesus Christ is first of all a false and innefectual Faith. And secondly, it is Idolatry, because it is placing faith in something Other Than Jesus Christ himself, in this case the object of that false faith being the Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

===

Back to the exorcist priest:

What do they usually take with them...to the exorcisms ? Either the old Malleus Mallificarum or another more modern book of rituals, that are more designed to dupe and deceive both the Possessed person (and his/her family)
and the Priest into a sense of comfort.

What greater Horror...will that family truly find...a few months down the road, when they find out that the exorcism was NOT successful, the person is Still possessed, and the Priest only made the situation worse ?

If the Priest truly wants to bring genuine help to that person who is truly demon-possessed, there is only one thing that this priest can do:

Pray to God through Jesus Christ alone, expressing remorse and regret for his own sins, and asking Jesus Christ to take away his sins, acknowledging that his own sins can be taken away ONLY through Jesus Christ and his Death and Resurrection., and NOT through any ceremony, or confession, or any other ritual or teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, and finally asking Jesus Christ to come into his heart and take control of his life.

Then once he has done this, the Catholic Priest must return to the house where the Demon possessed person is,
and after much prayer and Bible study prior to this, start to recount to the family of the possessed man, the error of his ways, so that the family and the possessed person are no longer deceived. When this has happened and these people have truly accepted Jesus Christ and his Word, the Bible, - Then those new believers and the Priest are then
free to begin to pray and use the Bible and command that demon to come out of that person in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Suddenly the priest will know that this person was in fact still possessed, but now for the first real time, that possessed person has a chance to truly be Set Free, because the person who is talking to that Demon has true Spiritual authority over that Demon, through the Power and Blood of Jesus Christ, and relying on Him Exclusively.




Seeker

[Joyfilly]

Beautiful seeker!! Thank you for driving my point home!! I know what I am thinking and wanting to say but others are much more gifted with the art of writing than I am :D: YSIC - Joy

[RedMGT]

Originally posted by seeker42
So I don't doubt that Catholic priests can exorcize demons in the name of Jesus Christ.

==========


I do – the overwhelming majority of the time.

It seems in the case of the priest-exorcists, that at least two beings need to be rebuked in the Name of Jesus:

1) the Demon and

2) the Catholic Priest in question.


As to the fact that there are catholics who are saved, I am sure that this IS true. But concerning the issue of the Catholic Priest rebuking an evil spirit, this would seem to be something which is Entirely Contrary to what the Bible says.

...
How can a Catholic Priest talk to a Demon and expect to have true Spiritual Authority over that demon – without having Acknoledged for himself – that Salvation and forgiveness of Sins can come ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ and NOTHING ELSE ?

...
We have to ask ourselves: The exorcist-priest may have had good motives, but he is NOT meeting that demon in the state of being forgiven by Jesus Christ. He did not talk with Jesus Christ. Remember the beginning of the Confessional:

...
So this exorcist-priest, whose true sins are unconfessed to Jesus Christ, meets a Demon inside another person. So the formula there – at that moment is:

1. one sinner possessed by a Demon, and

2. one priest who is a sinner also, and who is not in a state of being forgiven by the Blood of Jesus.


What does your Bible Now tell you about this situation ?

....===

Back to the exorcist priest:

...Pray to God through Jesus Christ alone, expressing remorse and regret for his own sins, and asking Jesus Christ to take away his sins, acknowledging that his own sins can be taken away ONLY through Jesus Christ and his Death and Resurrection... and finally asking Jesus Christ to come into his heart and take control of his life.

Then once he has done this, ... - Then those new believers and the Priest are then
free to begin to pray and use the Bible and command that demon to come out of that person in the Name of Jesus Christ.

...has true Spiritual authority over that Demon, through the Power and Blood of Jesus Christ, and relying on Him Exclusively.




Seeker

In short, Saved Catholic Priest vs Unsaved Catholic Priest in relation to exorcism.

d; )

[My Abba's Child]

Originally posted by seeker42
So I don't doubt that Catholic priests can exorcize demons in the name of Jesus Christ.

==========


I do – the overwhelming majority of the time.

It seems in the case of the priest-exorcists, that at least two beings need to be rebuked in the Name of Jesus:

1) the Demon and

2) the Catholic Priest in question.


As to the fact that there are catholics who are saved, I am sure that this IS true. But concerning the issue of the Catholic Priest rebuking an evil spirit, this would seem to be something which is Entirely Contrary to what the Bible says.

The first thing that the Bible says is that Jesus Christ is the only one 1) who forgives Sin and 2) who has the Power and Authority to forgive us of our sins.

How can a Catholic Priest talk to a Demon and expect to have true Spiritual Authority over that demon – without having Acknoledged for himself – that Salvation and forgiveness of Sins can come ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ and NOTHING ELSE ?

Are we forgetting that this Catholic Priest is the same priest, who, a few hours earlier, will go and do his penance and go into a confessional or into a private meeting with another Catholic Priest, at which point that exorcist would
hear the priest that he has just finished confessing to – say to him:

“Your sins are forgiven”

WHat a terrible lie. And the worse of it is – that those sins are NOT forgiven. They are there in the heart, in the soul and in the spirit of that Priest – who is now going to leave his “confessional moment” and go and interact with the demonic realm.

We have to ask ourselves: The exorcist-priest may have had good motives, but he is NOT meeting that demon in the state of being forgiven by Jesus Christ. He did not talk with Jesus Christ. Remember the beginning of the Confessional:

Forgive me FATHER for I have sinned. Which father is he talking to ? It is Priest who hears his confession, and NOT GOD-THE-FATHER.

So this exorcist-priest, whose true sins are unconfessed to Jesus Christ, meets a Demon inside another person. So the formula there – at that moment is:

1. one sinner possessed by a Demon, and

2. one priest who is a sinner also, and who is not in a state of being forgiven by the Blood of Jesus.


What does your Bible Now tell you about this situation ?

That the likely outcome of this exorcism ceremony will be either 1) the Demon does not leave or 2) the Priest invites demonic possession into himself, by directly confronting a demon without the true protection of the Blood of Jesus.

The Catholic Church teachings do NOT require someone to place their faith in Jesus Christ exclusively, but rather require their priests (and lay catholics) to place their faith in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic Theologians try to say that “Faith in the Catholic Church” is not a substitute to faith in Jesus Christ. It is a supplement . But that is not what the Bible says: Any faith in someone or something other than Jesus Christ is first of all a false and innefectual Faith. And secondly, it is Idolatry, because it is placing faith in something Other Than Jesus Christ himself, in this case the object of that false faith being the Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

===

Back to the exorcist priest:

What do they usually take with them...to the exorcisms ? Either the old Malleus Mallificarum or another more modern book of rituals, that are more designed to dupe and deceive both the Possessed person (and his/her family)
and the Priest into a sense of comfort.

What greater Horror...will that family truly find...a few months down the road, when they find out that the exorcism was NOT successful, the person is Still possessed, and the Priest only made the situation worse ?

If the Priest truly wants to bring genuine help to that person who is truly demon-possessed, there is only one thing that this priest can do:

Pray to God through Jesus Christ alone, expressing remorse and regret for his own sins, and asking Jesus Christ to take away his sins, acknowledging that his own sins can be taken away ONLY through Jesus Christ and his Death and Resurrection., and NOT through any ceremony, or confession, or any other ritual or teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, and finally asking Jesus Christ to come into his heart and take control of his life.

Then once he has done this, the Catholic Priest must return to the house where the Demon possessed person is,
and after much prayer and Bible study prior to this, start to recount to the family of the possessed man, the error of his ways, so that the family and the possessed person are no longer deceived. When this has happened and these people have truly accepted Jesus Christ and his Word, the Bible, - Then those new believers and the Priest are then
free to begin to pray and use the Bible and command that demon to come out of that person in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Suddenly the priest will know that this person was in fact still possessed, but now for the first real time, that possessed person has a chance to truly be Set Free, because the person who is talking to that Demon has true Spiritual authority over that Demon, through the Power and Blood of Jesus Christ, and relying on Him Exclusively.




Seeker

You know... I always wondered why they seemed to have such a hard time getting rid of a demon. Just the mere MENTION of Jesus' name (since His death and resurrection completely defeated Satan) should have sent them screaming in horror, I'd think. I watched the movie The Exorcist... there's NO WAY a demon should be able to do that much damage to a person who had the authority of Christ and the Holy Spirit's power. And calling a demon into yourself when you're indwelt by the Holy Spirit?? HUH UH!! :laugh

I always figured that was just a Hollywood stunt... but this 'exorcist/priest' says it's pretty much right on... *shrugs*

In His love,

[filosofer]

And calling a demon into yourself when you're indwelt by the Holy Spirit??

Obviously not Biblical - and it is not certain that that is what really happened.

Just for historical perspective, the movie "The Exorcist" was based on a true event. It started with a 14 year old boy living in the Washington DC area in the spring of 1949. Later he was taken to St. Louis, MO, and the actual exorcisim took place in South St. Louis at Alexian Brothers Hospital. And there were other Christian pastors involved besides the two Roman Catholic priests.

[ddlewis86]

Originally posted by filosofer
Obviously not Biblical - and it is not certain that that is what really happened.

Just for historical perspective, the movie "The Exorcist" was based on a true event. It started with a 14 year old boy living in the Washington DC area in the spring of 1949. Later he was taken to St. Louis, MO, and the actual exorcisim took place in South St. Louis at Alexian Brothers Hospital. And there were other Christian pastors involved besides the two Roman Catholic priests.


Hey did his head spin around, turn green, and puke???

[Joyfilly]

Hey did his head spin around, turn green, and puke??? :strike :puke


:laugh

And there were other Christian pastors involved besides the two Roman Catholic priests. Aahhh, so the catholic priests had to call in for back up eh? Hmmmmm.....makes sense ;):

[ddlewis86]

Originally posted by Joyfilly
Ah I see the catholic priests had to call in for back up eh? Hmmm :D:

:strike :sick :puke


:laugh


You forgot the "turn green" part. :laugh


Let's start a new thread. Movie titles based on smilies!!!:D:

[Don]

Matthew 7:21-23
Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.

[Joyfilly]

Let's start a new thread. Movie titles based on smilies!!! :D: Hey thats not too bad of an idea!! Lets see the exorcist is out of the way How bout....The Blues Brothers
:hat :cool

:thumb

[ddlewis86]

Originally posted by Joyfilly
:D: Hey thats not too bad of an idea!! Lets see the exorcist is out of the way How bout....The Blues Brothers
:hat :cool :D:


Not to derail----But how about


:thumb(One) :angel(flew over) :wacko(the Cuckoo's) :peep(nest)


:pound

[Joyfilly]

Originally posted by ddlewis86
Not to derail----But how about


:thumb(One) :angel(flew over) :wacko(the Cuckoo's) :peep(nest)


:pound Good one!! I would've never thought of that one!! Hmmm I'm at a loss as to another one plus I think this thread is dead :laugh Are you silly enough to open up one in anything goes and see who all replies??? :laugh I dare ya!!! :thumb

[blitzkreig]

When I first saw The Exorcist years ago it was state of the art and very scarry. So I rented it and tenatively showed my teenagers. They laughed at the so called special effects. Oh well...

[RedMGT]

I'm well over 15 yrs old and the movie exorcist still gives me the chills...I won't watch it alone. d; )

:freaked

[falen]

"You know... I always wondered why they seemed to have such a hard time getting rid of a demon. Just the mere MENTION of Jesus' name (since His death and resurrection completely defeated Satan) should have sent them screaming in horror, I'd think. I watched the movie The Exorcist... there's NO WAY a demon should be able to do that much damage to a person who had the authority of Christ and the Holy Spirit's power."


The reason why the priest, Catholic or not would have a hard time is not because he does not have the Holy Spirit in him, but because he is human and is therefore fallible. He invokes the name of Jesus, but lets face it he is still human, not God. A Catholic priest can exorcize demons, but it will be a long time to do because he is not Jesus himself. The priest has to give himself completly to Christ for Him to work through the priest. That is very difficult for a human to do even though they desperately want to. Think about it, I am talking speaking in tongues complete not just what we as Christians do by believing in Christ as our Savior. I know I could not excorcise a demon, I do not have that much control, or lack of control, I do not know. That giving over must take time, that is why excorcism takes time. So until Jesus himself comes down, we have the lowly mortal priest who asks for help from Jesus to get rid of the demon. And think also, one priest dies, he was not totally a believer, saved, and he could not get rid of the demon.

About the invoking the name of Mary , I do not think that Satan or demons would like any person or thing associated with Jesus. That would include his mother. Personally, I would think that they would go for the nukes (Jesus's name) first not just the grenades (Mary and Saints) but I guess there is some kind of precedure. Speculating, maybe they have to weaken the demon first so that the person has a better chance of living and surviving...you know kind of like they do in medicine, they always use a lower doses hoping for a result and save the Cipro meds for the end when all else fails.

[My Abba's Child]

Originally posted by filosofer
Obviously not Biblical - and it is not certain that that is what really happened.

Just for historical perspective, the movie "The Exorcist" was based on a true event. It started with a 14 year old boy living in the Washington DC area in the spring of 1949. Later he was taken to St. Louis, MO, and the actual exorcisim took place in South St. Louis at Alexian Brothers Hospital. And there were other Christian pastors involved besides the two Roman Catholic priests.

Yes, but the 'exorcist' said the movie was pretty much right on... *needs a shrug smilie*

[My Abba's Child]

Originally posted by falen
"You know... I always wondered why they seemed to have such a hard time getting rid of a demon. Just the mere MENTION of Jesus' name (since His death and resurrection completely defeated Satan) should have sent them screaming in horror, I'd think. I watched the movie The Exorcist... there's NO WAY a demon should be able to do that much damage to a person who had the authority of Christ and the Holy Spirit's power."


The reason why the priest, Catholic or not would have a hard time is not because he does not have the Holy Spirit in him, but because he is human and is therefore fallible. He invokes the name of Jesus, but lets face it he is still human, not God. A Catholic priest can exorcize demons, but it will be a long time to do because he is not Jesus himself. The priest has to give himself completly to Christ for Him to work through the priest. That is very difficult for a human to do even though they desperately want to. Think about it, I am talking speaking in tongues complete not just what we as Christians do by believing in Christ as our Savior. I know I could not excorcise a demon, I do not have that much control, or lack of control, I do not know. That giving over must take time, that is why excorcism takes time. So until Jesus himself comes down, we have the lowly mortal priest who asks for help from Jesus to get rid of the demon. And think also, one priest dies, he was not totally a believer, saved, and he could not get rid of the demon.

About the invoking the name of Mary , I do not think that Satan or demons would like any person or thing associated with Jesus. That would include his mother. Personally, I would think that they would go for the nukes (Jesus's name) first not just the grenades (Mary and Saints) but I guess there is some kind of precedure. Speculating, maybe they have to weaken the demon first so that the person has a better chance of living and surviving...you know kind of like they do in medicine, they always use a lower doses hoping for a result and save the Cipro meds for the end when all else fails.

Saying Mary's name would have no more reaction from a demon as invoking my name. When told that His mother and brothers were waiting for Him, Jesus responded, "These are my mother and these are my brothers, those who do the will of God." Nothing and no one but Jesus defeated Satan... but, He gave those of us who are His the authority to bind and cast out. Would I try it? Ehhhhh... :laugh Maybe...

In His love,

[Willo]

Originally posted by ddlewis86
[center][b]

Father LeBar says evil spirits react strongly to the Name of Jesus, and to the Archangel Michael. "Besides those, the demon does not like to hear the name of the Blessed Virgin.

http://spiritdaily.com/Lebar.htm

huh?:freaked

Demons do react to the Name of Jesus, but Micheal and Mary?

The demons would respond to the name of mary, with a laugh then sayin "Hey, he's one of us"

[filosofer]

May want to check out the situation with Michael in Jude.

[Willo]

I have read to account of the battle, in the book of Jude, and no doubt that Michael can wag war with demonic forces, but he is just a created angel like satan, and all other demons.

My Bible says demons tremble at the name of Jesus, but it says nothing about demons, gettin scared over the name of Michael or mary.

Even in Jude, Michael, said the Lord rebuke you, he didn't go off his own back here.

[Don]

Ah, the united Catholic front:

Date: 2003-09-28

The Devil's Work, According to a Demonologist

Theologian Corrado Balducci Makes a Distinction

SEVILLE, Spain, SEPT. 28, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The demonologist of the Diocese of Rome says it is important to distinguish between the devil and evil.

Last week theologian Monsignor Corrado Balducci opened the academic year of the ABC Cultural Hall of Seville, with an address entitled "The Devil: Who He Is, His Existence, His Activity, Diagnostic Criteria and Therapy."

The monsignor referred to an "erroneous concept" of the devil's nature, where he is confused with evil. "Evil is an abstract concept," but the devil exists as "an autonomous being, and he cannot be considered as Evil, but as an evil," said the monsignor, as reported by the newspaper ABC.

Monsignor Balducci described devils as "angels who have freely become evil ... spiritual beings who have nothing material about them."

The theologian explained that the evil angels "were aware of their situation and of their possibilities to know. While the majority praised the Creator, others focused on their own nature, self-sufficient, with no need for God." Their worship of self led them to "renounce the Supreme Being and become immersed in hatred of God," he said.

To emphasize the existence of the devil, Monsignor Balducci said that Satan is mentioned about 300 times in the New Testament -- "much more than the Holy Spirit."

Regarding cases of seeming demonic possession, the monsignor said: "There are very few who are possessed."

"If the devil takes possession of the body, the soul cannot carry out its activities. In the case of possession, the devil acts, not the individual," he added.

The theologian criticized the images of possession given by the movies. In "The Exorcist," he said, "the girl seemed catatonic -- something that has nothing to do" with being possessed.

Source: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=41666