A Real-Life Exorcist

[Earthnut]

A Real-Life Exorcist Fact-Checks Some Famous Demon-Haunted Horror Movies

Yahoo Movies UK

October 29, 2015

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/a-real-life-exorcist-fact-checks-some-famous-161448044.html

 

‘The Exorcist’ (Everett)

By Yahoo Movies UK

With Halloween upon us, expect to see the likes of The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Rite on our TV screens over the coming days. 

These demonic possession flicks are classics of the genre, but how close to reality are they?

We spoke to Father Vincent Lampert, one of only 50-odd officially sanctioned real-life exorcists working in America (he trained in Rome). He told us the truth behind the swivelling heads.  

“Some movies are better than others,” he told Yahoo! Movies. “The Exorcism of Emily Rose is pretty accurate.”  

But he admits that some of the details you see in these films are completely made up — but you’d be surprised which ones aren’t.

Watch a trailer for ‘The Exorcist:’

 

The famous ending of The Exorcist is kind of realistic

For example; the most famous demon possession scene of all is of course in The Exorcist – which saw Max von Sydow and Jason Miller play priests battling Satan in Linda Blair’s bedroom on a stormy night.

The reality would have been somewhat different, says Father Lampert. “An exorcism always takes place in a sacred space, such as a church or chapel, but never in a darkened house at the end of the street at night during a storm!” 

However the iconic Exorcist line — “The power of Christ compels you!” — does actually get used in real life. Priests will use certain prayers from the Catholic Church’s Official Rite of Exorcism, but they mix things up with “commands to the demon or demons to depart in the name of Jesus.”

‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’ (Everett)

How do “possessed people” actually behave?

Another famous feature of exorcism movies is how the victims of demonic passion behave — from vomiting, uttering obscenities and doing strange things with crucifixes.

Father Lampert says that he uses a four point check list (what he calls “parlour tricks of the demon”) to determine satanic possession – and these tally rather closely with what we’ve seen on screen. They are: “(1) Speaking a language otherwise unknown to the individual, (2) strength beyond the normal capacity of the person, (3) knowledge about things that should be unknown by the person, such as naming the sins of the priest or others who are present, and (4) aversion to sacred things — Bible, crucifix, holy water, etc.”

Even if many of the details in these films are actually closer to the truth than we thought, Father Lampert thinks that these movies usually miss the point. 

“I think there are those people who get so caught up in the sensationalism that they become either scared or convinced they are possessed,” he said. “People need to be fascinated more with their relationship with God as opposed to the antics of evil spirits.”

He thinks the public have based their expectations about what exorcisms are like on these films, but insists that priests themselves, “stick to the official rite of the Church and don’t alibi in any way.”  

Watch the trailer for ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose:’

 

Demonic possession on the rise

Which is a good thing, as apparently Father Lampert gets at least a call a day from someone asking for an exorcism — from both Catholic and non-Catholics — and that interest in the occult is on the rise.

“Demonic possession is real, it does happen, but it is extremely rare. The rise in interest regarding evil and exorcism coincides with a drop in faith in God, especially in the Western world. People seem to be bored with our Christian roots and more interested in things associated with the occult.”  

He concludes: “I don’t think the devil has upped his game. I just think more people are willing to play his game.” Shudder!

[seesthru]

I don't think the demons have much to do regarding possession these days.   Mankind has become far too willing to be "demonic" in behavior.

[Earthnut]

I don't think the demons have much to do regarding possession these days.   Mankind has become far too willing to be "demonic" in behavior.

So true!

[Beerbelch]

On 11/1/2015 at 7:17 PM, seesthru said:

I don't think the demons have much to do regarding possession these days.   Mankind has become far too willing to be "demonic" in behavior.

BEER----> I don't believe demons have ever left. Just catch up with the new TV series 'The Exorcist'. Can't wait for Linda Blair to have a guest appearance!

BELCH

[Earthnut]

 Mr. Belch.  Evil is always present.  The Trick, for want of a better word, is to not give in to it's temptations and lures.  Plus, there's also a big difference between being possessed and being oppressed.

Quote

Excerpts from Delivered From Demons, by C. Parker Thomas

Oppression ~
Demon oppression is the external work of demons upon the mind that breaks the will of the person and prepares them for demon possession. It is done from the outside as evil spirits take things imagined and real and work upon the person’s mind. It is a campaign of tormenting harrassment designed to completely possess and eventually destroy the human being.

Demon oppression often follows temptation and deception that has led the person into sin or adverse circumstances. As pointed out in the chapter on temptation and deception, many things can be used to bring a person to this place. Some with a strong constitution and the sympathetic help of others can sometimes overcome the milder forms of oppression. However, severe oppression is just one step from demon possession.

Complete Possession
The mind goes from partial and temporary influence by the demon to eventual complete possession. Complete possession simply means the person has lost the will and strength to resist and can no longer control his mind. At this point the whole human vessel comes under complete control of the spirit. Using the body vicariously, the demon now begins to manifest his own evil nature through the personality of the person he indwells.

Being intelligent spirit beings, demons purposely find it expedient to hide their presence in varying degrees much of the time. This is why demon-possessed people are more or less normal part of the time. But the demon is there and will rise and take control as the occasion demands.

This is why some people you may have known manifest extremely different attitudes or personality traits at different times. They seem like two different people and indeed they are. At one time the person’s own spirit is in control and at another time the demon is in control. This is why the medical term schizophrenia, which means split personality, is often applied to demon-possessed people.
Some cases of demon possession are so complete that the person’s own mind is completely blotted out while under demon control. As one who comes out of a hypnotic trance, they do not remember a thing that took place while under the demons’ control.