Why concentrate of the mental state of the person "possessed"? What about the mental state of the person peforming the exorcism?

alan, cologne,

All this talk about "exorcism" is silly. Grow up and join the twenty-first century. We no longer live in the middle ages.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

2 good books on exorcism: *Begone Satan* & *Hostage to the Devil* by Martin Malachi. Both by Catholic authors. Malachi*s
book is available in public libraries.


plato101

Donald Huffman, West St Paul, Mn USA

There are many people who are doubtful of the existance of demons. Priests who do take a stand and talk about them to their parishes are scoffed at. Many theologians wrongly discount demons. There are over 500 mentions of the devil in the old testament and 500 in the new. The great coward is ignored however by many in our community. So your best option is to contact your Bishops office. If he does not sent someone contact your providential Archbishop. The ritual however has not been corrupted, as suggested by someone here. Some people have mental disorders and call an exorcist without going to doctors. However, one of the first tests that someone is possessed is called a first blessing, a breif exorcism to see if the demon is forced to respond by the Holy Spirit. This is typically done on the first visit of the exorcist. However, I do agree there are not enough exorcist, as it is my calling.

Chris, Jupiter/FL, USA/FL

Liz, I whish you would know more about that most dangerous spiritual battle and why the Catholic Church is so prudent driven purely by the Holy Spirit. Deliverance is not like healing or giving medication rather is a most Divine act performed by Our Lord using an instrument namely a priest, but please give a little review of the number of deliverance made by the Catholic Church and by any other denomination and you'll see that the effectiveness and lack of physical and mental damage in on Our Holy Church the Body of Christ....

carlos, cancun, Q.Roo

The best literary works on exorcism that I have read is by Father Gabriele Amorth who is a famous exorcist in Rome. Contrary to popular belief exorcism is alive and well in the Catholic church.The only differnece is that it is done more discreetly and with more caution than other Christian denominations,

Anita, Boca Raton, USA

Unfortunately priests are not familiar with sacramentals, such as Blessed Salt, so I wonder how you can convince them of knowing about exorcisms?

Barbara O'Brien Arato, Huntington, LI NY, USA

Ditto...ditto...ditto....to Luz!
A friend and I have been led to reading up on Demonology over the last several years and have found some of the best information, experience and knowledge from our Protestant brothers and sisters....we have wondored, why them and not your true church, Lord? I sense we are too... prideful....we have been cursed with lack of knowledge in our sinfulness and arrogance. May we repent and God forgive us.... may Satan be revealed...wherever His Majesty has allowed him to hide, until now....

SEH, Kenosha, WI

yes this is very important information but try to find an exorcist .#1 and #2 by the time the individual goes through all the red tape involved to be cleared for the exorcism the person will either be dead, possesed, or crazy from the torments. as a former health care provider most if not all cases once seen by a medical doctor will be deamed mental illness why because most docters know nothing of spiritual warfare and in turn they will stay with the only thing they know which is the medical side of the issue at hand. so now the individual on top of all they are going through is labled crazy , nuts and most certainly placed on medication that will add to the existing problem .why do our protestant brothers and sisters understand deliverance yet satan has blinded us as catholics including some of the clergy into not believing in the need for exorcisms even the ritual has been changed so it will not be as effective as it use to be it's like fighting a hugh battle with a water pistle

LUZ F, NO HO, CALIF USA