11 Exorcism tips from Holy Souls Hermitage – Call only the devil the devil!

Here’s Father Reto Nay, founder of Gloria.TV – a close friend of more than twenty years – in a very short video [4:59]. Though he doesn’t mention it, he has here an excellent paraphrase of Ephesians 6,12 – “For our fight is not with blood and flesh, but with the Principalities, with the Powers, with the world rulers of this darkness, with the evil spirits in the upper heavens.” A most worthwhile watch. Click on the picture to go to the video at Gloria.TV (whose motto is: The More Catholic, the Better).

Humanity is just so fickle. In one moment we can see the devil everywhere, in everything, in everyone, often demonizing even the possessed, who can instead be innocent victims of the devils who possess them. Then, in the next moment, having gotten over our exaggeration, we refuse to see the devil’s influence in the least, the effect of which, as Father Reto points out, is that we again demonize people.

Now, when Saint Paul so wonderfully said that our fight is not with blood and flesh, but with Satan and his minions, he surely had his Genesis scroll rolled open to Genesis 3,15, where our Lord continues His cursing of Satan, speaking of how the end of Satan’s power will come about. Our Lord is the Son of the Immaculate Conception, the Woman of Genesis 3,15, the Woman of Cana, of intercession, the Woman under the Cross, the Woman clothed with the Sun. They are at war with Satan and his minions. They are all vying for us. With whom do we belong?

We cannot judge ourselves, but, if, in all charity given by our Lord, we forgive even those who go out of their way to harm us, there is an indication we are on the right track. It’s good to be in reverent fear and trembling; as we; watch the battle go on. If we arrogantly refuse to forgive, demonizing others, it’s a pretty sure sign that we are becoming demonized ourselves! Do make the necessary distinction that we can forgive in the Lord’s grace by an act of the will, even though our emotions would have us take revenge on others! We are weak, but we can do the right thing with the enmity the Lord gives to us.

Even if someone is possessed, and working against us, forgiveness and compassion are the way to go. Forgiveness doesn’t give permission to someone to stomp on us. It is always given with the condition that it is accepted. Forgive, and then forget about demonizing, being available, then, to look to the Son of the Immaculate Conception.