The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

Ipos 121
Not all theologians and demonologists agreed that
sex with demons was possible. St. Thomas Aquinas said
that sex with a demon exceeds their natural powers but
is in keeping with their malice and therefore might be
permitted by God in accordance with the sins of a person.
JOHANN WEYER dismissed incubi and succubi as “purely
imaginary, the result of an impaired mind.” He also dismissed
as “bizarre fiction” the idea that incubi could impregnate
a woman by borrowing a man’s semen in the
guise of succubi. Such stories of demonic seduction were
the products of “gullible historians,” he said.
Montague Summers compiled quotations from earlier
writings and countered in The History of Witchcraft and
Demonology (1926) that “great Saints and scholars and all
moral theologians of importance affirm the possibility of
commerce with incarnate evil intelligences.”
See SMURL HAUNTING.
FURTHER READING:
Guazzo, Francesco-Maria. Compendium Maleficarum. Secaucus,
N.J.: University Books, 1974.
The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James
Sprenger. New York: Dover, 1971.
Remy, Nicholas. Demonolatry. Secaucus, N.J.: University
Books, 1974.
Summers, Montague. The History of Witchcraft and Demonology.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, 1926.
Trachtenberg, Joshua. Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study
in Folk Religion. New York: Berhman’s Jewish Book
House, 1939.
Weyer, Johann. On Witchcraft (De praestigiis daemonum).
Abridged. Edited by Benjamin G. Kohl and H. C. Erik
Midelfort. Asheville, N.C.: Pegasus Press, 1998.
infestation The presence of DEMONs in a place, object,
or animal. Infestation occurs when demons are able to
take up residence and create disturbances. It is a precursor
to more serious demonic problems, such as OPPRES-
SION and possession.
The Bible does not make direct reference to EXORCISMs
of demons from places or animals; however, demonic
infestations were well known and accepted in ancient
times. Origen, an early father of the church, wrote that
the power of the name of JESUS could expel demons from
places and animals as well as people.
Infestation can happen as the result of a CURSE or
magical spell or ritual, or by the actions of people living
in a place. For example, the Catholic Church teaches that
using spirit communication devices such as a OUIJA
board, dabbling in the occult, making a PACT with the
DEVIL, or leading a sinful life can create the conditions for
infestation. Curses and hexes can allow demons to contaminate
an object (see POSSESSED POSSESSIONS).
Infesting demons create chaos and fear through poltergeistlike
activity, the manifestation of shadowy figures,
and other paranormal phenomena. Victims may
hear knocks on the door when no one is present. The
knocks usually occur in threes (to mock the Trinity) or
in sixes (double three). There are scratching sounds on
doors or within walls, hot or cold spots, rooms that just
feel “creepy,” sounds of baby animals in pain, whisperings,
knocks that become pounding on the walls or roof,
plumbing that does not turn off, appliances that go on or
off without help, and levitation of small objects.
Often such behaviors are attributed to ghosts or poltergeists,
especially if there are teenagers in the home.
Or they are dismissed out of hand as the products of
an overactive imagination. Other mistakes made in this
early stage include disbelief by friends, clergy, or family
members, leaving the victim frustrated and confused,
and turning to a medium or psychic to evaluate the phenomena,
because the demonic can easily manipulate the
medium’s sensitivity.
Sometimes infestations are more subtle, with demons
maintaining a low profile in order to gain more oppressive
influence over a victim.
Infestations are cleared by minor rites of EXORCISM
performed by clergy or trained laypersons. Severely infested
objects are destroyed by burning while praying
and then scattering the ashes in running water. Mildly
infested objects can be exorcized with prayer and a sprinkling
of holy water.
FURTHER READING:
Amorth, Gabriele. An Exorcist: More Stories. San Francisco:
Ignatius Press, 2002.
Fortea, Fr. José Antonio. Interview with an Exorcist: An Insider’s
Look at the Devil, Diabolic Possession, and the Path to
Deliverance. West Chester, Pa.: Ascension Press, 2006.
International Association of Exorcists Roman Catholic
organization of priests who perform EXORCISMs. The
International Association of Exorcists was founded in
1993 by FATHER GABRIELE AMORTH.
At the first meeting in Rome in 1993, only six exorcists
attended. Within a year, 80 exorcists had joined; international
membership is now more than 500. Membership is
exclusive; a priest must have the permission of his bishop
to join. Meetings are held annually in secret.
Father Giancarlo Gramolazzo is president; Amorth
serves as honorary president.
The exorcists blame in part the New Age as responsible
for a rise in demonic POSSESSION, saying that New
Age adherents do not believe in a personal God who reveals
himself but in an impersonal God identified with
the material world.
Ipos FALLEN ANGEL and 22nd of the 72 SPIRITS OF SOL-
OMON. Ipos is an earl and prince who rules 36 LEGIONs of
DEMONs. He appears as an angel with a lion’s head, goose
feet, and a hare’s tail; JOHANN WEYER said he appears
either as an ANGEL or as an evil and crafty lion. Ipos
knows the past and future and imparts wisdom and courage.
He makes men witty.