The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

200 possession
possession cases, many in France, which served as exorcism
power contests between Catholics and Protestants
to sway the faithful and win converts.
Demonic possession cases continue in present times.
Church attention to possession cases dropped in the 20th
century. In the 1970s, public attention was renewed by
William Peter Blatty’s novel and film The Exorcist, based on
a real case in 1949 (see ST. LOUIS EXORCISM CASE). The numbers
of reported possession cases began to rise. A sharp
increase was seen at the turn of the 21st century, perhaps
in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York City, and rising global fears over terrorism
and war. The church increased the training of exorcists
(see INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EXORCISTS).
Catholic clergy dealt with most cases, but some Protestant
and evangelical ministers perform varying types of
exorcism. Lay demonologists also investigate cases and
work with clergy in exorcisms, usually as assistants or
witnesses.
Causes of Demonic Possession
According to the Catholic Church, the chief causes of
possession are the following:
• making a PACT with the Devil or demons
• participating in occult or spiritualist rites, including
playing with divination devices such as a OUIJA or
doing automatic writing
• offering or dedicating a child to SATAN
• being the victim of a witchcraft spell or CURSE
Engaging in these activities, as well as leading a deliberately
sinful life, give demons the right and license to take
up residence, according to the church.
Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and multiple
personality disorder are not considered to be caused by
demonic possession.
The church teaches that God allows possession to
happen for a variety of reasons:
• to demonstrate the truth of the Catholic faith
• to punish sinners
• to confer spiritual benefits through lessons
• to produce teachings for humanity
Signs of Demonic Possession
The Catholic Church defines the true signs of possession
as
• displaying superhuman strength and levitation, often
accompanied by fits, convulsions, and contortions
• having knowledge of the future or other secret
information
• being able to understand and converse in languages
previously unknown to the victim
• exhibiting revulsion toward sacred objects or texts
Exorcists develop discernment that enables them to
determine whether or not a person is truly possessed,
rather than suffering from mental illness or stress. A DE-
MONIAC’s eyes will be rolled back into his head and his
or her voice will be altered to an evil, mocking tone. The
person will scream insults, profanities, and blasphemies
at the exorcists and witnesses.
How a possessed person behaves depends on the type of
demon involved, and the exorcist’s skill at recognizing the
signs. There are three types of possessing demons, clausus
(Latin for shut), apertus (Latin for open), and abditus (Latin
for hidden). If a demon is clausus, it can resist prayer for a
short time before eventually revealing its presence in an
entranced condition and rolled-back eyes. The possessed
person does not move or speak out but is still possessed.
If a demon is apertus, it will keep the possessed person’s
eyes open and will laugh at and mock the exorcist, claiming
that the person’s condition is only psychological.
An abditus demon is capable of hiding deep within a
person’s interior and can show no signs for hours in an
exorcism.
In all cases, a possessed person will not recall his or
her behavior during possessed episodes.
Stages of Demonic Possession
Demonic possession can progress through stages:
• INFESTATION, the actual entry point, when the
demon first enters the victim and begins to exert an
influence in the environment, such as unpleasant
phenomena.
• OPPRESSION or vexation, in which the victim weakens
and makes unethical or immoral choices or
serious mistakes on vital matters. As oppression
worsens, the victim voluntarily yields control to the
demon, even though he or she knows it is alien to
his or her personality.
• Full-blown demonic possession. The demon tries
to cause the victim to commit heinous acts, such
as murder or suicide. The victim’s appearance and
behavior alter in radical ways. A host of unpleasant
phenomena manifest: lewd and obscene acts and
thoughts; cursing and swearing; screaming in rage;
spitting, vomiting, and urinating; foul smells; horrible
facial expressions; physical contortions; unusual
strength; speaking in tongues; prophesying; emaciation
through rapid weight loss; levitation; and
so forth. If presented with holy objects or splashed
with holy water, a victim recoils.
Remedies for Demonic Possession
Exorcisms can be performed at any stage, and sometimes
the offending entity can be expelled before full possession
is reached. Some cases require repeated exorcisms and
last for years before a person is liberated. In addition to the
exorcism rites, the possessed person and his family must
pray and make an effort to regain a spiritual life. Once
demons are expelled, they stay out, but they can return if
invited back through a relapse of sin and behavior.