An Exorcist: More Stories PDF
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AN EXORCIST: MORE STORIES FATHER GABRIELE AMORTH AN EXORCIST: MORE STORIES Translated by Nicoletta V. MacKenzie IGNATIUS PRESS SAN FRANCISCO Title of the Italian original: Nuovi racconti di un esorcista © 2000 Centro Editoriale Dehoniano, Bologna (9th edition) © 1992 Edizioni Dehoniane (1st edition) English language edition made possible through the mediation of Agenzia Letteraria Eulama Cover art: Healing of the Possessed (detail) Limbourg Brothers (15th c.) Tre Riches Heures du Duc de Berry Ms. 65/1284, fol.166r. French, early 15th c. Musée Condé, Chantilly, France © Giraudon / Art Resource, New York Cover design by Roxanne Mei Lum © 2002 Ignatius Press, San Francisco All rights reserved ISBN 978-0-89870-917-9 (PB) ISBN 978-1-68149-670-2 (E) Library of Congress control number 2001094785 Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS Introduction In Memory of Father Candido Amantini Wanted: Exorcist EXAMPLES Letter to my bishop The opinion of a famous French theologian Slowing down advancing imposters Christ against Satan EXAMPLE Who is Satan? Who are demons? “In My Name They Will Cast Out Demons” EXAMPLES Only an exorcist could help me I found the right way Satan in Action EXAMPLES Paul VI speaks about Satan Nefarious influence of certain music How to Recognize the Presence of Evil EXAMPLES A well-organized religious community I am a psychiatric nurse Exorcisms and Prayers of Liberation EXAMPLES Some examples of liberation A bishop promotes prayers of liberation Some Causes of Evil Presence and Their Consequences EXAMPLES An evil journey The prayers of the Pentecostals An unresolved issue Difficulties and Ongoing Problems EXAMPLES Team exorcism Stillness and silence: Angelo Battisti A strange visit Infestations Infested Objects Charismatics and Sensitives Infested Animals EXAMPLES First the psychic, then the exorcist From infestation to possession Questions and Answers Exorcists and Magicians Doctrinal Questions Miscellaneous Questions and Particular Symptoms Let’s Talk about Satan Means of Liberation Conclusion Prayers of Liberation from the Spirit of Evil Notes INTRODUCTION My previous book, Un esorcista racconta (1990; English: An Exorcist Tells His Story, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1999), was successful beyond my most optimistic expectations, generating more interest than what I thought was warranted. I can explain this phenomenon only by referring to Proverbs 15:23, “Sermo opportunus est optimus”, that is: the best sermon is the one delivered at the right time. I believed there was an immediate need to discuss the topic of exorcism, and I felt an urgency to write about it. I cannot deny that I am gratified not only by the rapid diffusion of the book, but also by the many things that happened after its publication. In view of the great response to the topic among both clergy and laity, I decided that I would provide a service to everyone by following up with a second book. When I was planning the format of An Exorcist: More Stories, I intended to limit the book to a series of examples with commentary. Then I realized that I needed to expand some topics that I had barely mentioned in my first book so as not to make it too heavy. This second volume is still based on my personal experience under the direction of Father Candido Amantini, but it also includes the experience of other exorcists and their suggestions; I want to thank them, and other Catholic faithful, for their contribution to my work. As far as the format of the book is concerned, I believe that concrete examples are fundamental for understanding the subject matter that I will discuss. Therefore, I begin each chapter with one particular topic and conclude the chapter with an example—among the many—that best illustrates my point. These examples were all chosen from recent occurrences; in fact, some are still unresolved. I reported the unabridged facts, but I changed the names and significant details to protect the identity of the victims and anyone else involved. I thank the Lord for this second book; I hope that it is as successful as the last one, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. IN MEMORY OF FATHER CANDIDO AMANTINI I cannot write this book without pausing to remember my teacher, Father Candido Amantini, whom the Lord called home on September 22, 1992. It was the feast of Saint Candido, Father Amantini’s patron saint. To his brother priests who had come to wish him well, he simply answered: “Today, I asked Saint Candido for a gift.” Since he was in great physical pain, we all guessed his request, and he received his gift. Father Candido was born in 1914 at Bagnolo of Saint Flora (Grosseto). In addition to his vast education—he had taught Sacred Scripture and moral theology—he was endowed with holiness and wisdom, and he had a well- balanced spirituality. For these reasons, he was in great demand as confessor and as spiritual director. Padre Pio said of him: “Father Candido is a priest after God’s heart.” However, he is best known because of his activity as exorcist for the diocese of Rome—a position he held for thirty-six years. People flocked to him from all over Italy and the entire world; he would see up to seventy or eighty individuals every morning. He was invariably patient, always smiling, and his advice often turned out to be inspired. He had a great love for the Blessed Virgin, which he expressed in his book Il Mistero di Maria.1 In the end, it was prayer (he would also pray all night) and his ministry that completely absorbed his life, so much so that he had no time to write. In 1990, I began to feel that his health was failing, and I was afraid that the wealth of his experience as an exorcist—experience that he had tried to teach me with so much patience—would be lost. That is why I rushed to write Un Esorcista Racconta (English: An Exorcist Tells His Story) and begged Edizioni Dehoniane to print it as quickly as possible: I was afraid that Father Candido would not be able to read and correct it. Instead, he flew to his reward on the eve of the publication [in Italy, 1992] of this second book, An Exorcist: More Stories, to which he had also contributed. I am grateful to him, and I ask for his intercession from heaven. G. A.
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