On the rare occasions that modern
day cases are reported, they are always controversial. In 1949, a boy referred
to as Robbie Doe was exorcised by Father William S Bowden and became the
subject of the later sensationalised film, the Exorcist.
Modern exorcism is not without
casualties. In 1972, when furniture was thrown around the house by unseen hands
and fires broke out in a house in Daly City, San Francisco, the Catholic family
contacted their local priest, Rev Karl Patzelt of Our Lady of Fatima Church. He
assessed the seriousness of the attack which involved all the family members.
He defined it as a ‘disturbance caused by the Evil One’, a diagnosis of the
situation just a little less serious than full possession which describes
actual control of a human being by the devil. Between 19th August and 8th
September, 1973, Father Patzelt performed fourteen rites of exorcism using a
ritual that dates back to 1614 when Pope Paul V decreed the method in which
evil spirits were to be banished by the Roman Catholic Church. Starting with
the words “I cast thee out, Most Unclean Spirit”, the exorcist pays particular
attention to anything that disturbs or distresses the possessing spirit,
repeating particular phrases of the exorcism which receive a response from the
spirit.
Another case highlights the
seriousness of spirit-based attack. On 1 July 1975, Anneliese Michel, a West
German student, only 23 years of age, died of starvation after numerous
exorcisms were conducted by priests over a period of ten months. The girl’s
parents and two priests were found guilty of homicide due to their negligence
in caring for her prior to her death. They received only suspended sentences.
In 1999, the Catholic Church
revised the rite and now use a lesser ritual entitled: The Chaplet of St
Michael. Mental illness must be excluded prior to deliverance and a team of
specialists, including psychiatrists are consulted by the Bishop before any
priest can become involved in a case. Of the symptoms the Church considers as
evidence of demonic possession are many that could be psychic in origin, such
as speaking in other languages not known by the sufferer, superhuman strength,
knowledge of future events or ability to find lost objects, blasphemy and
sacrilege, spitting, swearing, offensive insults, etc. The psychiatrist and
author M Scott Peck made an in-depth study of possessive states and is a
believer in the usefulness of properly conducted exorcisms. It is known that
Salvador Dali was exorcised of an evil spirit by an Italian priest and it is
also said that Mother Teresa also was delivered of an offending spirit.
If you believe you are under attack
from an evil spirit, you must practise good boundaries, discernment and self
discipline. Keep active socially and also also take physical exercise. Eat
healthily and continue to work (or do voluntary work). Remove yourself from
undesirable people, places or interests. Our modern way of treating this type
of distress is very different from in the past.
Leave the problems of the day
behind and prepare for bed by avoiding tea and coffee and having
a cup of warm camomile tea or malt drink instead. Don't smoke cigarettes
throughout the evening as the stimulating effect of tobacco interrupts a
good sleep pattern. Just before bed is the best time to take a
shower or warm bath and afterwards have a good rub down with a towel. If you
think you might be interrupted, take the phone off the hook and hang a sign
outside the bedroom door marked "do not disturb". Before getting
into bed, you can either stand, or sit on the bed and do some gentle bending and
stretching exercises. Take your fingertips to your head and with firm
revolving finger movements, give your head, neck and shoulders a
massage. Then take the palm of your right hand and pat your left arm from
the shoulder to the wrist and then pat back up again. Do this with the left
palm to your right arm. Next, with both palms, pat your back as far up and
down as you can reach and continue to pat down each leg from the thigh to the
ankle and back up again. This removes the stress
from muscles which has built up during the day and also helps
sluggish blood circulation.
As you get into bed, take a
couple of deep breaths, fully breathing the air into the lungs and fully
breathing out each time to remove the stagnant air at the base of the lungs.
Close your eyes and shut your mind to the outside world, allowing yourself
to begin to rest. Recall a time when you felt deeply content and at peace.
Remember the good feelings that relaxation brings. Just let your body go
limp and your mind go free. Give yourself permission to fully relax. It's
you special time. Scan your body for any places that are tense and allow these
muscles to release. If you hear any noises from outside, just ignore them.
Savour each relaxing minute. As you go deeper into the luxury of
peace and pleasure, you feel safe enough to go even further. Spend a few more
minutes enjoying this feeling of comfort. Thank your body and mind
for allowing you this special time of deep relaxation as you prepare to sleep
the whole night through and have sweet dreams. In the morning, your
mind will be revitalised, your emotions will have replenished their strength,
and your body will be rejuvenated. Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk
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