In the 1973 film "The Exorcist" Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) prays over the possessed child Regan (Linda Blair)
Recently, a young Catholic scientist was talking to a nun who was a school principal at a Catholic elementary school about the scientist’s son going to her school.
During the conversation the subject of “hell” came up and the school principal assured the father that his son would not be tormented by such a notion because “hell does not exist,” she said.
Somewhat stunned by the nun’s comment, the scientist, who had actually read and assimilated the Bible with a scientific precision, unlike the school principal, knew that Jesus referred to hell or Gehenna more times than He referred to heaven.
Being of good, Sicilian Catholic stock and not prone to wearing his pants upside down, the concerned father sent his son to another school. Unfortunately, such reports are not rare. It happens more and more that our Catholic schools reflect a secular society’s values instead of Biblically-based Catholic values.
Now, here’s the real deal. If Jesus said in the Bible (Matthew 5: 29-30) that hell or Gehenna exists, then it exists. If Jesus said in the Bible (Matthew 4:1-11) that He had a personal encounter with Satan in the desert, then Satan exists. You don’t have to be a scientist to figure this out . Just remember you come from good, common sense roots and you don’t wear your pants upside down. Hell exists and demons occasionally possess people.
Exorcist priest Father Carl Vogl wrote a report that described a 23-day exorcism of a woman in Earling, Iowa, in 1928 which has become one of the most famous exorcism accounts in the United States.
Following is part of the dialog between the exorcist and two demons speaking through the possessed woman and found in the booklet, Begone Satan, by Rev. Carl Vogl and published by Tan Books …
“The exorcist: ‘In the name of Jesus and His most Blessed Mother, Mary the Immaculate, who crushed the head of the serpent, tell me the truth. Who is your leader or prince among you? What is your name?
“Devil, barking like the hound of hell. ‘Beelzebub.’
“Exorcist: ‘You call yourself Beelzebub, Are you not Lucifer, the prince of the devils?’
“Devil: ‘No, not the prince, the chieftain, but one of the leaders.’
“Exorcist: ‘You were therefore not a human being, but you are one of the fallen angels, who with selfish pride wanted to be like unto God?’
“Devil with grinning teeth. ‘Yes, that is so. Ha, how we hate Him!’
“Exorcist: ‘Why do you call yourself Beelzebub if you are not the prince of the devils?’
“Devil: ‘Enough. my name is Beelzebub.’
“Exorcist: ‘From the point of influence and dignity you must rank near Lucifer, or do you hail from the lower choir of angels?’
“Devil: ‘I once belonged to the seraphic choir.’
“Exorcist: ‘What would you do, if God made it possible for you to atone for your injustice to Him?’
“Demonical sneering: ‘Are you a competent theologian?’
“Exorcist: ‘How long have you been torturing this poor woman?’
“Devil: ‘Since her fourteenth year.’ (26 years of possession)
“Exorcist: ‘How dared you enter into that innocent girl and torture her like that?’
“Sneeringly: ‘Ha, did not her own father curse us into her?’
“Exorcist: ‘But why did you, Beelzebub, alone take possesion of her? Who gave you that permission?’
Devil: ‘Don’t talk foolishly. Don’t I have to render obedience to Satan?’
“Exorcist: ‘Then you are here at the direction and command of Lucifer?’
“Devil: ‘Well, how could it be otherwise?”
What happens next, by the power of God, the name of Jesus and the holiness of the exorcist, is the continued forcing of the demons to tell the truth. At this point in the story the exorcist wants to call up the damned soul of the the deceased father of the woman who cursed his daughter into demonic possession.
The dialog goes on …
“Exorcist: ‘Then I solemnly command in the name of the Crucified Savior of Nazareth that you present the father of this woman and that he give me answer!’
“A deep rough voice announced itself, which had already been noticed alongside the voice of Beelzebub.’
“Exorcist: ‘Are you the unfortunate father who has cursed his own child?’
“With a defiant roar: ‘No.’
“Who are you then?’
“I am Judas.’
“What, Judas! Are you Judas Iscariot, the former Apostle?’
“Thereupon followed a horrible, woefully prolonged : ‘Y-e-s, I am the one.’ This was howled in the deepest bass voice. It set the whole room a-quivering so that out of pure fright and horror the pastor and some of the nuns ran out. Then followed a disgusting exhibition of spitting and vomiting, as if Judas were intending to spit at his Lord and Master with all his might, or as if he had in mind to unloose his inner waste and filth upon Him.’
“Finally Judas was asked: ‘What business have you here?’
“‘To bring her to despair, so that she will commit suicide and hang herself! She must get the rope, she must go to hell!’
“‘Is it then a fact that everyone that commits suicide goes to hell?’
“‘Rather not.’
“‘Why not?’
“‘Ha, we devils are the ones that urge them to commit suicide, to hang themselves, just as I did myself.’
“‘Do you regret that you have committed such a despicable deed?’
“A terrible curse followed: ‘Let me alone. Don’t bother me with your fake god. It was my own fault.’ Then he kept on raving in a terrible manner.”
Obviously, this is just a small exerpt from what one might call a priest’s personal diary and his journey into the realm of the diabolical which has a remarkably similar resonance as the Biblical accounts of Jesus and His encounters with demonic activities.
In conclusion, The South Coast Report, which is also known as the Catholic Investigative Journal, investigates stories that affect our souls, our nation and our nation’s largest denominational family … the Catholic Church. This particular report is also an attempted rebuttal to the school principal who says that hell does not exist, nor do its occupants. Maybe, this educator needs more education herself.
Exorcism is a serious and dangerous business. This investigative journalist has the benefit of having a holy spiritual director who is also an exorcist. He once told me, “stay away from that stuff; it’s very dangerous.” With that advice in mind, this report concludes.