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Diary of an American Exorcist Demons, Possession, and the Modern-Day Battle against Ancient Evil by Stephen J. Rossetti Sophia Institute Press Monsignor Rossetti is President of the Saint Michael Centre for Spiritual Renewal and Professor at the Catholic University of America. He is a licensed psychologist. His academic credentials are impressive. He also happens to be an exorcist. This book describes his work as an exorcist. The chapters are brief, easy to read and highly informative. After reading this book, it is difficult to deny the existence of demons. The author describes different degrees of demonic possession. There are weak cases and stronger ones. Although we are living in times of disbelief, it would appear that increasing numbers of people are turning to the occult.As a result, there has been an increase in cases of demonic possession, says the author. His advice is very clear: do not tamper with occult activities. However, God does allow his saints to sometimes be directly attacked by demons. But this is for good reasons: "God allows this for the sanctification of the saint and also as participation in the Cross of Jesus Christ." The author gives many clear cases of demonic possession. But there are other cases of honest doubt. For example, there is the case of a person who falls ill when she tries to receive Holy Communion. Is she possessed? Are there psychological issues? The author quotes an experienced exorcist as saying: "If someone tells you categorically that he is possessed, he is probably not. But if he acts truly surprised at his bizarre symptoms, he just might be." The author describes the case of a grieving woman getting in touch with her dead father by means of automatic writing. She receives a number of consoling messages. Then the messages become nasty and threatening. She comes to realise that she is not in touch with her dead father but with an evil spirit. The author helps her in renouncing the devil. She is successfully treated by means of prayers of deliverance. There is a consistent message the author gives us: if we are not addressing the one, true God and Jesus His only Son, or His saints, we are addressing demons. One gets a clear message that exorcism is a ministry of mercy. It is hard work: "Being an exorcist means looking into the eyes of evil-often. It is unsettling. But God takes care of me. God is there at the end of the day when I need to be put back together." This book succeeds in drawing us closer to Jesus Christ, the Chief exorcist. Demons scream in fear at His presence. It is a powerful reminder to us that with God on our side, who can be against us? |