An Exorcist Explains the Demonic

by Gabriele Amorth

  What I recommend first in these cases is not to pay attention to these voices, visions, and interior inspirations and to refuse these powers expressively, always calling on the Virgin Mary for spiritual help. I also advise a person to place himself in the hands of a spiritual adviser, a priest, who will ponder the matter. In the case of the persistence of the phenomena, one can ask to receive some exorcisms and some prayers of deliverance in order to verify that these powers are not associated, as it often happens, with an evil spell: possession, vexation, obsession, and infestation. Never, and I say never, should one feel privileged and therefore inspired to use these powers: it would be like saying yes to Satan.

  The Black Mass: A Parody of the Eucharistic Celebration

  I have spoken of the black mass as a ceremony during which the consecration to Satan occurs. The black mass is a parody of [the Catholic] Mass, in which one adores and exalts Satan. Usually it is officiated at night, because the darkness permits greater secrecy and because during the night fewer people are found at prayer, which disturbs the ritual.

  During the celebration, the words and the external signs of the Eucharistic liturgy are used, but always in a contrary sense, in order to manifest opposition to God. There is always a satanic priest officiating who wears blasphemous vestments, an altar represented by a nude woman, possibly a virgin, on whom very serious acts of profanity of the Eucharist (usually stolen from a church), are performed, with words of consecration proclaimed in a contrary sense and an overturned crucifix. Only members of the satanic sect, who are sworn to secrecy, may participate. Nonmembers are never permitted to attend unless it is hoped that, having already been seduced by the perversions and the illusion of power, they may decide to enter the sect. In general the black masses are celebrated by small groups of ten or at most fifteen of the “faithful.”

  Once the ritual is concluded, the woman who functions as the altar is raped in turn by all the participants: first by the one who exercised the “rites” of the priest, then by all the others. This woman may have freely accepted that role, or she may have been led there against her will; and aside from the physical violence, she often suffers the terrible consequences of the ritual: [diabolical] possession.

  As in the Church, some of the official rites are required and are tied to particular feast days. The most important is Halloween, which falls on the night between October 31 and November 1 of each year: it is considered the magic New Year. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the extreme danger for our children and youth who participate in the feast of Halloween on that date. The second precedes our feast of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2. The night before, in fact, begins the magic spring. The summer magic is the third satanic “solemnity” and occurs on the night between April 30 and May 1. During the year [Satanists] often choose nights when the new moon is inaugurated, because it is particularly dark.

  The officiator of these rites is usually someone who is consecrated to Satan, and although it is not stated, this person is also usually possessed by the devil. It may also not be so. I am certain, however, that during these rituals, as stated above, the Eucharistic hosts are profaned, [having been] stolen from tabernacles or taken by some of the faithful at Communion during Mass and not consumed.

  I once exorcised a person who had purloined a consecrated Host during a Mass in order to participate at a black mass. He robbed Hosts everywhere, even though he had already begun a courageous path toward liberation. According to what he told me, he was acting in a state of complete unconsciousness — that is, in the state of a trance typical of persons possessed by the devil.

  Black Magic: A Grave Sin against the Faith

  We now arrive at the central point of our discourse: magic. It would not have made sense to speak of Satanism and black masses without seriously confronting the subject of magic. On this topic the Catechism of the Catholic Church furnishes the best definition: “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others — even if this were for the sake of restoring their health — are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion” (no. 2117). The Church condemns such practices on the basis of revelation and on the conviction that in spiritism and occultism it is the devil who is acting. The exorcists, as always, testify to this without a shadow of a doubt.

  The definition of magic tells us two things. Above all, it has ambition — through the utilization of evil spells, the evil eye, charms, magic filters, rituals, invocations, cursed foods and drinks ingested by the victims, crystal balls, et cetera — to modify and foretell the course of human events, and to utilize the preternatural (demoniac) powers to make a person fall in love, be cured of an illness, be dismissed from a job, kill someone, provoke atmospheric events, et cetera. In other words, magic is a practice used to do evil things and to influence people and the reality created by the devil. This is also valid for the rites that are commonly called “white magic” and that are done for the “good” — in the sense that they promote ends that are not apparently wicked, as, for example, finding a job — and “red magic,” which regards the sphere of sexuality and influences the sentiments. All turn to the same preternatural entity, the wizard, who, in all these cases, resorts to the power of Satan in order to obtain the invoked result. Therefore, there is no difference among them, “black,” “white,” or “red.” It is enough to see the effects of all of them. I personally knew the case of a girl who was turning to a wizard in order to make the young man she was in love with leave his fiancée so that she could marry him. Alas, the thing worked; first, the young man left his fiancée, and then he married the girl who had commissioned the spell: the marriage was a real Calvary.

  The second aspect that emerges from the Catechism’s definition is that magic is seriously contrary to the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exod. 20:3). Whoever turns to witches, fortune-tellers, occultists, or wizards, commits a very serious sin of superstition, which is contrary to faith. But what is superstition? The term superstition derives from the Latin superstitio and indicates when something is superimposed on another, distorting the original sense. One is superstitious when one believes that something innocent in itself brings misfortune (the classic black cat that crosses one’s path, spilling salt on the pavement, breaking a mirror) or that it brings luck (the rabbit’s foot, an iron horseshoe, crossing one’s fingers) — that is, when one attributes to certain objects or deeds a power based on their intrinsic essence.

  There are superstitions that also regard religious deeds or facts, such as superimposing a true piety on a false religion, that is, attributing power to objects and rites that are exteriorly Christian. This happens when practices and rites are carried out or formulas of our Faith are professed, making all their efficacy depend on rigid observances or preestablished forms and times: for example, on November 2, a certain number of souls will be freed from purgatory. Here it is evident that a magical mentality is present that deforms the true piety. In the case cited, it is only the mercy of God that can freely deliver a certain number of souls from purgatory. Our intercession, which is always appropriate, would be thwarted by this mentality that demands using prayer as a secret technique to obtain results, nearly “forcing” God to grant them. True piety in prayerful supplication places everything in God’s hands, knowing that He, in His liberty and sovereignty, whether pleasing us or not, will always act for our good and for the persons and situations for which we pray.

  This mixing of the sacred and the profane, which unfortunately is so present today even in the Christian community — for example, the hanging of a horseshoe around a statue of the Madonna in order to implore good luck — is superstitious. It leads individuals to divination, magic, and witchcraft, with the expectation of gaining supernatural power over their neighbors. As the Catechism says, “even if this were for the sake of restoring their health,” it is “gravely contrary to the virtue of re
ligion.”

  Unfortunately, there are many who resort to witches or wizards. Our own Western world, rich and hypertechnological, has much in common with primitive populations and with the culture of the late Middle Ages; both knew the preternatural powers well. Even today many persons still wink at magic and its priests, wizards, and sorcerers. One of my dear friends, a scholar, who died in 2005, Cecilia Gatto Trocchi, claimed that in Italy there were more than 13 million Italians who patronized sorcerers — a tsunami compared with the paltry number of priests and exorcists in the country! The only remedy — even if the episode occurred many years ago — is to issue an invitation to all those involved to repent and to confess this sin, with the firm intention of not doing anything so foolish again.

  At this point, a question comes to mind: Is a person in God’s grace preserved from the effects of magical rites? It is certainly more difficult to strike a person in such a state, although it is not impossible; being that each thing is freely at God’s disposition, an evil can be permitted to be transmitted through a magical act and to do damage to one who lives in communion with God.

  The Most Common Examples of Magic Are Evil Spells

  “Evil spells” is a generic phrase, which includes all the forms in which someone is harmed through the occult (hidden) action of the devil and its various rites. Among those they make use of are spells, the evil eye, curses, macumba, voodoo, and satanic rites, to cite the most common. The objectives are to divide, to kill, to make fall in love, to make ill, to destroy, to lead to suicide, and to divide spouses, the engaged, and friends.

  In order to bring about an evil spell, three things are necessary: a witch or a wizard, a person who commissions the witch or wizard, and an object on which the ritual is performed. As the sacraments have visible signs — for example, bread and wine in the Eucharist — evil spells also have theirs — such as clothing, photos, personal items, and foods — that are cursed by the wizard with formulas and rituals that are intended to produce negative spiritual effects on the persons affected. The sacraments, which work ex opere operato (from the work performed), do not confer grace without the personal dispositions of faith and acceptance on the part of the faithful who are enjoying them. Magic functions differently: the wizard must “win over” the action of the evil spirit, pressing it into service with invocations and prayers. The effect on the victim, however, is separate from his own personal inclinations, although, as I have said, a person in a state of grace with God is less vulnerable to the attack of an evil spell.

  How Evil Spells Can Manifest Themselves

  Some years ago, I exorcized a young man who had broken up with his fiancée after a six-year engagement. Soon after, he began to complain of sudden physical disturbances. Added to that fact was the impossibility, verified during a long period, of finding another fiancée or a job. It was then discovered during the prayer of the exorcism that the aspiring mother-in-law was not resigned to the breakup of her daughter’s engagement and had commissioned an evil spell from a witch. The young man turned to me, and, after some exorcisms, the physical ills nearly disappeared, even if he was not able to find another fiancé or another job.

  Another case is that of a man who opened a shop in a city plaza. The business was doing well. Then one day a competitor opened a business in that same plaza. Suddenly no one, not even the most loyal clients, would set foot in the first shop. In that case I verified a sort of local infestation: thus I celebrated some Masses inside the shop and personally imparted blessings and local exorcisms. Slowly the clients returned. How did I become aware that something was not right? The complete and sudden change was too suspicious to be normal. In this type of case, where reasonable social or scientific explanations are lacking, it is always appropriate to do something, a fine benediction, for example.

  The evil eye is a different case, rarer and even less easy to figure out: it involves tossing out a spell through the power of a glance, with the objective of “sending over” the devil. It has nothing to do with popular traditions, such as carrying a good-luck charm or looking crosseyed at someone. Rather, it involves a true and proper rite. I must say, however, that I have never had a case clearly tied to this practice.

  Is a person ever aware of having suddenly been subjected to a spell? It is difficult, although theoretically possible, that a person who has been subjected to an evil spell may never in the course of his life be aware of it. Above all, it is necessary to say that spells do not always reach their targets, either because the person may be well protected in his life of grace, or because God may not permit it, or because the wizard or sorcerer may not succeed, perhaps because the demon, the Prince of Lies, can deceive his own followers.

  At other times, they hit the mark (and we shall treat the results in the next chapter when we speak of individual evil spirits, diabolical possession, physical and psychological obsessions, and local infestations). This can happen also at a distance of much time. Here are some examples. I have had cases involving persons who did not know that they had been subjected to spells until they were casual participants in a prayer-of-liberation service with a group of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. In that circumstance they suddenly began to feel sick, to shout, and to curse, which for them was absurd and unthinkable behavior. After they discovered the evil spell, they immediately began to repair the situation by beginning a serious journey of faith — which is always necessary in these cases — by participating in a prayer encounter, and subjecting themselves to exorcisms.

  Another interesting question is when does the evil spell occur? There are countless responses. For instance, it can occur in the womb, even before the victim’s birth. It can also occur during infancy or in youth or adolescence. I recall a spell in which a little girl was told, “You will never marry.” She was a beautiful girl, good and smart. When she grew up, all her engagements were inevitably broken off for the oddest reasons. Another cursed person whom I followed for a long time was left by his future spouse on the day of the wedding. Everything was ready: home, church, rings, invitations, restaurant . . . Then, on the fated day, she did not present herself. A spell had been cast against that spousal union. At other times, the rites are completed later, at a more mature age or during the victim’s old age.

  It is necessary to remember that a spell can also activate itself — through the will of the wizard or the client — at some time in the future, such as at the moment of baptism or a marriage. In that case, the disturbance — often the diabolical possession — is “scheduled” to begin on that particular day. In the case of the baptism of a baby, it is difficult to establish it with certainty since the infant is not able to describe the disturbances he has suffered; generally the parents understand it sometime in the future, when the child is able to describe his ailments.

  It is always important to understand the circumstances, the time, and the place of the evil’s initiation as well as the persons who commission the spell. At times, it involves a relationship, even a very old one, that is characterized by perfidy, hate, and antipathy toward the victim. It is also necessary to know that spells are often inflicted through the preparation of foods to be ingested by the victims. Obviously it is very difficult to prevent this type of spiritual poisoning.

  I am often asked if the wizards or the witches themselves, those who cast the spells, are always necessarily possessed? I think so, even if they are not aware of it or do not believe in these things. Magicians, wizards, sorcerers, and witches know that they have certain powers — it is something that gives them immense pleasure — and they use them to make people suffer, which also gives them pleasure. Furthermore, the wizards themselves will often submit to the spells, naturally for profit, since they do everything for money. Then the practice of magic worsens their situation.

  Prayer can counter evil spells, and if done with faith and love, it reaches its objective, which is the heart of God. We also know that God Himself will dispose of things according to a plan whose ultimate end is always a greater goo
d: eternal life. Each prayer prayed with this intention is effective. And at times, the Lord, in His infinite goodness, will grant us assistance and graces that are much greater than the fruit of our prayer.

  Wizards, Fortune-Tellers, and Witches

  One cannot speak of magic without speaking of wizards or sorcerers, those who are particularly adept at attracting and influencing the misfortunates who turn to them in a state of prostration over a personal matter or for the other superstitious attitudes already mentioned. They receive their clients in a study purposely decked out with small statues of our Lady, the saints, candles, incense, soft light, and everything that serves to create a magical, esoterical atmosphere, so useful in subjugating the naive adventurers.

  No one doubts that there are many braggarts, false charismatics, and false wizards in circulation. They may even be the majority. They advertise on television, in magazines, and today, above all, on the Internet. They are swindlers who make money at the expense of the poor simpletons who entrust themselves to them to resolve their problems. The false wizards complete their rites without obtaining any evident result. For example, they give a charm or an amulet (at a high price obviously) in order to protect the client from something, or they hand him a sack filled with dirt taken from a cemetery and flavored with the bones of the dead and menstrual blood — and all without resolving anything. Above all, in order keep a hold on the client, they make him return each month to “recharge” and to pour out more change.