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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
RE: Exorcism of Emily Rose	Omar	Friday, April 13, 2007
Question: Hi Brother. Thanks for the response. One thing that troubled me about the story, which perhaps you could address once you watch the movie again, is; why did our Blessed Mother tell the possessed victim that the demons would not leave her. Wouldn't an exorcism eventually drive them out? How can a demon not leave after an exorcism? Thanks.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Omar: I would have to see the movie again, of course, to comment directly, but I can offer a generic response to notion of demons not being driven out. Is that possible? Yes. God, of course could heal someone in a blink of an eye, but he usually does not do that. The full reasons are known only to God but there are a few reasons we do know that are possible: 1) human beings tend to take for granted something they achieve to easily. If we have to work for it, we are more likely to appreciate it. Thus while an exorcism could cast out a demon in a nanosecond, it rarely happens that way. The demonized person, and the exorcist both benefit from having to work for it. They appreciate the power of the devil as to not take that for granted, and the ultimate and supreme power of God, which we should also not take for granted. 2) sometimes an exorcism is prolonged because we need to learn something, or our faith needs to be tested. Job's faith was tested by the attacks of the devil that God allowed. 3) most often there are things in a person's life that are "hooks" that the demons can hang onto. If those "hooks" are not found and removed, and replace with the Spirit of God, then casting out a demon is a waste of time as he will just come back to the person. Jesus mentions this possibility (Matt 12:43-45). Thus, we need to do more than sweep the house clean of demons, we need to find all the "hooks" in a person's life that a demon could possible hang onto or use as an excuse to return to the person. We teach the client to replace those hooks with the grace of God. Then the exorcism can be successful not only in the short-term, but permanently. There are other possibilities, but these three are the top reasons, I think. Now, is it possible that God's will could include not being delivered at all, that the demon will remain with the person? Yes. God may call some people to be suffering souls and may allow a demon to "buffet" them continually. We have an example of that in the Bible -- the thorn in the side of St. Paul (2 Cor 12:7-9), which was a demon buffeting him. He asked God three times to take it away and three times God said no. God told St. Paul that His grace was sufficient for him (as it is for us). It would be rare that God calls a suffering soul, or to allow a demon to remain with a person. But is it possible? Well, the bible seems to indicate that possibility. As to the specific scenario of the movie, I'll have to watch it again and look for that scene to see if it appears legit or not. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

RE: Exorcism of Emily Rose

Omar

Friday, April 13, 2007

Question:

Hi Brother. Thanks for the response. One thing that troubled me about the story, which perhaps you could address once you watch the movie again, is; why did our Blessed Mother tell the possessed victim that the demons would not leave her. Wouldn't an exorcism eventually drive them out? How can a demon not leave after an exorcism?

Thanks.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Omar:

I would have to see the movie again, of course, to comment directly, but I can offer a generic response to notion of demons not being driven out.

Is that possible? Yes. God, of course could heal someone in a blink of an eye, but he usually does not do that. The full reasons are known only to God but there are a few reasons we do know that are possible:

1) human beings tend to take for granted something they achieve to easily. If we have to work for it, we are more likely to appreciate it. Thus while an exorcism could cast out a demon in a nanosecond, it rarely happens that way. The demonized person, and the exorcist both benefit from having to work for it. They appreciate the power of the devil as to not take that for granted, and the ultimate and supreme power of God, which we should also not take for granted.

2) sometimes an exorcism is prolonged because we need to learn something, or our faith needs to be tested. Job's faith was tested by the attacks of the devil that God allowed.

3) most often there are things in a person's life that are "hooks" that the demons can hang onto. If those "hooks" are not found and removed, and replace with the Spirit of God, then casting out a demon is a waste of time as he will just come back to the person. Jesus mentions this possibility (Matt 12:43-45). Thus, we need to do more than sweep the house clean of demons, we need to find all the "hooks" in a person's life that a demon could possible hang onto or use as an excuse to return to the person. We teach the client to replace those hooks with the grace of God. Then the exorcism can be successful not only in the short-term, but permanently.

There are other possibilities, but these three are the top reasons, I think.

Now, is it possible that God's will could include not being delivered at all, that the demon will remain with the person? Yes.

God may call some people to be suffering souls and may allow a demon to "buffet" them continually. We have an example of that in the Bible -- the thorn in the side of St. Paul (2 Cor 12:7-9), which was a demon buffeting him. He asked God three times to take it away and three times God said no. God told St. Paul that His grace was sufficient for him (as it is for us).

It would be rare that God calls a suffering soul, or to allow a demon to remain with a person. But is it possible? Well, the bible seems to indicate that possibility.

As to the specific scenario of the movie, I'll have to watch it again and look for that scene to see if it appears legit or not.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.