Father Gabriel Amorth has served God for half a century. Despite his advanced age - he recently turned 82 years old! - The chief exorcist of the Vatican and the honorary president of the Association of Exorcists he founded is still energetic and sparkling. “We talk to the devil every day,” he smiles. - I speak with him in Latin, he - in Italian. We have been bickering and fighting for 20 years already"
The road to the temple
Gabriel Amort was born in 1925 in the north of Italy in the city of Modena into a family of lawyers. His brother still works as a judge. The future exorcist also graduated from the Faculty of Law, but chose a different profession. “I knew from the age of 15 that my calling was to serve God,” he says.
Before becoming a priest, and this happened at the age of 29, Gabriel participated in the Resistance, received a medal and a military cross for bravery, and even became involved in politics. He was the top aide to Giulio Andreotti, the seven-time Italian prime minister, when he headed the Christian Democratic youth organization.
Dressed in a cassock, Father Gabriel published the magazine Madre di Deo ("Mother of God") for many years, and was often published in other theological publications. He knew nothing of exorcism until June 6, 1985, the day he was summoned by Cardinal Poletti, then Vicar of the Vatican. The cardinal told Father Gabriel that he had been appointed assistant to Father Candido, the only exorcist in Rome who had recently been very ill.
“I quickly learned from Father Candido,” recalls Amorth. “He was not only a great exorcist, but also an excellent teacher. I immediately realized how much work I would have now. From that day on I gave up the rest of my studies and devoted my whole life to casting out the devil."
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The main thing is the correct diagnosis
For the 20 years that have passed since that day, Father Gabriel performed more than 50 thousand rites of exorcism. Sometimes it takes several minutes, sometimes hours and even days. Every day, the Vatican's chief hunter for evil spirits examines an average of 10 people. But not everyone is possessed by the devil or evil spirits. “I often meet people who don't have any evil spirits,” the priest shrugs. - Most suffer from schizophrenia, epilepsy and other mental illnesses. Of the many thousands of patients, no more than two hundred were under the influence of evil spirits. They often differ from ordinary patients by their violent reaction to the Holy Scriptures, crucifixion and other objects of worship. Identifying a person who has been possessed by evil spirits is just as difficult as driving them out. It is important not to confuse the introduction of evil spirits with an ordinary illness. Symptoms often include severe headaches, abdominal cramps, etc."
Control methods
Before conducting an exile, Amorth always carefully reads the “client's” medical history and often consults with psychiatrists and other doctors. The eyes of a person often help to identify the "real" bewitched. Exorcists lift the eyelids of patients with two fingers at certain moments of prayer and look carefully into his eyes. Almost all those who are possessed by an unclean force, the iris becomes whitish, and the pupils are barely distinguishable. If the gaze is directed up, says Amorth, then scorpions have moved into the person, and snakes down.
The exorcist needs at least one assistant to perform the ceremony. A group of priests who will be nearby to help read prayers will not hurt either.
The obligatory rules of the ceremony are the pronouncing of the words "Esse crucem Domini" ("Behold the cross of GOD!"), Touching the neck of the possessed with the edge of the epitracheli and laying hands on his head. The exorcist then tries to figure out if the patient is really possessed by the devil. To do this, you need to make the evil spirits appear. When, after certain manipulations of the priest, an evil spirit makes itself felt, the exorcist must find out his name and clarify whether he is alone in the body of the possessed or with his fellows. Amorth there were cases when up to two or three dozen evil spirits entered the body of one person.
Of course, evil spirits are not disposed to talk with priests. She often reacts violently to inquiries. And since the servants of the devil are physically very strong, the possessed often have to be tied to beds. Once, Gabriel's father expelled an evil spirit from an 11-year-old boy who could not be restrained by four strong men. On another occasion, a 10-year-old patient lifted a huge table like a feather, weighing at least a centner.
For the successful expulsion of evil spirits, the exorcist needs to find out how the evil spirit got into the body. According to Gabriel Amort, sometimes God himself sends evil spirits to certain people. However, much more often people make themselves vulnerable to evil spirits by engaging in black magic, spiritualism, or joining different sects. There are many victims of curses among those possessed by evil spirits. This is not just about going to hell. To truly curse, you must be a priest of Satan. They are hired in the same way as hitmen. The vast majority of sorcerers, of course, are charlatans, but there are also real ones among them. The main thing when driving out evil spirits is to find their weak point. Some cannot stand even the sight of the sign of the cross embroidered on the epitrachelium. Others are afraid when they breathe in their face. Still others fear the blessing of holy water most of all.
Demand creates supply
After the expulsion of the evil spirits, the patient immediately experiences relief. Unfortunately, the complete deliverance of a person from evil spirits is a very long process. One of Amorth's patients has been visiting him regularly for 16 years. The fact is that leaving the body of the person who sheltered him and returning to hell for a demon is tantamount to a death sentence. Therefore, they strive at the first opportunity to re-inhabit a person. No wonder Father Gabriel has to work tirelessly. He has no days off, no holidays, no vacations. The demand for exorcist services is growing from year to year. If 15 years ago, 20 "licensed" priests were expelled in Italy 15 years ago, now their number is close to 300. Amorth is the most famous among them. Glory was brought to him not only by the tireless struggle against the devil, but also by active propaganda activities. He is the author of several books. His latest book, The Exorcist Says, has been translated into a dozen languages and has been republished about 20 times in Italy alone!
Z. Radov