'The lack of exorcists is a real emergency' - More people dabbling in black magic and other pagan arts

'The number of people who take part in occult and satanic practices, which lead to serious physical, psychological and spiritual damages, is constantly rising.'

There has been a rise in pagan activity among the masses, leading to a shortage of exorcists in the United States and Italy.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Experts from the Catholic Church in Italy and the United States revealed a desperate spiritual fight as more people become possessed through pagan practices such as attempting to summon the dead, Satanism and the "broad spread of superstitious practices."

Valter Cascioli, an exorcism teacher at the Pontifical University of Regina Apostolorum, a Vatican-backed university in Rome, revealed there is a shortage of priests due to the increased number of possessions.

Cascioli, who is also a psychologist and scientific consultant to the International Association of Exorcists, endorsed by the Vatican, stated: "The lack of exorcists is a real emergency."

He told the La Stampa newspaper: "There is a pastoral emergency as a result of a significant increase in the number of diabolical possessions that exorcist priests are confronting.

"The number of people who take part in occult and satanic practices, which lead to serious physical, psychological and spiritual damages, is constantly rising.

"The number of exorcists has increased in recent years, but there are still not enough to deal with a dramatic situation that affects, above all, young people who use the internet a lot.

"There is a broad spread of superstitious practices, and with that a growing number of requests for help from people who are directly or indirectly struck by evil.

"It's dangerous to underestimate a phenomenon that is caused by the direct actions of the devil, but also by a decline in faith and values."

So how can the Church fight the onslaught of demonic activity among the masses?

According to Dr. Cascioli, a permanent training college or university needs to be established. Catholic priests would then have access to an education that differentiates possessions from mental diseases.

"There doesn't exist a training institution at university level," Cascioli explained. "We need an interdisciplinary approach in which science collaborates with religion, and psychiatrists work with demonologists and exorcists."

To be clear, Dr. Cascioli stated only one percent of people who claim to be possessed actually are, with the majority merely suffering mental maladies.

Father Ildebrando Di Fulvio, the exorcist for the diocese of Frosinone, explained people who are genuinely possessed will vomit metal objects, undigested food and often babble in Aramaic, ancient Greek, Latin or other ancient languages.

He also described possessed individuals demonstrate "violent reactions to prayers of liberation and to holy water."

Fathers Gary Thomas and Vincent Lampert told the Telegraph a rise in "pagan activities," such as using an Ouija board, paired with the spiritual void in the public, diminished authority of the Church and the failure of the mental health system are responsible for the rising need for exorcists.

"We're gaining all sorts of knowledge, but there's still that emptiness within us that is being filled with addictive behavior such as drugs and pornography," Father Lamert shared. "The decline in faith goes hand in hand with the rise in evil."

Father Thomas added: "I am a full-time pastor and this is a very intense ministry. Almost every free night that I have is taken up with exorcisms."

While exorcists continue to fight spiritual battles, the world continues to dive into pagan waters and quickly find themselves lost in sin, addiction, pain and suffering. Pray for our fallen brothers and sisters, pray for exorcists to stay strong and pray for the Lord to send his Holy Spirit to the masses desperate to fill the God-shaped hole in their lives.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online