Demonic Possession & Exorcism

Hosted byArt Bell

Demonic Possession & Exorcism

About the show

The late Father Malachi Martin was a renowned exorcist and Jesuit, an advisor to three Popes, and bestselling author. Martin (who was 76 at the time) joined Art for the entire program to discuss demonic possession and the practice of exorcism. He described the original story that inspired the "The Exorcist" film and stated that it was a "landmark exorcism in America." Martin said his own experience of participating in exorcisms was like "being with a wild animal" and "having a feeling of certain death” while he performed his rites. "You know for certain that something out there hates you personally,” he continued.

One of the most difficult exorcisms he performed was on a young man who had joined a witches’ coven. "The demon was there and challenged us," he said, adding that the demon expressed "contempt for the human act of love" in all forms, such as the love of parents for their children, or romantic love. Martin noted that signs of demonic activity are often mental phenomena that don't respond to therapy, as well as the sudden speaking of another language or even levitation, and that he'd seen examples of both.

A fellow priest once told him that "a little bit of you is going to die with each exorcism." Martin also spoke of a prophecy of three days of total darkness all over the world where evil will try to take over humanity, but that Jesus would come forward "at the right time" to assist the faithful. Beginning in the third hour, Father Martin answered questions from listeners.

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