Archive for November 3rd, 2007

Yesterday, I was able to listen to RADYO VERITAS. It was ALL SOUL’s DAY so their topic was connected with the spirits and the supernatural. Their guest speaker was Fr.Jose Syquia, Director of the Archdiocese of Manila, Office of Exorcism.

The topic was “possession”.

Let me share to you an excerpt from the Roman Catholic Encyclopedia. “An evil spirit may attack man’s body from without (obsession), or assume control of it from within (possession). As we gather from the Fathers and the theologians, the soul itself can never be “possessed” nor deprived of liberty, though its ordinary control over the members of the body may be hindered by the obsessing spirit.” 

Only in movies do we see priests as an exorcist. What is the job of an exorcist? (1) In general, any one who exorcises or professes to exorcise demons (cf. Acts 19:13); (2) in particular, one ordained by a bishop for this office, ordination to which is the second of the four minor orders of the Western Church.

As Catholics we are fully aware that there is a devil but we act and do our daily duties not really wary that evil is just around us. We are not on-guard; we are unprepared for their attacks. Still, our Lord God loves us and through our faith in Him, and through various blessed religious relics we can be assured of His divine protection. After all we are His children. Through our Blessed Mother Mary, she gave us the brown scapular and the Holy Rosary as great remedy and weapon for battling evil. Another well-known blessed religious item for protection against evil was that of St.Benedict’s medal.

The medal is a prayer of exorcism against Satan, a prayer for strength in time of temptation, a prayer for peace among ourselves and among the nations of the world, a prayer that the Cross of Christ be our light and guide, a prayer of firm rejection of all that is evil, a prayer of petition that we may with Christian courage “walk in God’s ways, with the Gospel as our guide,” as St. Benedict urges us.

We are in a modern age. Our spiritual and Christian values aren’t strong as ever. We must remember that the battle between good and evil still wages on. And this battlefield is this earth, our temporary dwelling place. The price at stake is each person’s soul, our very own soul.God isn’t the one who sends us sickness, pain and all the negative things that happen around us. He is love remember. It is the evil one who afflicts us with all negative things.

As Christians, we mustn’t practice superstitious beliefs. Communicate with the dead, through séances and playing with the OUIJA board, or dealing with the unknown. All we need is to surrender ourselves to God’s love. There is nothing more we need in this world but Him alone. You may contact Fr.Jose Francisco Syquia, in the address below.

Or you may contact the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila

Arzobispado de Manila
121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila
P.O. Box 132 1099 Manila
Tel: 527-7631 to 36
Fax: 527-3956
Email: RCAM@pldtdsl.net and rcamaoc@tri-isys.com

Fr.Jose Syquia’s book: Exorcism: Encounters with the paranormal is available in all National Bookstore outlets and in all leading bookstores nationwide.