Understanding the types of ‘Desolations’ and their ‘Cure’

“Vexations are caused by a person’s cultivation of imprudent habits; by frequenting wizards or séances, through repeated and persistent serious sins, or by submitting to spells. Here the devil acts without any dominant and prevailing influence over the body and the mind of the victim” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“Vexations are true and actual aggression, physical or psychological attacks that the demon works against a person. At times they result in scratches, burns, bruises, or, in the most serious cases, broken bones. At times the victim is the target of stones or other objects. Typical cases of vexation are illnesses without any apparent cause that affect the internal organs or the limbs or pathologies that provoke pain in a part of the body without visible signs. Vexations can involve health, affections, or work” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“Vexations are not always manifested on a physical level. Sometimes they can strike affections: it can happen, for example, that a couple who are married or are engaged to be married can separate, or, to the contrary, two persons can become engaged, even though they are incompatible.

Vexations can also involve an oneiric dimension: while sleeping, a person may have terrible nightmares, in which he dreams of cursing, of damning God, or of becoming perverse and wicked. In this case, we are at the borders of diabolical obsession” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“Other vexations are manifested in work: the person in search of it does not find it; or the person who finds work loses it; or a person may have gross difficulties with colleagues and bosses at work. Other times, vexations can break up friendships and isolate a person” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“Illness or Vexation? How does one distinguish between physical illness and a diabolical vexation? It is necessary, as always, to be very prudent in evaluating symptoms. Easily impressionable people can become upset without foundation. Often, in fact, an illness or psychological discomfort is natural and can be easily diagnosed by a medical or psychiatric specialist. But anyone who notices the presence of tormenting phenomena tied to an inexplicable aversion to the sacred, to God, or to prayer should seek spiritual discernment. Likewise, having frequented occult practices in the past or contacted wizards, mediums, or fortune-tellers, even in good faith, or having been subjected to spells can be valid indications for the need for good discernment” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

It can also happen by disturbing or blocking the good, for example, one plans to go out for a walk-in order to pray, and it starts raining. Or you feel a need to go to pray in church, and then find lack of silence, due to people talking. The desire to go out to pray would have been created by the evil to elicit frustration, to associate negative feelings with prayer.

“Diabolical possession is the invincible influence of the devil on a person, is the most striking and serious form of the extraordinary action of the devil. When the demon is able to take possession of a person, he can make him or her say and do what he wishes.

It is necessary to clarify that the devil is not able to take possession of the soul of a man (unless the person expressly consents to it), but only his body. Nevertheless, I must say that the cases of valid and true possession are rare: cases of vexation, obsession, and infestation are more frequent.” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“When possession is manifested, the obsessed goes into a trance and loses consciousness, leaving space for the evil spirit to speak; to agitate the person; to curse — in brief, to take over […].  During these crises, the manifestation of abnormal phenomena occurs at intervals, but not continuously. The subject will lose consciousness all of a sudden. But at other moments of the day, they will appear normal. The possession is seldom permanent.

More often the crises are provoked by external motives — for example, during a situation of spiritual stress, such as the exorcism itself, the Mass, benediction, prayer, or even the simple introduction of a sacred object. At other times, it goes off without apparent cause” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“No one can consider themselves excluded: they can be young or old, believers or atheists, Christians [even religious and ordained ministers] or those of other religions […]. In most cases, those who are distant from the Faith are more susceptible to this risk […].

Temptation is conquered by vigilance, avoiding sin, and praying, because without the help of God we are not capable of conquering the seduction of sin. No one is exempt from temptation; some of the saints have had tremendous temptations even on their deathbeds. From their testimonies, we understand that as long as we have breath, we shall never be free of temptation.

It is useful to know that there are also multiple possessions; many spirits can be seen acting in a person contemporaneously […]. There are cases, as in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus was found with the demoniac possessed by a legion of devils (see Mark 5:1–20) – (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“There are persons who discover they are possessed when frequenting a sacred place, perhaps a Marian sanctuary, or when they participate in retreats, processions, prayer encounters, or Eucharistic adoration. They may have had some disturbance in the past to which they didn’t pay much attention, but then on those occasions it manifested itself in a clearer and more obvious way. It is the sign that the devil has remained hidden as long as he was able (he can hide himself for long periods, dissimulating his presence), but when confronting the power of God he must manifest himself. This fact, contrary to what one may think, must be accepted as a grace, because only in knowing the illness can one intervene” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“I wish to stress that neither possessions nor evil spells are contagious. In other words, there is no risk of being struck by coming in visual, auditory, or tactical contact with demoniac persons. A demoniac can also marry and have children without danger of infecting her family […]. At times, living with such people is very difficult and truly tests a person. This is even truer for the priest. […]. Persons who have had an experience with possession and then resolved it acquire a great sensibility toward situations in which a satanic presence is evident” (Amorth Gabriele, in An Exorcist Explains Demonic Possession and Vexation).

“Most demonic interference can be handled by a Catholic Priest or a layperson involved in deliverance ministry. “Only extreme cases should be dealt with via the Rite of Exorcism, and as a last resort at that. In other words, once all other options are explored and determined to not be the cause of a person’s ills (e.g., psychological diagnosis, biological disease), exorcism should be sought. Most exorcists have a team of trusted people who act as consultants on various fields of expertise, including medical and psychological interventions. There is always a thorough evaluation for a person who is suspected of demonic possession, and when it is determined that there is no natural cause of the affliction, an exorcism is performed. (Note: Do not seek an “exorcism” from anyone other than a priest!)” (Jeannie Ewing, in When You Need Help for Spiritual Warfare). Not all priest can perform an exorcism, but only those who have permission from their ordinary.