An Exorcist Tells His Story by Fr Gabriele Amorth
- Very Average Joe
- Aug 28
- 14 min read
Updated: Sep 15
An Exorcist Tells His Story is a book about exorcism by Fr Gabriele Amorth, SSP (b. 1 May 1925 – d. 16 September 2016) first published in Italian in 1990. It was subsequently translated into English by Nicoletta V. MacKenzie. Additional notes were added in later editions and this review is of the English edition published in 1999.
Fr Gabriele wrote this book due to a lack of material on exorcisms, to “share the knowledge acquired through much experience … with people who are interested in this topic”. Regarding the initial success of the book as related in his introduction:
This success merely confirms my opinion that there is a great deal of interest in the topic of exorcism and that in Italy and in the entire Catholic world there were no other Catholic books that thoroughly—even if briefly—addressed exorcisms. This fact is significant and painful. It indicates what is an inexplicable lack of interest or maybe what is simply a real lack of belief on the part of those who should be leading the research.
He points out the ignorance of the clergy, even of the bishops, the lack of exorcists and the hostile attitude towards the ministry. Exorcists have difficulty finding a place to perform exorcisms as some think and therefore are afraid that diabolical possession is like a contagious disease and/or can infest a place. That is not how it works.
He even devotes a chapter to criticizing the unbelief of the so-called bishops and theologians who merely believe in the existence of demons “in theory” (to avoid formal heresy) but not at the practical, pastoral level.
I will never tire of repeating this: rationalism and materialism have polluted a segment of theologians, and their influence on both bishops and priests has been profound.
Fr Gabriele was initially assigned to work as an assistant with Fr Candido Amantini, CP (b. 31 January 1914 – d. 22 September 1992). Fr Candido ultimately had thirty-six years of full-time experience as an exorcist. A lot of the experience that the author has was with Fr Candido.
Fr Gabriele intentionally does not review the theology in detail as this is not a textbook but he does briefly cover the basics, especially points which tend to be overlooked if not dismissed in this modern age.
Below are most of the key points not intended to be a summary.
● God did not just send His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem humanity at some point after the Fall. Christ is “the firstborn of all creatures” (Colossians 1:15) and God’s creation and His plan for it must be understood in light of “the centrality of Christ” which Scripture and Tradition teach.
● Satan was the highest angel created by God. He and the other angels who joined him fell because they rejected Christ: “Satan tried to understand all of creation but could not, because all the plan of creation was oriented toward Christ.”
● Although Satan and the other fallen angels (demons) are irrevocably condemned, they are permitted to act until the end when their final sentence is passed.
● The “ordinary activity” generally directed at all men is temptation. The book focuses on the “extraordinary activity” of which there are six forms:
External physical pain – usually through physical violence against the body.
Possession – full possession of the body (not the soul) without the consent or knowledge of the victim; symptoms can vary, not limited to what is shown in popular films.
Oppression – can be of the body that causes discomfort or pain, including unexplained persistent illnesses, often affecting the head, neck and stomach and/or of external goods like finances and relationships.
Obsession – an ongoing trend of sudden attacks and obsessive thoughts, almost always through dreams.
Infestation – this applies to houses, things and animals, not individuals.
Subjugation (or Dependence) – this is due to voluntary submission to Satan via a blood pact or consecration to the devil.
● The isn’t a clear distinction between the possessed and oppressed, or between the oppressed and other evils.
● Satan can gift powers to his followers such as clairvoyance, reading people, medical diagnosis and healing, all of which can be disguised as good deeds.
● Ordinarily, prayer, receiving the sacraments and asking help from Our Lord, Our Lady, the angels and saints are sufficient in obtaining grace and protection. Sacred objects, such as holy images displayed in homes or worn on the body can be helpful.
● The goal of exorcism is to liberate those who are obsessed or possessed. This requires diagnosis. It is important for an exorcist to recognize and assess the signs before, during and after exorcisms.
● Diabolical possession can be confused with psychological conditions and vice versa. Sometimes, this confusion is due to the subject having both.
● Also, although conventional medicine will not cure an illness with a direct diabolical cause, possession may subsequently cause conditions that linger even after liberation that can be treated with conventional medicine.
● The Church, through exorcism, asks in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object (things, animals, houses) be protected from demonic influence. It is not limited to oppressed or possessed persons.
● Whilst anyone can say prayers, including “prayers of deliverance”, there are strictly speaking only two types of exorcisms: “simple exorcism” as part of Baptism and the sacramental reserved to exorcists called the “solemn exorcism” that can only be performed by bishops and those priests he authorizes.
I believe that taking most of the exorcisms out of the baptismal ritual was a grave mistake (and it seems that Paul VI shared my opinion). I believe that it was a mistake to have eliminated, without a suitable replacement, the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel that we used to recite after every Mass. I am convinced that allowing the ministry of exorcism to die is an unforgivable deficiency to be laid squarely at the door of bishops.
● Possession is not always clear, and Fr Gabriele complains of the lack of clarity in the protocols of the Roman Catholic Church as to who should be doing what when dealing with suspected or less severe cases.
● “[C]onfession is stronger than an exorcism!” [This is consistent to what other exorcist priests have indicated, for the former is a Sacrament and the latter is a sacramental.]
● A person can suffer extraordinary demonic influence for four reasons:
Divine permission – it is always up to God anyway but He may allow this without the person having committed any sins.
Innocent victims of an evil curse or spell – a curse or a spell implemented by a witch or those who practice sorcery.
Grave and hardened sinful condition – living in irregular marriages or having sinful habits such as blasphemy.
Association with evil people or places – participating in something like a séance or seeking the help of warlocks or witch doctors.
● There is no such thing as “white magic”. Those who go to sorcerers for help with what was probably a minor problem end up with a severe problem.
● The lack of exorcists and education on the matter leads those who need help looking for it from the wrong people (that is, warlocks or witch doctors).
● Possession is of the body and not the soul. Things can be said and/or done through the body without the possessed person’s control or awareness.
● Demons tend to attack in five areas: health, business, affections, enjoyment of life, and desire for death. The intensity of the attack varies, depending on its origin. For example, an oppressed or possessed person can suffer persistent unexplained illnesses, misunderstanding of family and friends, unexplicably losing of their jobs, difficulty praying (even when they want to), amongst other things.
● Fr Gabriele likes to be brief in the first exorcism even if he detects signs of “negativity” and it is best to say the prayers in Latin.
The complete sacramental includes many introductory prayers followed by three true exorcisms. They are different and complementary and follow a logical succession toward liberation. It matters little that they were selected in 1614; it is a fact that they are the result of a direct and long experience. Alcuinus [or Alcuin], who wrote them, tested them very well, balancing each sentence very carefully against the effect that they had on the devil possessed.
● In Fr Gabriele’s experience, demons are “very sensitive to the five senses (‘I enter through the senses’, he told me once), and mostly through the eyes”.
● The time required to achieve liberation varies from case to case. It can be as short as one session or as long as weekly sessions for a few years. In Fr Gabriele’s experience, the most difficult are those who have been cursed.
● Signs of “negativity” vary. Apart from the abovementioned, the victim hearing strange noises, displaying supernatural physical strength, or speaking languages which the victim cannot possibly know given their education are obvious signs. If it is a child and their answers to questions are profound, then this is another indication. However, not all cases of possession are so dramatic.
● Fr Gabriele stresses that “there are never two identical instances”. The book covers the “most frequently encountered behavior”.
● Possessing demons generally try to remain undetected. They are reluctant to speak. It is a generally false belief that they are talkative and will publicly denounce all the sins of those present.
● Possessing demons speak to distract and discourage which, as exceptions to the above, can include listing personal sins.
● Even after detection, possessing demons may try to appear to be indifferent when they are actually in pain. It is the exorcism that forces them to reveal themselves, which they consider a defeat. They generally don’t like to say their own names even after they have revealed it.
● Exorcists should never ask possessing demons questions out of mere curiosity. It is protocol to ask their names and the reason why they are there, information that helps the exorcist liberate the possessed.
● Possessions get worse just prior to liberation. This is because the demon is in pain and thus also causes great suffering to the possessed. The latter must be encouraged to keep praying, attending church and going to the exorcisms.
● Possessing demons suffer more pain during an exorcism than when they are in hell (even though they are condemned and in that sense are already in hell).
● Fr Gabriele states that once the possessing demons leave, they go to hell and cannot possess people again. This is one reason why they want to remain, to continue to cause suffering even if that adds to their own suffering now and later anyway. However, he also states that they can return, a point supported by Scripture. So, this point is a bit unclear.
● Demons do not or cannot say holy names. They refer to God or Our Lord as “He” or “your Boss” and Our Lady as “She”.
● If there is more than one possessing demon, there is always a chief who is the first to be named and last to leave. Those mentioned in Scripture or Tradition are the “heavyweights” and therefore more difficult to defeat.
● Like a drug addiction, liberation is also dependent on the possessed.
The cooperation of the patient is fundamental for success. I always say that the exorcism is 10 percent of the cure; the remaining 90 percent is the responsibility of the individual. What does this mean? It means that there is a need for much prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, living a life according to the Gospel, using sacramentals (I will discuss later the use of exorcised water, salt, and oil). It also means asking others to pray for a cure—the prayer of the entire family, parish or religious communities, prayer groups, etc., is especially fruitful—and requesting many Masses. Pilgrimages and charitable works are also useful. Above all, liberation is obtained through abundant personal prayer and through it a union with God that becomes a way of life. [Emphasis original.]
● As pointed out above, the prayers of the community are important. Prayers of priests as well as the faithful, particularly those concurrent with the exorcisms, are helpful.
● The young are more vulnerable and exposed to demonic attacks.
● Men and women are not exposed for the same reason but women are more exposed. More exorcisms are performed on women, although women are more likely to seek help from a priest. Men are more likely to refuse to change their lives.
● An exorcist should repeat the prayers and actions that cause the possessing demon to react; for example, blessing a body part with the stole or anointing with oil.
● Exorcised water (or at least holy water), exorcised (olive) oil and exorcised salt can be useful for different purposes such as protection. Any priest can exorcise these three items as no permission is required.
● Exorcised oil can heal. For example, the possessed consumed food that was cursed and the oil can induce expulsion of the impurity through vomiting. The so-called impurity can be
…dense and foamy saliva or a sort of white and grainy pap. Other times we find the strangest objects, such as nails, pieces of glass, small wooden dolls, knotted strings, rolled wire, cotton thread of different colors, or blood clots. These objects may be expelled naturally, often by vomiting. I want to point out that the body is never harmed, even by sharp glass; on the contrary, it receives great benefit. … For example, the victim feels a stomach pain as if caused by a nail; then he finds a nail on the floor near him, and the pain disappears. What is most strange is that all these objects materialize the very instant in which they are expelled.
● Exorcised salt can provide protection to the premises or a room when placed at the threshold and the four corners.
● Exorcised water, exorcised oil and exorcised salt can be used as a diagnostic by using them in cooking. If the person inexplicably finds the food or drink repulsive, it is a sign that they may be possessed. However, no reaction does not necessarily mean they are not possessed since the possessing demon(s) always try to conceal their presence.
● Although the Ritual is not explicit regarding exorcising places such as houses, there are prayers that can be applied to places. The practice of performing exorcisms on places, animals and things existed since the first century.
● The presence of evil in places can be dramatic like secured windows and doors opening and slamming shut, sounds of footsteps at night, or even animals, insects and objects that suddenly appear and disappear. Individuals can suffer insomnia, headaches, stomachaches or feel like being watched in that place only.
● The behavior of pets can also be an indication as they can be sensitive to strange presences. For example, they may stare at a particular spot or suddenly jump away as if attacked even when there appears to be nothing.
● A place can be infested because of a curse or evil activity; for example, an apartment that had been used to hold séances for a long time. But mostly, it has more to do with the individual rather than the place—in Fr Gabriele’s experience, he often had better success exorcising the individual rather than the house.
● However, the presence may not be evil in every instance.
In other, less serious circumstances, prayer is sufficient to reestablish peace. One family was bothered by noises at night; after ten Masses were celebrated, the noises ceased completely. Could it have been poor suffering souls in purgatory who, by divine permission, were able to ask for intercession? It is hard to say, but it happened more than once.
● As recorded in Matthew 8, demons can possess animals.
I know of an inexperienced exorcist who ordered a demon to enter a farmer’s family pig: the animal became savage and attacked the farmer’s wife. Needless to say, the pig was immediately killed. These are rare instances, and every time they lead to the immediate death of the animal.
● There is no universally accepted terminology regarding curses but Fr Gabriele makes the following distinctions: a “curse” is a broad, generic term whereas a “spell” is a type of curse. Ultimately, whether curses are effected and to what extent is, of course, by Divine permission.
Black magic or witchcraft or satanic rites that culminate with black masses – to invoke a demon to put on a curse through the use of magic formulas or rituals.
Curses – to invoke evil which is particularly disastrous when there is a blood relationship and the wish is pronounced on a special occasion; for example, when parents seriously wish ill on their children on their wedding day.
Evil eye – a spell cast by looking at someone; this presupposes the will to invoke demonic intervention to harm a particular person and not a mere passing glance. (Fr Gabriele admittedly is not positive that he has personally ever dealt with such a case.)
Malefice or Hex – these spells can be direct by mixing material into the target’s food (said material can be menstrual blood, bones, burned powder or animal parts prepared through black magic formula or ritual), or indirect by use of a “transfer” material which represents the target (said material can be a photo or an object that belongs to the target, or a doll or even a real person of same age and sex).
● A “binding” spell involves the transfer material tied to hair or colored cloth strips. For example, in a curse aimed at a pregnant woman,
…a doll was bound from neck to umbilical cord by means of a needle threaded with horsehair, with the intent of deforming the baby by causing an abnormal development of the organs included between the “bonds”.
● These objects are sometimes found in pillows or mattresses. In some instances, their locations are revealed by the possessing demon when interrogated by the exorcist.
● These objects are to be destroyed by sprinkling them with holy water, burned and their ashes discarded into running water (but not down the drain or toilet). One should pray throughout the process and wash their hands with holy water after touching these objects. Fr Candido suffered severe stomachaches for three months with lingering effects for 10 years for not having done so.
● The effects of the spell, however, do not always lift after the object’s destruction since the damage was initiated by the use of the object.
● In Scripture, the devil first appeared in the form of the serpent. In mythology, the serpent is associated with knowledge. Every civilization has its magic and superstition. In Fr Gabriele’s experience, the toughest exorcisms were against African and Brazilian magic.
● Whilst many practice witchcraft or a fakes, there are those with genuine charisms. The Holy Ghost is free to give and take away these gifts to anyone at any time. For example, seers can “see” and sensitives can “feel” the presence of extraordinary diabolical activity to varying degrees of detail and accuracy who exorcists, including Fr Gabriele, can consult.
● Fr Gabriele recommends the following commonsensical guidelines for determining whether it is a true charism. The individual or community:
lives the Gospel in a profound way.
performs the services for free without even accepting donations.
uses common means approved by the Church to obtain grace; for example, prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, the Sign of the Cross, holy water and not magical formulas or anything immodest.
bear good fruit according to the Gospel that “the tree is known by its fruit”. (Matthew 12:33)
● In response to a bishop who stated that diabolical possession is merely short-term:
I myself, in nine years of exhausting work (so much so that I have been forced to cut back my workload), have exorcised over thirty thousand people, and I have noted the name of everyone who was possessed: ninety-three so far, and they had all been possessed for approximately ten years. There are people who undergo exorcisms at regular intervals over periods often, fifteen years or more, and they are still not liberated.
● As already mentioned, anyone can say prayers but only bishops and those authorized priests can carry out exorcisms. Those without specific faculty should not directly deal with demons like asking their name. As recorded in Acts 19, there may be consequences.
● Fr Gabriele discusses the need for bishops to attend to the exorcism ministry, to enable empower and educate priests and laypersons. He refutes the idea that exorcists will automatically suffer retaliation from demons: “the devil is already causing each one of us as much harm as he is allowed to do. It is false to believe that if I leave him alone, he will leave me alone.”
● Fr Gabriele concludes with comments about the power of the Blessed Virgin Mary given “her decisive opposition to all of Satan’s works” and her role as our Mother and the Mother of the Church, the Mediatrix of all graces.
● Four prayers of deliverance are included: Prayer against Malefice (from the Greek Ritual), Anima Christi, Prayer against Every Evil, and Prayer for Inner Healing. (These are not the only prayers for deliverance or liberation.)
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