The Church gives an exorcism course to fight the devil on the web

These days, Rome It was filled with exorcists. Some 241 priests and laypeople participate in a course on exorcism, which deals, among other things, with spread of satanic rites through social networks and how to deal with the phenomenon and the supposed influence of the Evil One.

"I think these means may imply an increased presence of the gospel of God, but they can also give Satan more space, depending on how we use it," the theologian said. Spanish Pedro Barrajón at the EFE agency, which participates in the XIV course of exorcism and prayers. liberation in Rome.

According to the priest, new channels of communication "may favor satanic practices, occult rites but solve the problem by calling for restraint: "There is no need to demonize these media," he insists.

The course is organized by the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, an institution run by the Legionaries of Christ, and until next Saturday, will deal with the controversial issue of demonic possessions with the testimony of renowned exorcists and experts.

There are 241 students enrolled 42 countriespriests, nuns and laypeople, including doctors, psychiatrists or teachers concerned about the subject, all of whom are 400 euros per head, food included.

During these five days, the liturgy of exorcism and liberation prayerswe are going to talk about angels and demons, catechism, symbols and rituals, but there is also an article entitled "Recognize satanic content in the media".

It is precisely the secretary of the group of investigation and socio-religious information (GRA), Giuseppe Ferrari, one of the organizers, who denounced the installation of a sculpture of Lucifer in a city of Bologna, although it looks more like a kind of fauna.

In any case, everything seems to indicate that the Evil is interested, partly thanks to his mythification in cinema or literature: "It is a subject that always attracts attention, but then, theologically speaking, the theme of God is much richer, "says the priest.

"In the background lies the mystery that evil can be not only an event or a fact, but can also be personified, which is not only caused by the sins of the world. man, "said the Spanish priest, who warned against a world more secularized and "far from God".

The theologian stresses his respect for those who do not believe in exorcisms and princes of darkness, but recommends not to frivolize: "Not believing could mean that he's just fallen into the devil's trap"said.

Barrajón and Ferrari both point out that the Church has no documentation to quantify the dubious phenomenon of possession, although they badure that it is absolutely true.

The symptoms of possession

The priest tells how a case of this type can be recognized, by listing four symptoms: aversion to the sacred, the ability to speak and understand archaic and unknown languages, to demonstrate supernatural strength and to know the secrets.

Barrajón warns however that "the majority" of people who have engaged in exorcists "they suffer from psychological problems" and therefore, it is necessary to consult a psychiatrist first.

If the torments do not stop, it indicates with a total naturalness, it is then that when one opts for the exorcism, all "a fight" between the religious and the spirit, which can be expelled through the mouth of possessed "inexplicable" pieces of heavy metals or crystals.

This year the course will also end with an ecumenical roundtable around which will be held representatives of various Christian churches, such as an Orthodox Bishop, a Catholic, an Anglican, a Pentecostal and the Argentine Lutheran Bishop Manuel Acuña.

And it is that, contrary to what we think, not only Catholics apply these practices, but also the other branches of Christianity implement them, as well as Muslims or Hebrews.

Father Barrajón does not hide the fact that the devil has also infiltrated into the walls of the Church, as the pope himself acknowledged following pedophile scandals, and he resorts to St. Thomas Aquinas to sum up that "the devil is in all his actions" sinner of man ".