Editor's Note: Published on Page C2 of the March 28, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
FRANCIS M. Sangalang, a 28-year-old overseas Filipino engineer in Dubai, sent in a number of questions regarding spirit possession and exorcism.
He said he doubted stories of such things until he had a personal encounter with the phenomenon in 1997. His own girlfriend got possessed!
When she moved into an apartment in Angeles City, according to Francis, she fell ill and developed a high fever. Francis was with her throughout the ordeal. She woke up and, for no reason, started talking nonsense. She was telling Francis, ?Your girlfriend is gone and what?s left is only her body.?
Francis thought she was joking or having a hallucination due to her high fever, but when he checked her temperature it was normal. When she started hurting herself and Francis, he realized something out of the ordinary was happening. He tried to stop her but he couldn?t. He even slapped her face but she only laughed.
Then Francis remembered to pray the Lord?s Prayer, which he learned from his Catholic schooling at the University of the Assumption in Pampanga was the most powerful prayer. After a few minutes, she calmed down and became her old self again.
Francis provided the following details about his girlfriend before he enumerated his questions.
?She had a bad childhood. She was abandoned by her parents when she was around 7. Since childhood, she had supported herself. She was raised by her relatives. I know deep in her heart she keeps a level of hatred for her parents.?
Questions
Now here are Francis? questions:
1. Are exorcism and possession of elementals or spirits true?
2. What are the factors that make a person susceptible to such phenomenon?
3. Was what happened to her connected to the new place she moved into?
4. When she regained her true self, she felt cold and her palms and feet were a bit numb. Did these have any connection with her ordeal? She didn?t remember a single thing about what happened, not even the fact that I slapped her face.
5. Is there any way to prevent such kind of experience?
6. If it happens, is there any way to stop or eject the possessing spirit?
Answers
Here are my brief answers to your questions.
1. Yes, there is such a thing as spirit possession and the process of getting rid of a negative spirit is called exorcism. Even the Christian Bible contains examples of spirit possession and exorcism. In fact, there are Christian priests trained as exorcists. It is a power or function granted by the bishop. During the medieval era, there were many stories of spirit possessions recorded by the Catholic Church.
2. Many factors make a person susceptible to possession. One is being in a place or house with negative spirits. A person who is highly negative also attracts negative entities. Another factor is a weak will. Still another is a weak physical constitution. Sometimes curiosity about these things and playing with the spirit-of-the-glass can encourage possession. Persons who have mediumistic tendencies or are highly sensitive to psychic forces are also prone to possession.
3. Yes, I believe the apartment your girlfriend moved into is inhabited by negative spirits, either of the dead or elementals.
4. She felt cold and numb because her mind or consciousness was dislodged forcibly by the spirit who took over her body temporarily. She was in deep trance and therefore her blood circulation slowed down. She didn?t remember anything because ?she wasn?t there? as the possessing spirit told you. It took over her body.
5. Yes, it can be prevented by saying power words or oracion of protection, by sincere prayer and calling the higher divine entities, and by placing protective religious objects empowered to protect against demonic possession, such as the powerful St. Benedict?s Medal. One should also avoid going to places haunted or inhabited by spirits.
6. If it happens, you have to call a knowledgeable and trained espiritista or exorcist or someone with the power to expel the negative spirit from the body of a possessed individual. Do not attempt to do the exorcism yourself because the possessing entity can transfer to you and harm you.
Would any members here care to offer their answers or feedback regarding the questions posted above?
Source: http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.ph ... 0746&col=3
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