Fr. Gabriele Amorth (1925-2016): An Exorcist on What Happens During an Exorcism

A priest of the Congregation of San Paolo, Fr. Gabriele Amorth (1925-2016) was internationally recognized as the world’s greatest exorcist.  …

Editor’s note: As an exorcist in Rome, Fr. Gabriele Amorth conducted countless exorcisms while he also wrote and spoke extensively on the subject. The following is his account of his work as an exorcist and it is from the book, An Exorcist Explains the Demonic.

What happens during the exorcism to the person afflicted by the possession? Above all, it is necessary to say that normally a person affected by possession desires to be liberated from the influence of the demon and as a result will ask to be exorcized. A difficulty can arise in approaching the rite.

When the person enters the room where the exorcist works, it sometimes happens that he will begin to feel the influence of the spell more intensely and will manifest a nervousness and discomfort, or, in more serious cases, the person will enter into a trance and must be dragged like a dead weight. In cases like this, there must always be a friend or relative or his pastor with him. At the end of the rite, when I reawaken the person, he will often appear defogged, completely in control again, and will be able to say a prayer peacefully and to exchange a few words with me.