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The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist
In The Rite , journalist Matt Baglio uses the astonishing story of one American priest's training as an exorcist to reveal that the phenomena of possession, demons, the Devil, and exorcism are not merely a remnant of the archaic past, but remain a fearsome power in many people's lives even today.
Father Gary Thomas was working as a parish priest in California when he was asked by his bishop to travel to Rome for training in the rite of exorcism. Though initially surprised, and slightly reluctant, he accepted this call, and enrolled in a new exorcism course at a Vatican-affiliated university, which taught him, among other things, how to distinguish between a genuine possession and mental illness. Eventually he would go on to participate in more than eighty exorcisms as an apprentice to a veteran Italian exorcist. His experiences profoundly changed the way he viewed the spiritual world, and as he moved from rational skeptic to practicing exorcist he came to understand the battle between good and evil in a whole new light. Journalist Matt Baglio had full access to Father Gary over the course of his training, and much of what he learned defies explanation.
The Rite provides fascinating vignettes from the lives of exorcists and people possessed by demons, including firsthand accounts of exorcists at work casting out demons, culminating in Father Gary's own confrontations with the Devil. Baglio also traces the history of exorcism, revealing its rites and rituals, explaining what the Catholic Church really teaches about demonic possession, and delving into such related topics as the hierarchy of angels and demons, satanic cults, black masses, curses, and the various theories used by modern scientists and anthropologists who seek to quantify such phenomena.
Written with an investigative eye that will captivate both skeptics and believers alike, The Rite shows that the truth about demonic possession is not only stranger than fiction, but also far more chilling.
Father Gary Thomas was working as a parish priest in California when he was asked by his bishop to travel to Rome for training in the rite of exorcism. Though initially surprised, and slightly reluctant, he accepted this call, and enrolled in a new exorcism course at a Vatican-affiliated university, which taught him, among other things, how to distinguish between a genuine possession and mental illness. Eventually he would go on to participate in more than eighty exorcisms as an apprentice to a veteran Italian exorcist. His experiences profoundly changed the way he viewed the spiritual world, and as he moved from rational skeptic to practicing exorcist he came to understand the battle between good and evil in a whole new light. Journalist Matt Baglio had full access to Father Gary over the course of his training, and much of what he learned defies explanation.
The Rite provides fascinating vignettes from the lives of exorcists and people possessed by demons, including firsthand accounts of exorcists at work casting out demons, culminating in Father Gary's own confrontations with the Devil. Baglio also traces the history of exorcism, revealing its rites and rituals, explaining what the Catholic Church really teaches about demonic possession, and delving into such related topics as the hierarchy of angels and demons, satanic cults, black masses, curses, and the various theories used by modern scientists and anthropologists who seek to quantify such phenomena.
Written with an investigative eye that will captivate both skeptics and believers alike, The Rite shows that the truth about demonic possession is not only stranger than fiction, but also far more chilling.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2009
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2182 people want to read
About the author
Matt Baglio
3 books29 followersMatt Baglio was born and raised in San Diego, California. In 1996, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a B.A. in English Literature. After a stint working as an intern and editorial assistant for TransWorld SNOWboarding magazine, Baglio moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a freelancer.
In 2000, in an effort to expand his horizons, Baglio took a trip to Europe where he met his future wife in Rome. Over the years, he has worked for a variety of news organizations and magazines, including The Associated Press, The American Magazine, The Snowboard Journal, COLORS, Bene, and Homeland Security Today, as well as a host of others.
Baglio's interests are varied, and his work has exposed him to topics as diverse as Vatican politics, anti-mafia police, the Olympics, and satanic cults. Currently, he divides his time between Italy and California. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist is his first book.
In 2000, in an effort to expand his horizons, Baglio took a trip to Europe where he met his future wife in Rome. Over the years, he has worked for a variety of news organizations and magazines, including The Associated Press, The American Magazine, The Snowboard Journal, COLORS, Bene, and Homeland Security Today, as well as a host of others.
Baglio's interests are varied, and his work has exposed him to topics as diverse as Vatican politics, anti-mafia police, the Olympics, and satanic cults. Currently, he divides his time between Italy and California. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist is his first book.
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March 31, 2024
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."― C.S. Lewis
Before reading this book, I read Father Malachi Martin's book about exorcism, Hostage To The Devil. If you are interested, you can see my review for that here.
I liked some things about this book quite a lot. It was interesting to follow the American priest, Father Gary, as he learnt to be an exorcist in Rome and to hear what it was like for him to witness a series of exorcisms for the first time. I also liked hearing from the different priests as they explained the Church's view of what possession is, how it occurs, and how to help the afflicted.
The main thing I found inferior in this book, compared to Father Martin's, is that there are no in-depth case studies; though, to be fair, Baglio is telling Father Gary's story as an initiate into this aspect of the priesthood, so that is perhaps to be expected. The people who are undergoing exorcisms are only discussed briefly and superficially, so that it was difficult to determine whether they were suffering from mental illness (or possibly even physical illness that had affected their brain function) rather than diabolism. So, we are relying here on the priests' spiritual discernment, and must trust they know what they are doing. I fully believe that these priests are sincere and devoted Catholics, following the tenets of their faith; but I also recognise that they are human beings, like the rest of us, who will be swayed by their own biases, and who will sometimes make mistakes.
Some of these afflicted people whom the priests exorcised repeatedly, week after week, month after month, and year after year, reminded me of mentally ill clients I have treated in the past. I was upset by this because they seemed to need clinical care rather than ongoing exorcism. One poor woman had been undergoing exorcism for forty years! But there was no indication that she had ever been under psychiatric treatment, despite the fact that she had been traumatised in her childhood. Her mother had apparently tried to abort her but failed, and then cursed the infant while she was still in the womb. The baby survived that and was born into the world, but one can easily imagine the damage such a mother could inflict upon her unwanted child. Curses are not necessary to explain why this woman has continued to suffer, profoundly and intractably, throughout her life.
(There's a lot of stuff in this book about people believing they are suffering under a curse, and priests often validate this belief. The RC priests that Baglio interviewed explain that possession is most commonly the result of a curse or dabbling in the occult.)
I was happy to read that Father Gary, upon returning to the states, planned to take a cautious and prudent approach, having people thoroughly assessed and ruling out other causes before assuming demons were the problem. His mentor in Rome, Father Carmine, did not seem to require medical assessment of all those he exorcised, nor did the priests who attended visitors to the shrines. It is true though that if the person is spitting up rusty nails or other weird stuff , therapy and medication may not be enough to solve the problem! (More than one priest talked about this type of thing happening. In my work though I have known of clients who swallowed dangerous things for which they required repeated surgeries to remove: gobs of their own hair, kitchen knives, etc.)
There are events discussed in this book and Father Martin's that modern psychiatry cannot explain; things that the priests say happen sometimes during exorcisms, such as the afflicted person responding to and speaking in languages they do not know, levitating, throwing things around the room while remaining perfectly still, and knowing things about the priests that the priests have never shared with anyone. There is also an aversion to the sacraments and to religious symbols, such as the Cross, as we've commonly seen in popular movies about possessed people. Supposedly, when the possession has too strong a hold, for too long, or when the demon is too powerful, it is believed that the person may have no response at all. This is called "full possession" and is considered to be irreversible, usually.
My main interest in these books by and about exorcists is to understand how priests who are exorcists discern mental illness from spiritual derangement. I became curious about the Anglican priest and "psychiatrist", Dr. Craig Isaacs, who is a consultant quoted at length in this book. Dr. Isaac's listing of five qualities that he claims are not criteria common to psychosis caught my attention.
In his research, Dr Isaacs has discovered five qualities that the ego experiences when encountering the wholly other: first, the patient experiences a vision or voice as coming from outside themselves, from a wholly other; second, the experience is otherworldly or spiritual in nature; third, the experience is accompanied by numinous fear or awe; fourth, there is unusual clarity associated with the experience; and fifth, when a vision is involved there is almost always some form of luminosity, either a shadow or a beautiful light. The criteria are not common to psychosis, claims Dr Isaacs.
The fact is, he is dead wrong, as any knowledgeable therapist could easily tell you; so could a look through the DSM-V. All of the symptoms Dr. Isaacs "discovered" can be readily and accurately attributed to psychosis and usually disappear or at least diminish substantially when the patient is brought out of the psychotic state. I have seen this repeatedly in my professional and personal life. I would agree that if the patient is unaffected by anti-psychotic meds, there must be something else going on. But I have never seen that happen.
I was confused that a psychiatrist would get this so very wrong, so I looked up the Dr. Isaac's credentials and found that he is not a psychiatrist at all but a psychologist. There's a big difference in those two professions, because one is a medical doctor and one is not. I hold an M.S. in Psychology myself, so I am not casting aspersions on psychologists; both types of mental health care providers should be able to quickly identify and name symptoms of psychosis.
But since psychiatrists are medical doctors and psychologists are not, psychiatrists treat people in active states of psychosis on a daily and hourly basis; psychologists do not, since you cannot work effectively with a person until the psychosis is under control. A person can have transient symptoms of psychosis caused by drug use, high fever, etc. which will typically last only a short while (hours or days). But a person who suffers recurring psychotic episodes will usually require medication. This is why patients with psychotic disorders normally have a treating psychiatrist as the leader of their care team. Talk therapy for these patients, on its own, is unhelpful at best and seriously dangerous at worst.
The end result of this is that Dr. Isaacs is touted as an expert in an area where he is probably not one. I realise that part of the reason Baglio sought him out is because Dr. Isaacs is also an Anglican priest so would not have an entirely secular approach to treatment. Indeed, he does not, and one look at his website tells you how heavily his particular interpretation of Christian theology overlays his practice.
Interestingly, the priests quoted by Baglio say repeatedly that possessed persons rarely ever believe themselves to be possessed. This seems to be rather similar to people who are mentally ill with a psychotic or personality disorder. They are usually the last to agree to the diagnosis. Having said that, it seems that in Italy (which is predominantly Roman Catholic), people go to see priests for prayers of blessing and exorcism quite routinely. I did not get the impression that they required convincing. In some cases, the priests were able to help enormously. I've no idea if this is because the exorcisee expected it to work or because something genuinely supernatural happened. In other cases, the priests had been praying the Roman Catholic Ritual of Exorcism over the possessed persons for decades, to no avail.
I am fully ready to accept that medication and therapy will not help everyone, and that they do not offer a cure for major mental illnesses. At best, they only help the person to manage better, but that can make an enormous positive difference in their quality of life. In some cases, it also prevents people from killing or injuring themselves or someone else.
I am happy to support whatever works (to a point), and I realise that people have to make their own choices about what sort of help they seek out. I feel strongly, though, that if a person has shown no sign of improvement after successive exorcisms, it is wise to seek other forms of assistance.
Blessings and prayers need not exclude medication and therapy; nor should medical treatment prevent people from seeking spiritual guidance in accordance with their faith. It's important to recognise that mental illness and spiritual suffering are not necessarily mutually exclusive. I have often known people struggling with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc. who felt themselves to be profoundly spiritually afflicted. Psychiatry has no answer for this; medication will not free you, and psychotherapy won't save your soul ... That said, I do know plenty of people who have felt released from their pain as a result of therapy. Furthermore, I doubt an atheist or Pagan would feel reassured by a Roman Catholic priest praying the Ritual over them, however well meant. Perhaps it all comes down to where you place your faith.
Update: So, this review I posted yesterday is my most recent, and I was just looking at my Goodreads shelves trying to decide what to read next, when I saw this: Read (666). What are the statistical odds of that happening?
Not freaked out at all. (Scrambles around looking for a rosary).
November 18, 2011
This book is SOOOOO Catholic. Not a bad thing if you're reading, for example, something heavy like Pope Benedict's Introduction to Christianity. But with The Rite, what you're getting is something along the lines of an EWTN production. I'm somewhat surprised that this book is gathering so many positive reviews, since its focus is so narrow, pretty much excluding non-Catholic Christians, and non-Christians (demonic possession is a phenomena that goes beyond Christianity). From the get-go the book hammers you with an exorcism that is only relieved when the possessed sees a young Mother Teresa, another saint, and the Virgin Mary. Demon be gone! Now there are real cultural reasons for this imagery or manifestation (the exorcism occurred in Italy), but it's a fair signal as to what's to come.
The tone of the book, at least on the surface, has a mock journalistic feel to it, which kind of pulls you in. Matt Baglio, the writer, is in fact a journalist. But he's also a recently re-converted Catholic. There will be times when you see him being fairly uncritical when you are wanting him to be more detached in his observations. Still, there's some genuinely creepy moments that Baglio recounts. The star in the book is meant to be Father Gary, an American exorcist in training, but it's really Father Carmine, who comes across as something of a spiritual rock star. (After reading this book, my appreciation for Anthony Hopkins' portrayal in the movie only grew.)
The Rite does have a number of surprises in it, which, if you're into this sort of thing, might make it a worthwhile (if frustrating) read. For one, exorcisms are portrayed, usually, as fairly mundane, and in Italy, common affairs. There are "hard" cases, but generally people seem to line up for an exorcism as if waiting in a dentist's office. Another, that Satan and Lucifer may not be the same Evil One (there's dispute over that). Also, that women are overwhelmingly the subject of possession. There were also some clinkers that I had my doubts over. One contention (repeated throughout the book) was that Satanism is quite active, often through secret groups doing terrible things. (Fans of The Omen take note.) Oh, and Harry Potter is bad, a potential doorway to "Captain Howdy."
As a study of the problem of Evil, and an Adversary, The Rite is not, despite a few historical tidbits, serious reading. It jumps around too much, and the sourcing is very uneven. One glaring example is on page 127 of the paperback edition. There Baglio writes about a priest being seriously wounded (with a bed spring ripped free) by a possessed person. There's no source recorded, which is odd, since this incident is reported to have happened in the original Exorcist case in Mount Airy, Maryland. That controversial case is now permanently shrouded in legend. It's virtually impossible to get to the real facts, and I think Baglio, knowing this, fudged a bit and kept it vague.
Overall The Rites is a weird read, and I thought about giving it an extra star for possible cult read bonus points, but in the end the book was too much of a slog to earn it.
The tone of the book, at least on the surface, has a mock journalistic feel to it, which kind of pulls you in. Matt Baglio, the writer, is in fact a journalist. But he's also a recently re-converted Catholic. There will be times when you see him being fairly uncritical when you are wanting him to be more detached in his observations. Still, there's some genuinely creepy moments that Baglio recounts. The star in the book is meant to be Father Gary, an American exorcist in training, but it's really Father Carmine, who comes across as something of a spiritual rock star. (After reading this book, my appreciation for Anthony Hopkins' portrayal in the movie only grew.)
The Rite does have a number of surprises in it, which, if you're into this sort of thing, might make it a worthwhile (if frustrating) read. For one, exorcisms are portrayed, usually, as fairly mundane, and in Italy, common affairs. There are "hard" cases, but generally people seem to line up for an exorcism as if waiting in a dentist's office. Another, that Satan and Lucifer may not be the same Evil One (there's dispute over that). Also, that women are overwhelmingly the subject of possession. There were also some clinkers that I had my doubts over. One contention (repeated throughout the book) was that Satanism is quite active, often through secret groups doing terrible things. (Fans of The Omen take note.) Oh, and Harry Potter is bad, a potential doorway to "Captain Howdy."
As a study of the problem of Evil, and an Adversary, The Rite is not, despite a few historical tidbits, serious reading. It jumps around too much, and the sourcing is very uneven. One glaring example is on page 127 of the paperback edition. There Baglio writes about a priest being seriously wounded (with a bed spring ripped free) by a possessed person. There's no source recorded, which is odd, since this incident is reported to have happened in the original Exorcist case in Mount Airy, Maryland. That controversial case is now permanently shrouded in legend. It's virtually impossible to get to the real facts, and I think Baglio, knowing this, fudged a bit and kept it vague.
Overall The Rites is a weird read, and I thought about giving it an extra star for possible cult read bonus points, but in the end the book was too much of a slog to earn it.
April 28, 2009
Demonic possession is the most stigmatized and stereotyped of all border phenomena. And I say border as I refer to the line between what we consider normal and experiences we can't explain. Perhaps the movies are to blame for our idea of what an exorcism consists of, a little girl screams when splashed with holy water, or a deep evil voice manifests. Neuroscience and psychology associate demonic possession with a call for attention or a misinterpretation of a modern disease like schizophrenia. The fact that the whole experience is so deeply coded with religious ritual and theology may discourage even the most open-minded paranormal researcher.
A balanced look at the experience of an exorcist must weigh all of these barriers towards providing a fair and believable look at the truth behind these tormenting experiences. Freelance writer and journalist Matt Baglio succeeds at demonstrating why modern demon possession lore is just the tip of the iceberg through his recently released, The Rite: Making of a Modern Exorcist.
I didn't expect an account of exorcism to be so believable, or so chilling. Partly because Baglio was just as skeptical when he started writing the book, and partly because following San Franciscan Catholic priest Father Gary through his training revealed that he started just as clueless.
When the Catholic Church wrote a letter to every US diocese in 2005, Father Gary was surprised to learn that he had been chosen for the post. Leaving for a sabbatical year, Father Gary spent twelve months at the Continuing Theological Education at the North American College in Rome where he was ordered by his bishop to take a course on how to become an exorcist. That first class was where Baglio and Gary met, Matt seeing an opportunity to follow someone through the process of what he thought might be a sensational ploy at the headlines by the Catholic Church.
Most American priests fall on one end of a large spectrum, they are either quite skeptical of exorcism or "see demons everywhere". But in Italy, demonic possession is just a fact of life. Oddly enough, the most exorcisms occur in Italy, a country that is over 80% Catholic. Is this because demonic possession primarily affects Catholics or is it because Italians are more likely to seek out an exorcism? These are just some of the interesting mysteries raised by this book.
As Father Gary progresses through the training, he apprentices with Father Carmine, an expert in performing the exorcism ritual. Initially Father Gary only witnessed what he described as people coming in and belching very loudly. Leaving him with many more questions than answers... until he witnessed the case of Sister Janica.
Janica was a nun that suffered from a "very powerful demon." When Father Carmine began the ritual she shook in her chair and began to beat her head against stone wall until it shook. As the prayers continued she growled and then shouted an ear piercing scream just before, "the voice" manifested. It was an otherworldly guttural rasping sound that shouted obscenities at Father Carmine. Her face contorted into rage. Her eyeballs rolled into her head and she screamed, flailing on the floor. And this had been happening regularly for nine years. Movies and lore depicts the exorcism as a one shot deal but this is rarely the case. The possessed are freed from their demons only after a long process of returning to religious ritual in their lives, for Catholics this means confessions, prayer and mass. The exorcism only makes up about 10-20% of the healing process. But in rare cases, priests have performed exorcisms on Muslims and Hindus, after which they returned to their respective rituals. This is one of the theological reasons that God allows possession, to lead people back to a life of devout faith. After witnessing something as horrible as an evil force acting through a human being, I'm sure I would strike up some sort of repeated action to avoid it.
The scientific explanation against possession lacks the ability to account for quite a few unbelievable experiences. For example, one priest went home after an exorcism and his cats began tearing each other to pieces. The next day when talking to his "patient", the demonic voice manifested and said to the priest that it enjoyed playing with his cats. Another case involved a possessed individual taunting a priest with a demonic voice about its ability to erase all his phone's text messages, because he did. Multiple personality disorder and depression can't explain why the possessed have been known to vomit buckets of sperm, live scorpions and black nails. Clairvoyant abilities are provided by the demons through the possessed as they sometimes describe intimate details of priest's lives or objects in hidden areas. In very rare cases, a demon will describe its past possessions the priest was involved in. The descriptions that Matt Baglio received of these horrible exorcisms through first hand interviews are very disturbing. As I read them, chills went down my spine because they are so vivid and honest.
Discernment, the ability to determine if someone is truly possessed, is an interesting dilemma. Many exorcists like to work with a team of psychologists, psychiatrists and other advisers. The key to determining if someone is truly possessed can be rather obscured but typically if someone's condition does not respond to medicine, only to blessings and prayer it is an indication that demonic possession is likely present. Almost always, someone truly possessed won't attribute their problems to a demon. They only seek out the priesthood after being forced by a family member or friend. If one comes to a priest saying that they have a demon in them, that's a clue in the direction of a purely psychological problem.
This gripping account of an often ignored portion of the human experience, The Rite exceeded my expectations and led me to question my hodge-podge worldview. Why is it that demonic possessions occur so often in Catholics and in women? This leads me to speculate that like the campfire creating the shadows, the Catholic Church somehow creates this polar opposite manifest in the phenomena of demonic possession. There is truth in the accounts within this book, as depicted by the shock of seasoned priests to the experience of their first witnessed possession. When the exorcists themselves can't explain what is happening I know it is a profound mystery. What it all means is beyond anyone's understanding, especially mine.
A balanced look at the experience of an exorcist must weigh all of these barriers towards providing a fair and believable look at the truth behind these tormenting experiences. Freelance writer and journalist Matt Baglio succeeds at demonstrating why modern demon possession lore is just the tip of the iceberg through his recently released, The Rite: Making of a Modern Exorcist.
I didn't expect an account of exorcism to be so believable, or so chilling. Partly because Baglio was just as skeptical when he started writing the book, and partly because following San Franciscan Catholic priest Father Gary through his training revealed that he started just as clueless.
When the Catholic Church wrote a letter to every US diocese in 2005, Father Gary was surprised to learn that he had been chosen for the post. Leaving for a sabbatical year, Father Gary spent twelve months at the Continuing Theological Education at the North American College in Rome where he was ordered by his bishop to take a course on how to become an exorcist. That first class was where Baglio and Gary met, Matt seeing an opportunity to follow someone through the process of what he thought might be a sensational ploy at the headlines by the Catholic Church.
Most American priests fall on one end of a large spectrum, they are either quite skeptical of exorcism or "see demons everywhere". But in Italy, demonic possession is just a fact of life. Oddly enough, the most exorcisms occur in Italy, a country that is over 80% Catholic. Is this because demonic possession primarily affects Catholics or is it because Italians are more likely to seek out an exorcism? These are just some of the interesting mysteries raised by this book.
As Father Gary progresses through the training, he apprentices with Father Carmine, an expert in performing the exorcism ritual. Initially Father Gary only witnessed what he described as people coming in and belching very loudly. Leaving him with many more questions than answers... until he witnessed the case of Sister Janica.
Janica was a nun that suffered from a "very powerful demon." When Father Carmine began the ritual she shook in her chair and began to beat her head against stone wall until it shook. As the prayers continued she growled and then shouted an ear piercing scream just before, "the voice" manifested. It was an otherworldly guttural rasping sound that shouted obscenities at Father Carmine. Her face contorted into rage. Her eyeballs rolled into her head and she screamed, flailing on the floor. And this had been happening regularly for nine years. Movies and lore depicts the exorcism as a one shot deal but this is rarely the case. The possessed are freed from their demons only after a long process of returning to religious ritual in their lives, for Catholics this means confessions, prayer and mass. The exorcism only makes up about 10-20% of the healing process. But in rare cases, priests have performed exorcisms on Muslims and Hindus, after which they returned to their respective rituals. This is one of the theological reasons that God allows possession, to lead people back to a life of devout faith. After witnessing something as horrible as an evil force acting through a human being, I'm sure I would strike up some sort of repeated action to avoid it.
The scientific explanation against possession lacks the ability to account for quite a few unbelievable experiences. For example, one priest went home after an exorcism and his cats began tearing each other to pieces. The next day when talking to his "patient", the demonic voice manifested and said to the priest that it enjoyed playing with his cats. Another case involved a possessed individual taunting a priest with a demonic voice about its ability to erase all his phone's text messages, because he did. Multiple personality disorder and depression can't explain why the possessed have been known to vomit buckets of sperm, live scorpions and black nails. Clairvoyant abilities are provided by the demons through the possessed as they sometimes describe intimate details of priest's lives or objects in hidden areas. In very rare cases, a demon will describe its past possessions the priest was involved in. The descriptions that Matt Baglio received of these horrible exorcisms through first hand interviews are very disturbing. As I read them, chills went down my spine because they are so vivid and honest.
Discernment, the ability to determine if someone is truly possessed, is an interesting dilemma. Many exorcists like to work with a team of psychologists, psychiatrists and other advisers. The key to determining if someone is truly possessed can be rather obscured but typically if someone's condition does not respond to medicine, only to blessings and prayer it is an indication that demonic possession is likely present. Almost always, someone truly possessed won't attribute their problems to a demon. They only seek out the priesthood after being forced by a family member or friend. If one comes to a priest saying that they have a demon in them, that's a clue in the direction of a purely psychological problem.
This gripping account of an often ignored portion of the human experience, The Rite exceeded my expectations and led me to question my hodge-podge worldview. Why is it that demonic possessions occur so often in Catholics and in women? This leads me to speculate that like the campfire creating the shadows, the Catholic Church somehow creates this polar opposite manifest in the phenomena of demonic possession. There is truth in the accounts within this book, as depicted by the shock of seasoned priests to the experience of their first witnessed possession. When the exorcists themselves can't explain what is happening I know it is a profound mystery. What it all means is beyond anyone's understanding, especially mine.
October 19, 2011
A solid work and reasonable presentation of actual information regarding a Christian perspective on Satan, demons, and exorcism (from the Roman Catholic angle).
There is so much trash written and practiced concerning this subject; it is extremely difficult to find real information presented in a rational, theologically sound manner. I read this book in its entirety as an open-minded skeptic, fully expecting to be disappointed but willing to give it a shot. I don't regret it. It is a subject that needs serious, informed, calm, thoughtful discussion - the Church has a mortal enemy who will stop at nothing, save for God's sovereign power, to destroy all that God makes and redeems.
Know before you get to the last page that the author is not only a journalist, but a Roman Catholic - a lapsed "cultural Catholic" who subsequently re-discovered his faith in the course of his investigations of this subject. That fact will both lend him credibility and detract from it at the same time, and I would have preferred knowing it before I got to his Afterword at the end.
The only reason I can't give the book 5 stars is simply because it builds and builds and builds and ends far too abruptly. As a work of journalistic investigation, I am not expecting the usual plot devices and patterns of a fictional novel ... however, the presentation of the work lends itself to a narrative format and therefore fails to leave the reader very much satisfied. It's like reading Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped" ... right when you get to the "good part" the story suddenly and awkwardly ends. Stevenson never completed his work, but I wonder what Baglio's excuse might be?
That minor issue aside, I strongly recommend this for anybody searching for a reasonable, non-sensationalist, non-obsessive, non-fundamentalist explanation of what Christians believe about exorcism.
There is so much trash written and practiced concerning this subject; it is extremely difficult to find real information presented in a rational, theologically sound manner. I read this book in its entirety as an open-minded skeptic, fully expecting to be disappointed but willing to give it a shot. I don't regret it. It is a subject that needs serious, informed, calm, thoughtful discussion - the Church has a mortal enemy who will stop at nothing, save for God's sovereign power, to destroy all that God makes and redeems.
Know before you get to the last page that the author is not only a journalist, but a Roman Catholic - a lapsed "cultural Catholic" who subsequently re-discovered his faith in the course of his investigations of this subject. That fact will both lend him credibility and detract from it at the same time, and I would have preferred knowing it before I got to his Afterword at the end.
The only reason I can't give the book 5 stars is simply because it builds and builds and builds and ends far too abruptly. As a work of journalistic investigation, I am not expecting the usual plot devices and patterns of a fictional novel ... however, the presentation of the work lends itself to a narrative format and therefore fails to leave the reader very much satisfied. It's like reading Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped" ... right when you get to the "good part" the story suddenly and awkwardly ends. Stevenson never completed his work, but I wonder what Baglio's excuse might be?
That minor issue aside, I strongly recommend this for anybody searching for a reasonable, non-sensationalist, non-obsessive, non-fundamentalist explanation of what Christians believe about exorcism.
April 10, 2015
This is my third non-fiction book on exorcisms I've read this year, and this one is by far the best. I liked how this book followed a priest from San Jose to Italy so that he could receive the training to become an exorcist. He was ignorant and skeptical to begin with, but once he witnessed real life exorcisms, his views changed dramatically.
I learned lots of interesting facts and not surprisingly, demon possession is nothing like the Hollywood portrayal of it. Yes, there are some extreme episodes of strength, levitation, and hidden knowledge, but most people who are possessed cough or yawn during prayers rather than attack the priest.
Possession by curses I found the most disturbing. The victims of curses take a very long time to liberate. Most of the curses come from family members of the victim. Some are even passed down to affect later generations. Victims of curses often vomit nails, beads, even sperm. And exorcism isn't a one time, fix it and your done like Hollywood portrays it. One woman in the book has been undergoing exorcisms for 40 years.
As with other books, emphasis is placed on the fact that demons can only possess your body, not your soul. It is possible to be a believer and be possessed. Two of the possessed in this book are nuns, and one is the victim of a curse! Yikes.
Take away message from this book: If your fiance's mother is against your marriage, don't marry him/her because she's liable to place a curse on you. If you do decide to marry him anyway and you have a baby, get the baby baptized ASAP. Baptism is a type of exorcism and its easier to get rid of curses when the child is young than wait until the child is in their twenties to seek out help.
I learned lots of interesting facts and not surprisingly, demon possession is nothing like the Hollywood portrayal of it. Yes, there are some extreme episodes of strength, levitation, and hidden knowledge, but most people who are possessed cough or yawn during prayers rather than attack the priest.
Possession by curses I found the most disturbing. The victims of curses take a very long time to liberate. Most of the curses come from family members of the victim. Some are even passed down to affect later generations. Victims of curses often vomit nails, beads, even sperm. And exorcism isn't a one time, fix it and your done like Hollywood portrays it. One woman in the book has been undergoing exorcisms for 40 years.
As with other books, emphasis is placed on the fact that demons can only possess your body, not your soul. It is possible to be a believer and be possessed. Two of the possessed in this book are nuns, and one is the victim of a curse! Yikes.
Take away message from this book: If your fiance's mother is against your marriage, don't marry him/her because she's liable to place a curse on you. If you do decide to marry him anyway and you have a baby, get the baby baptized ASAP. Baptism is a type of exorcism and its easier to get rid of curses when the child is young than wait until the child is in their twenties to seek out help.
February 12, 2011
The most unusual feature about this book, given its subject matter, is that it is absolutely devoid of any of the dramatic excess one usually finds in a book on this topic. It could have been subtitled "Exorcism 101," because the author traces the progress of an American priest in Rome on his journey to becoming an exorcist. Along the way, the book examines the history of exorcism, the importance of doing a psychiatric examination and how symptoms of various psych disorders may resemble demonic possession, the order of angels, the history of the devil and demons, the pitfalls of being an exorcist.
The Vatican is working toward having a trained exorcist in every diocese in the world. To that end, priests come to the Vatican for exorcism classwork, and also have an opportunity to work with seasoned exorcists. In Italy, exorcism is much more accepted, and possessed persons make a standing appointment to see an exorcist, usually for 30 minutes once a week. Over time, the ritual wears the demon or demons down, hopefully leading to an eventual liberation for the suffering person. This book raised many more serious questions for me than it answered concerning the nature of evil and its myriad manifestations.
I once had a client who killed his family. He was examined independently by a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Both of these mental health professionals were accustomed to diagnosing disorders in people who had committed serious crimes. In the case of my client, they each came up with an opinion that he had been possessed by an evil force at the time of the murders. Needless to say, we did not present that theory to the jury. Since then, though, I have been more interested in the clinical approach to the idea of demonic possession.
To share meandering thoughts from down another path: My Goodreads friend who is a holocaust librarian recently reviewed an book about genocide in Rwanda, and ended his review by saying that the holocaust in Rwanda may portend even worse days for Darfur, if nothing is done to stop what is happening there. In everything I have read about Rwanda, one of the most often-used characterizations of the bloody violence there was Hell. We know that people will run amok in groups in ways that they would never do as individuals. In places like Rwanda and Darfur, though, it goes beyond mass hysteria or insanity to a much darker place. Does Satan have a presence there as well?
I in no means am trying to allege any kind of "the devil made me do it" defense of anyone's actions. However, i do strongly feel that evil exists as a force in the world. I guess it is up to the individual to fight it however they can: whether that is through an exorcism, of just reminding people that evil exists.
The Vatican is working toward having a trained exorcist in every diocese in the world. To that end, priests come to the Vatican for exorcism classwork, and also have an opportunity to work with seasoned exorcists. In Italy, exorcism is much more accepted, and possessed persons make a standing appointment to see an exorcist, usually for 30 minutes once a week. Over time, the ritual wears the demon or demons down, hopefully leading to an eventual liberation for the suffering person. This book raised many more serious questions for me than it answered concerning the nature of evil and its myriad manifestations.
I once had a client who killed his family. He was examined independently by a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Both of these mental health professionals were accustomed to diagnosing disorders in people who had committed serious crimes. In the case of my client, they each came up with an opinion that he had been possessed by an evil force at the time of the murders. Needless to say, we did not present that theory to the jury. Since then, though, I have been more interested in the clinical approach to the idea of demonic possession.
To share meandering thoughts from down another path: My Goodreads friend who is a holocaust librarian recently reviewed an book about genocide in Rwanda, and ended his review by saying that the holocaust in Rwanda may portend even worse days for Darfur, if nothing is done to stop what is happening there. In everything I have read about Rwanda, one of the most often-used characterizations of the bloody violence there was Hell. We know that people will run amok in groups in ways that they would never do as individuals. In places like Rwanda and Darfur, though, it goes beyond mass hysteria or insanity to a much darker place. Does Satan have a presence there as well?
I in no means am trying to allege any kind of "the devil made me do it" defense of anyone's actions. However, i do strongly feel that evil exists as a force in the world. I guess it is up to the individual to fight it however they can: whether that is through an exorcism, of just reminding people that evil exists.
April 16, 2020
A mildly interesting read, but predominantly very dry. One major downfall for me was that, whilst it's obviously a religious book/practice, it felt entirely too 'pro-Catholic' as opposed to simply stating facts, reciting examples and remaining neutral throughout
December 21, 2012
I honestly can't make heads or tails of this book. Yes, it was an incredibly interesting read, but a lot of it was very hard to swallow, even for someone like me who unreservedly believes in the existence of demonic spirits. I have no idea how much of the book was factual, and how much was blatant exaggeration. Baglio's no-frills journalistic writing style certainly lends the book an air of credibility, and the exorcists he writes about seem to take great care in ferreting out more naturalistic explanations whenever possible. Whether it's mostly true or not, THE RITE remains a great source for information on Catholic exorcisms, should that particular subject be of interest to you. And don't let the horrible Anthony Hopkins movie adaptation put you off, either--this is one of those occasions where a film based on a true story ends up having almost nothing in common with the source material.
Want to read
June 30, 2017one of my oldest ideas about this is to fill a squirtgun with holy water. another idea is if they have a demon in their head maybe you can make them sleep with their head inside a bag of potatoes and the demon will get lost in one of the potatoes.
July 18, 2011
The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio is a fascinating, thorough, and thought-provoking look at exorcism through the perspective of a Catholic priest, Father Gary, reluctantly sent to the Vatican to learn how to become an exorcist. He goes to actual classes and witnesses exorcisms performed by a grizzled Italian priest, Father Carmine.
"...[W]hen a demon 'possesses' a person, he is merely acting on that person...'During a possession the demon is not present; it is connected like a pipe, and so he sends inputs into that person that the person can perceived' Typically, these 'inputs' can be a variety of things that the person can experience, such as voices or noises, or even thoughts. 'In this way, [the demon] tries to solicit the permission of our free will to evil, with the purpose of causing and reinforcing in us a growing dependence on him.' The goal is always the same: to drive the person to desperation and isolation, to make him a willing 'slave' to the demon and sin.
"'In the moment of crisis, however, the demon is not only connected but he comes, he is there; and the prayer of exorcism forces him to be present because it provokes him and forces him to reveal himself.'"
We get passages from Church literature regarding its stance and teachings on the devil, demonic possessions, and exorcisms. What surprised me the most was that many priests don't believe in demons or that anybody can be possessed. Skepticism and doubt prevail not only among the secular and nonbelievers, but clergy as well. Many regard the devil and/or his demonic minions as metaphors for sin, not as an actual being or spirit.
Once someone does become possessed by a demon and undergoes exorcism (after going through diligent and methodical screening to eliminate other conditions, such as psychological or mental illness), there is no guarantee that exorcism will even work. There are cases where the possessed has been undergoing exorcism rituals every week for 15, 20 years.
Another surprising thing was that you don't have to be Catholic to be possessed - aha! Demonic possession is an equal opportunity condition, folks. Exorcists in the book attest to treating Hindus, Muslims, and Jews, who have come to them as a last resort.
Some theories as to why a person would be prone to demon possession (as officially set forth by the Church) were not very convincing and sounded more like superstitious gossip one would hear at an elementary school playground: playing the Ouija board, consulting Tarot cards, or practicing Wicca are gateways to the devil!
Although real-life accounts of exorcisms are described, some in terrifying detail, The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist is not a sensationalistic book; it's written with a scholarly and balanced approach that tends to make a believer out of me.
"...[W]hen a demon 'possesses' a person, he is merely acting on that person...'During a possession the demon is not present; it is connected like a pipe, and so he sends inputs into that person that the person can perceived' Typically, these 'inputs' can be a variety of things that the person can experience, such as voices or noises, or even thoughts. 'In this way, [the demon] tries to solicit the permission of our free will to evil, with the purpose of causing and reinforcing in us a growing dependence on him.' The goal is always the same: to drive the person to desperation and isolation, to make him a willing 'slave' to the demon and sin.
"'In the moment of crisis, however, the demon is not only connected but he comes, he is there; and the prayer of exorcism forces him to be present because it provokes him and forces him to reveal himself.'"
We get passages from Church literature regarding its stance and teachings on the devil, demonic possessions, and exorcisms. What surprised me the most was that many priests don't believe in demons or that anybody can be possessed. Skepticism and doubt prevail not only among the secular and nonbelievers, but clergy as well. Many regard the devil and/or his demonic minions as metaphors for sin, not as an actual being or spirit.
Once someone does become possessed by a demon and undergoes exorcism (after going through diligent and methodical screening to eliminate other conditions, such as psychological or mental illness), there is no guarantee that exorcism will even work. There are cases where the possessed has been undergoing exorcism rituals every week for 15, 20 years.
Another surprising thing was that you don't have to be Catholic to be possessed - aha! Demonic possession is an equal opportunity condition, folks. Exorcists in the book attest to treating Hindus, Muslims, and Jews, who have come to them as a last resort.
Some theories as to why a person would be prone to demon possession (as officially set forth by the Church) were not very convincing and sounded more like superstitious gossip one would hear at an elementary school playground: playing the Ouija board, consulting Tarot cards, or practicing Wicca are gateways to the devil!
Although real-life accounts of exorcisms are described, some in terrifying detail, The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist is not a sensationalistic book; it's written with a scholarly and balanced approach that tends to make a believer out of me.
January 1, 2017
This is a strange book in that on the one hand it unquestioningly endorses the need for exorcism within the Roman Catholic religion, and on the other hand, is written as if to appeal to the wow-factor for modern-day 'possession' by demons. In the latter sense the book follows the 'making' of a modern exorcist priest as he gradually becomes inducted into a fellowship of exorcists. The individual stories met along the way range from the mere puzzling to more hair-raising narratives. Overall, however, I was not convinced one way or another.
'Possessed' individuals (mostly women) seem to me more the result of psychological damage and superstitious beliefs than anything else, while some of the action of the 'approved' exorcists verges on the risible despite Baglio's attempt to take it all very seriously indeed. Humanity has its fair share of damaged individuals. Some would argue that institutionalised religions that encourage superstitious beliefs have created the damage — but if the exorcism rite is the only method they have of dealing with the problems, then they are in for more trouble; they may be stuck with it. Whether the rite is of any real help in freeing these damaged people from their superstition is another matter altogether.
There is a real possibility that the process merely encourages further deviant behaviour. Being possessed by a devil is not a sign of being evil: many great saints are lauded precisely for having been so possessed... Thus, often enough, possession is an indication that the person afflicted is very holy indeed, and much loved by god: hence warranting Satan's attack on them! Being the subject of an exorcism thus is highly attractive — it makes one feel important.
I was tempted to rate this book higher, just for the fun of it; but I suspect it is only concerned with justifying the establishment of more exorcists. If the 'methods' shown in this book are any indication, it would seem to me that a better approach would be to provide priests with extensive modern psychology courses. As it is, it seems to be encourage more superstitious behaviour rather than be concerned with any healing process, and as such, I cannot endorse it.
'Possessed' individuals (mostly women) seem to me more the result of psychological damage and superstitious beliefs than anything else, while some of the action of the 'approved' exorcists verges on the risible despite Baglio's attempt to take it all very seriously indeed. Humanity has its fair share of damaged individuals. Some would argue that institutionalised religions that encourage superstitious beliefs have created the damage — but if the exorcism rite is the only method they have of dealing with the problems, then they are in for more trouble; they may be stuck with it. Whether the rite is of any real help in freeing these damaged people from their superstition is another matter altogether.
There is a real possibility that the process merely encourages further deviant behaviour. Being possessed by a devil is not a sign of being evil: many great saints are lauded precisely for having been so possessed... Thus, often enough, possession is an indication that the person afflicted is very holy indeed, and much loved by god: hence warranting Satan's attack on them! Being the subject of an exorcism thus is highly attractive — it makes one feel important.
I was tempted to rate this book higher, just for the fun of it; but I suspect it is only concerned with justifying the establishment of more exorcists. If the 'methods' shown in this book are any indication, it would seem to me that a better approach would be to provide priests with extensive modern psychology courses. As it is, it seems to be encourage more superstitious behaviour rather than be concerned with any healing process, and as such, I cannot endorse it.
March 23, 2009
This book follows a Catholic priest from California on his sabbatical in Rome, where he attends a course about exorcism and apprentices with an experienced Italian exorcist. Starting this journey with little more than a Hollywood understanding of demons and exorcism, Fr. Gary experiences just how mundane and boring, as well as frightening and supernatural exorcisms can be as he witnesses over 80 of them.
The reader gets to learn about the history, theology, and practicalities of exorcism, curses, and demonic possession, as well as any helpful bits of advice that Fr. Gary can gather up, since he is to return to California as the officially sanctioned exorcist of his diocese.
Much of this book just presents what happens through the eyes of Fr. Gary without too much explanation. He is apprenticing with an overworked Italian priest who has little time to answer questions and a language barrier to overcome when he can spend a few minutes teaching. So you get a lot of Fr. Gary's first impressions, which I really enjoyed. One thing that I was surprised to learn is just how skeptical most exorcists are. I was also interested to learn just how boring most exorcisms are. And of course, I was riveted by the descriptions of the more Hollywood-esque experiences that Fr. Gary participated in.
In the end, the reason this book worked so well is that Fr. Gary is just a regular American guy. I can relate to him. He learns about a world he never really believed existed and commits himself to this ministry. He is not out to "bag demons." He is touched by the obvious suffering of the people who come to a priest as a last resort, after their lives have fallen apart and years of doctors can offer them no solution.
If you believe in angels and demons, this book will affirm that belief, and fill you with equal parts fear and hope. If you are a skeptic of these seemingly outdated bits of Church lore, I hope you will at least enjoy this modern glimpse into the most controversial of Catholic rites. For all those somewhere in the middle, perhaps this book will answer some questions and cause you to look at the world in a slightly different way.
The reader gets to learn about the history, theology, and practicalities of exorcism, curses, and demonic possession, as well as any helpful bits of advice that Fr. Gary can gather up, since he is to return to California as the officially sanctioned exorcist of his diocese.
Much of this book just presents what happens through the eyes of Fr. Gary without too much explanation. He is apprenticing with an overworked Italian priest who has little time to answer questions and a language barrier to overcome when he can spend a few minutes teaching. So you get a lot of Fr. Gary's first impressions, which I really enjoyed. One thing that I was surprised to learn is just how skeptical most exorcists are. I was also interested to learn just how boring most exorcisms are. And of course, I was riveted by the descriptions of the more Hollywood-esque experiences that Fr. Gary participated in.
In the end, the reason this book worked so well is that Fr. Gary is just a regular American guy. I can relate to him. He learns about a world he never really believed existed and commits himself to this ministry. He is not out to "bag demons." He is touched by the obvious suffering of the people who come to a priest as a last resort, after their lives have fallen apart and years of doctors can offer them no solution.
If you believe in angels and demons, this book will affirm that belief, and fill you with equal parts fear and hope. If you are a skeptic of these seemingly outdated bits of Church lore, I hope you will at least enjoy this modern glimpse into the most controversial of Catholic rites. For all those somewhere in the middle, perhaps this book will answer some questions and cause you to look at the world in a slightly different way.
April 13, 2018
I read this book before I had a Goodreads account, and I reread it for research purposes. When the movie came out I decided I'd read the book before seeing it. My first impression was that possession described here is mostly very subtle. The book is about how Fr. Gary Thomas became an official American exorcist. You can read the book and come away thinking that there is little that can't be explained scientifically here.
In the movie the protagonist is much younger and not a priest. He's not sure he believes in God. The book is quite different in that regard, and less likely to make a good horror movie. If demons are contingent then there's little on which to base fear. Matt Baglio does a bit of delving into history here, and tells a bit of Fr. Thomas's life story. He focuses, however, on his months in Rome learning how to be an exorcist under the tutelage of a Capuchin monk.
There's not much that will frighten the wary here, but the account is informative and well written. I reviewed it a couple times on my blog (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World), in keeping with the theme. I'm currently writing a book on demons, so this was homework for me. Somewhat pleasant homework, as far as the subject can be so.
In the movie the protagonist is much younger and not a priest. He's not sure he believes in God. The book is quite different in that regard, and less likely to make a good horror movie. If demons are contingent then there's little on which to base fear. Matt Baglio does a bit of delving into history here, and tells a bit of Fr. Thomas's life story. He focuses, however, on his months in Rome learning how to be an exorcist under the tutelage of a Capuchin monk.
There's not much that will frighten the wary here, but the account is informative and well written. I reviewed it a couple times on my blog (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World), in keeping with the theme. I'm currently writing a book on demons, so this was homework for me. Somewhat pleasant homework, as far as the subject can be so.
April 20, 2009
While this book has moments of true creep factor, it is not a sensationalist view of exorcism. If you are looking for screaming material go pick up a copy of The Exorcist. The book does contain some interesting facts such as more women than men seek exorcism, and Italy has more exorcism than just about anywhere else. Make what you want out of that, but for my part I do believe that demons exist. I just think the less said about them, the better.
That said, I can say the book is written with a journalists eye, and at times is a bit jerky in the sudden divergences into backstory. Still, it's a good read, and an informative read. The Rite does separate the fact from the fiction regarding the Catholic Church's view of the spiritual where it meets the psychiatric. Part of the exorcist training is in learning how to tell the difference.
So, I say, sure read the book, but don't think it's going to scare the pants off of ya.
That said, I can say the book is written with a journalists eye, and at times is a bit jerky in the sudden divergences into backstory. Still, it's a good read, and an informative read. The Rite does separate the fact from the fiction regarding the Catholic Church's view of the spiritual where it meets the psychiatric. Part of the exorcist training is in learning how to tell the difference.
So, I say, sure read the book, but don't think it's going to scare the pants off of ya.
January 29, 2013
Muy buen libro ayuda a profundizar en la realidad del exorcismo desde los ojos de un sacerdote que recién si inicia en esta vida. Profundizar en las materializaciones del mal de los demonios, para muchos puede ser escandaloso e incluso creer que es morboso. Mas la experiencia de entender que no vivimos solo en un mundo material y que hay fuerzas malignas reales, ayuda a aumentar nuestra fe en Cristo por sabemos que el nos protege y el mas fuerte. Y como decía un exorcista en el libro, no hay que tener miedo a los demonios por que ellos no pueden poseer tu alma, solo el cuerpo, hay que tenerle miedo al pecado por que ese si puede poseer tu alma.
March 19, 2016
A pretty decent overview of modern day exorcism in the catholic faith. I found it most interesting that the majority of priests do not come into the study of exorcism believing in demons or the devil in a real sense but more as an allegorical tale. I also loved that many tools of discernment are used including fake holy water, psychologists, and reading Aristotle in Latin in lieu of the Holy Text. For instance if someone reacts to the Aristotle or tap water then the priest knows they are faking the possession. I don't know where I stand on all this but I do know I am fascinated with the unknown realm of the supernatural and I'm pretty sure I have a few ex wives that are possessed.
January 26, 2015
The book was awful and extremely boring. I regret wasting so much time on it. I only started reading it, because it seemed interesting, but it is true that you can`t judge a book by its covers. A waste of time and money, if you ask me.
October 25, 2021
I found this book to be a real surprise. I had preconceived ideas that though based on true stories, the book might still get sensational and it did not. The author had a style that was genuine and humble. The story followed the journey of , Father Gary, an American Priest,who was in Rome to become an Exorcist for his diocese in the U.S. He introduced us to the culture of the Vatican campus, the kindly priests and the sad victims who suffer from possession. Some of these stories broke my heart. There were some victims who suffered for years until they were finally set free. I was quite impressed at the process of psychiatric screening and interviews that these these people who sought exorcism went through before the rite would occur. I loved how the priests always lovingly prayed blessings over all who sought help. How good to know that there are priests and lay people who are willing in a sense, to stand on the battle field of the enemy in prayer for these suffering people. I found this book helped me to once again be reminded of several things: that we are surrounded by unseen angelic hosts at work to do the will of God, that there is indeed a "communion of saints," and whether or not I understand how it all works, does not matter, as long as I do not forget that there is an unseen spiritual world.
October 1, 2012
This book follows an American priest who goes to Rome to learn to be an exorcist. He is skeptical at first, but as he learns and witnesses some real exorcisms, he comes to believe. It's an interesting book in the sense that all of the information about demons and possession and all is accurate to the official stance of the Catholic Church, and that there are many people who genuinely believe this stuff, even today.
The author pretends to be unbiased, but this is clearly told from a Catholic perspective. He does give a good amount of consideration to the fact that many people seeking "exorcisms" are simply mentally ill, but then points out that sometimes the demons just fake symptoms of mental illness as a trick. Huh. Even worse, he completely glosses over the idea that maybe these people are just highly susceptible to suggestion, especially from a priest that they consider wise and holy, which seems to me to be the likely cause of almost all of this activity.
If you are interested in Christian mythology and the stupid shit that people believe, this might be worth a read. Otherwise, I can't recommend it.
The author pretends to be unbiased, but this is clearly told from a Catholic perspective. He does give a good amount of consideration to the fact that many people seeking "exorcisms" are simply mentally ill, but then points out that sometimes the demons just fake symptoms of mental illness as a trick. Huh. Even worse, he completely glosses over the idea that maybe these people are just highly susceptible to suggestion, especially from a priest that they consider wise and holy, which seems to me to be the likely cause of almost all of this activity.
If you are interested in Christian mythology and the stupid shit that people believe, this might be worth a read. Otherwise, I can't recommend it.
February 7, 2011
I picked this one up mostly out of curiosity, and I think it's actually dulled that curiosity, rather than quenching it (or leaving it in place). Start with some life history of a modern-day Californian Catholic parish priest, Father Gary, who goes to Rome to learn to become an exorcist. Run through lots of examples of possessions in their myriad forms, mostly of folks who line up outside the door of an Italian exorcist who helps train Father Gary. Add various details which seem to prove the veracity of demonic influence. Glancingly describe how mental illnesses may be confused with demonic possession.
I'm not Catholic, which may have predisposed me to be cynical, but it did give me a general idea of where the Catholic Church's perspective on this topic. I would've liked more on the history of Church-sanctioned exorcisms, but this book does offer pretty true advertising: it's more about Father Gary's personal journey. This may interest others, but I'd advise most to give it a pass.
I'm not Catholic, which may have predisposed me to be cynical, but it did give me a general idea of where the Catholic Church's perspective on this topic. I would've liked more on the history of Church-sanctioned exorcisms, but this book does offer pretty true advertising: it's more about Father Gary's personal journey. This may interest others, but I'd advise most to give it a pass.
September 23, 2010
OMG!!! I could not put this book down. It is by far THE BEST book I have ever read on exorcisms. The book is true life, modern day and follows a priest named Father Gary as he is called to attend exorcism school in Rome, Italy. He receives both classroom and hands-on training in how to exorcise demons that have possessed people. It is amazing how hush-hush the whole topic of possession is, and that most people do not believe in it. However, it is very real and very scary. I rented this book from the library but it was so fascinating and wonderfully written that I am goint ot buy a copy for my own collection. You HAVE to read this book, but don't read it at night before you go to bed or will have nightmares.
June 9, 2011
This book was an eye-opener about the seriousness with which the Catholic Church takes the rite of exorcism in the world today. The author, Matt Baglio follows a reluctant exorcism candidate, nominated by his American bishop, to Rome, where he enrolls in exorcism school. The training and mindset required to become an exorcist was low-key and pragmatic. I was impressed with the respect that people suffering from demonic influences are treated. There was no inclusion of Stephen King-type "Carrie" eye-poppers.
The suffering of people under a demonic influence is tremendous. God allows evil to exist because it strengthens the faith of the believers. The key is to concentrate on God's strength and not to obsess over the demonic.
The suffering of people under a demonic influence is tremendous. God allows evil to exist because it strengthens the faith of the believers. The key is to concentrate on God's strength and not to obsess over the demonic.
October 22, 2009
This book did nothing to dissuade me from believing that organised religion is a bad thing, created by a patriarchal society in order to control the masses. However, this is a review of the book and my personal beliefs should not really be a factor. The book was fine, it followed a US Catholic priest through 'exorcism school' in Rome. It gives some background to exorcism in general, there's obviously some theology and a small amount of biographical information on the US priest. There are some exorcisms detailed in the text which are as far from the Hollywood stereotype as can be expected. I wouldn't say this is a bad book but it wasn't for me.
February 10, 2011
This was a very interesting, factual book on a particular priest's journey as an exorcist. Although a little heavy on Roman Catholicism, it was mostly just very interesting. I didn't find it particularly creepy or sensationalized. Just as Father Gary felt comfortable walking at night following a series of exorcisms, I had no trouble sleeping at night after reading some of the accounts. In contrast to the book, I disliked the movie - I'd be surprised if you would like both. I think the major contrast between the book and some of the movies on the subject is that the movies focus on the power of the demons and the book focuses on the power of God.
June 9, 2015
I listened to this book on audiotape on which the author read the book. I kind of wished that he had hired a professional as his voice could be a little dull at times, but overall he did pretty good. I found the content very interesting and informative. After seeing the hollywood version it was interesting to find out that there are variations of the intensity of possession and that getting rid of a demon often requires more than one exorcism along with homework for the possessed to become more consistent in their prayer life.
October 27, 2018
Exorcisms are not a thing of the past. The Catholic clergy of today are studying and applying how to rid someone of demonic possession. The Rite walks us through Father Gary’s training on how to identify a possessed person and perform exorcisms where necessary.
The author is clearly passionate about the topic and this comes through in his writing, which he does well. Baglio does spend some time on scientific reasoning and possible explanations, which I greatly appreciated. If you are looking for a serious account on this topic, The Rite is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.
The author is clearly passionate about the topic and this comes through in his writing, which he does well. Baglio does spend some time on scientific reasoning and possible explanations, which I greatly appreciated. If you are looking for a serious account on this topic, The Rite is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.
June 29, 2018
Very good book written on demonology and exorcism for the average reader. Does a good job of explaining Catholic beliefs and practices for people who may not be familiar with them. Quite objective too, so that I think even a 'skeptic' would be able to get something out of reading it. I randomly found this at a thrift store, glad I got it.
Nota Bene: the movie starring Anthony Hopkins is only very very vaguely based on the biographical material covered in this book.
Nota Bene: the movie starring Anthony Hopkins is only very very vaguely based on the biographical material covered in this book.
dnf
January 26, 2025DNF @ 20%
I’ve tried to get into this book twice now within 2 weeks and it’s just nothing like I expected. I watched The Rite (2011) expecting the book to be at least somewhat similar but it’s not from what I gathered.
This is a nonfiction account of the history of exorcisms and does not follow one exorcism start to finish like the movie. It’s also very heavily based in religion. Not super surprising there, but it’s easier to consume religious content when it’s in the form of fiction for me. When it’s non-fiction historical accounts like this, I found myself bored and disinterested. Ultimately, this isn’t what I was looking for and because of that I couldn’t get into it. My expectations were too deeply rooted in the movie.
I’ve tried to get into this book twice now within 2 weeks and it’s just nothing like I expected. I watched The Rite (2011) expecting the book to be at least somewhat similar but it’s not from what I gathered.
This is a nonfiction account of the history of exorcisms and does not follow one exorcism start to finish like the movie. It’s also very heavily based in religion. Not super surprising there, but it’s easier to consume religious content when it’s in the form of fiction for me. When it’s non-fiction historical accounts like this, I found myself bored and disinterested. Ultimately, this isn’t what I was looking for and because of that I couldn’t get into it. My expectations were too deeply rooted in the movie.
September 21, 2013
With a plethora of exorcism movies available for viewing consumption, the subject itself has always been viewed as either an archaic act of old world superstitious wizardry or a scream feast with friends while watching one of those said movies. Matt Baglio's The Rite was a very enlightening and informative read that demystified preconceived perceptions that I, as a reader, had, primarily that the rite is the last step taken in a long medical odyssey. When all options, psychiatric and otherwise fail, then the rite of exorcism is involved and the name of Jesus Christ is invoked, the ultimate exorciser. Due to a rapid increase in exorcism and deliverance (the latter of which can be performed by any nondenominational faith-filled Christian) demands, the church, specifically the Catholic Church, found itself woefully ill equipped to help people in their struggles; ironically, members of the clergy were just as skeptical and dismissive of the rite as the secularist public at large was. But that all changed when an exorcism course was offered at the North American College (NAC), the largest American Catholic seminary on international ground. The course was taught in the division of the Continuing Theological Education. One American priest, a former funeral director named Fr. Gary Thomas, was one of the new students to partake in this academic offering; it was not his choosing but rather an appointment or nomination of him by his bishop. Seeing the sabbatical to Rome, Catholicism's epicenter, as a rejuvenating and reminding grace of his priestly ordination, Fr. Gary did not fully know what he was in for. On entering the campus, which was decked out with the most updated technology and ergonomically correct furnishings, for him, the school was outfitted more for the power suites of Silicon Valley than for monks, nuns and clerics. Trying to get settled in and overcoming the language barrier, he gradually learned that exorcisms and deliverances were performed almost daily in the side offices of priests in Rome and in the outskirts. The frequency was quite astonishing, like an in/out procedure whereby people on their lunch breaks would go for a minor shock operation to the soul which exorcism is supposed to provide. Bit by bit, Fr. Gary learned that the best way to fully understand exorcism is to get apprenticed by a senior one whose had years of experience. Ultimately, he learned under Capuchin Fr. Carmine De Filippis who had been doing the rite since 1987. In a tiny area near his office, a waiting line develops. When Fr. Carmine is ready, he invites the victim into his space and starts off with a very simple prayer. If that prayer elicits a violent reaction accompanied by other signs that only an experienced exorcist can discern (through the eyes), the rite is followed through with. At the beginning, Fr. Gary was extremely underwhelmed, for the whole procedure seemed so mundane and organized, and the reactions of the possessed did not mirror anything as portrayed in The Exorcist. Over time, he learned of the causes and effects of demonic possession and of how the names Satan and Lucifer do not necessarily connote lone entities but rather a grouping of minions who fall under that heading. He learned of curses, the stages leading to full-on possession, starting with infestation, oppression, obsession, et cetera, occult practices, that black and white magic is satanic in origin and onward. He also learned that God allows possession to happen, but that the outcome will always have a greater goodness that will result, a result that will be beyond full human comprehension; the primary benefit is that people will go back to the sacraments. Additionally, as part of his training, he too met one-on-one with the possessed. One riveting account was of a women, who, before birth, was dedicated to Satan; her life from the very get-go, was one of struggle and interior darkness. Another particular case that was briefly mentioned was too disturbing and gross to be mentioned on a public forum. Suffice it to say, it involved a bucket and what was vomited into it. Some of the people had been exorcised for years but with minimal results to show for it. However, results at least showed, something that doctors could unfortunately not claim. Also, there were married victims and even possessed clergy. The last category, as explained in the book, is supposedly not too surprising, for the religious who are closest to God are always intensely attacked. Look at the examples of Saints Padre Pio and Gemma Galgani. Lastly, Fr. Gary learned that when he established his exorcism ministry in CA he should assemble a team of medical doctors to comb through the symptoms with meticulous care before a religious assessment can be applied, for science and medicine must work in tandem with religion. More often than not, the cases are psychological and out of the range of experience of the priest. But in The Rite, the demonically verified cases that are profiled, each one, from the mundane to the extreme, were very chilling and hard to turn your intellect away from. It can make you come away and say, Yes, this is genuinely possible. Matt Baglio's book was very informative and casual, if not slightly disturbing and off the cuff with day-to-day normality. He wrote it with an investigative eye and ear, doubtful at first but more open-minded in the end. His experience with the unknown, his moment with the Odor of Sanctity, was very moving and human. Forget Hollywood and their dramatic interpretation, using excessive ceremonial opulence and fanfare, for truth really is stranger than fiction. Definitely a good and compelling read.
August 3, 2025
Waaay too journalistic in tone. If we're talking about stuff like that, I would like for there to be a clear fear of the Devil eminating from every page. Core idea is that 99% of mental "unwellness" is psychiatric and only a small small fraction is spiritual; fair enough, but I missed deeper distinctions, esp. how in Catholicism, Ego is the source of Pride, and how unchecked Ego does actually relate to many mental conditions (as per Jung). You know, the overlap. Book shows complete inability to fuse theology and psychiatry. If evil is real, it sure doesn't feel like it from reading this book.
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