True Story of the many Exorcisms of Nicola Aubry who was possessed many times including by Beelzebub and other devils. Moreover by clear proofs, it is also manifest that Satan can, by divine permission, enter our bodies, compel as it were, the human being to stand aside and use our organs himself, and do whatever he pleased with them. But he cannot annihilate the human being, or take from the soul its free will. It is always in the power of the possessed to resist, morally and effectually, the evil intentions of the devil. The possessed person retains his own consciousness, his own intellectual and moral faculties unimpaired, and he never confounds himself with the spirit that possesses him. He always retains the power of internal protest and struggle. Whenever this power is exercised, and there is clearly a struggle, there is no responsibility whatever of attaching to him the crimes which the body, through the possession of the devil, is made to commit. But unfortunately it very often happens that this power to protest is not exercised, and the possessed person yields his moral assent to the crimes committed by the demon that possesses him. Such diabolical possessions have been more or less frequent in different times and places. This is confirmed by the testimony and experience of till ages, and of all nations, even to the remotest Indies. Such facts both the Old and New Testaments evince. However, with regard to the effects of magic and possessions of devils, the Catholic Church says, in her Ritual, that such extraordinary effects are not to be easily supposed. That superstition, credulity, and imposture are to be guarded against, and that natural distempers, such as certain species of madness, extraordinary palsies, epilepsies, or the like, are not to be construed into effects of enchantments or possessions, which are not to be presumed upon ridiculous compacts and signs, nor upon vulgar prejudices and notions of the manner in which such things are done, but must be made apparent by circumstances. The criteria of demoniac invasion or possession, as laid down by the Catholic Church for the guidance of exorcists, are the following: 1. Understanding of unknown languages. 2. Power of speaking unknown or foreign languages. 3. Knowledge of things passing in distant places. 4. Exhibition of superior physical strength. 5. Suspension of the body in the air during a considerable time. Although Satan, with implacable envy and malice, studies to disturb our temporal happiness and to compass our eternal ruin both by stratagems and open assaults, yet it is certain that he can tempt and assail us only to a certain degree. He can go only the length of his chain, that is, as far as God permits him. This is evident from the history of Job. Before Satan was bound, or his power curbed by the triumph of Christ over him, and the spreading of the happy light and influence of the Gospel throughout the world, the empire which Satan exercised on earth was much greater than since that time. However, there can be no doubt that, in our own days, the power and influence of Satan over an immense number of men is great, very great, and it will increase in proportion as they approach heathenism and infidelity, and leave the true religion. The Catholic Church recommends to all her faithful children, constant prayer and watchfulness against the temptations and assaults of the devil. Against the mischievous influence of his malice against men, the Catholic Church has instituted, and always practised, exorcisms and blessings. She teaches that men being created to fill up the places of the apostate angels, Lucifer with his associates is permitted by God to spread his snares and exert the efforts of his malice against us, that, in these trials, we may give proof of our fidelity, and may purchase, by victories and triumphs, that bliss for which we arc created.
