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The late Father Gabriele Amorth, former chief exorcist of Rome, has played a grand battle between good and evil, performing 70,000 exorcisms over 30 years.  He has noticed an increase of young people under the influence of evil.

“The world must know that Satan exists, Father Amorth told Catholic News Agency (CNA) in 2011. The devil and the demons are many and they have two powers, the ordinary and the extraordinary.  The ordinary power is that of tempting man to distance himself from God and take him to Hell. This action is exercised against all men and women of all places and religions. The extraordinary powers act when Satan focuses his attention on a person. The exorcist categorized the expression of that attention into four types: diabolical possession; diabolical vexation like in the case of Padre Pio, who was beaten by the devil; obsessions to lead a person to desperation and infestation, and the devil’s occupation of a space, animal or object.”

Fr. Amorth said extraordinary occurrences are rare but rising and is worried by the number of young people affected by Satan through sects, séances and drugs. “God promised He would never allow temptations greater than our strengths,” guidance everybody can use to fight Satan.

Defeat temptations first by avoiding them, and second with prayer, including the Mass.

“Jesus Christ” is the name the exorcist most often calls to expel demons, but also turns to saints for assistance. Pope John Paul II has proved a powerful intercessor.  Fr. Amorth asked Satan: “Why are you so scared of John Paul II?” “He disrupted my plans with the fall of Communism in Russia and Eastern Europe. He pulled so many young people from my hands,” Satan replied.

The Blessed Mother is the most powerful intercessor!  The exorcist asked Satan: “Why are you more scared when I invoke Our Lady than Jesus Christ?”  “I am more humiliated to be defeated by a human creature than by Jesus,” Satan replied.

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