We've all heard it at one point or another, whether it be from a TV show or from our own younger siblings, or children, or whatever. Children get frightened at night--a little bump, a creak in the floor, it's all cause for concern. Most of the time, this is due to nothing more than the air temperature changing, causing doors to swell or contract, or the plumbing, or so on. Sometimes it's as innocuous as a cat running into a broom outside. (in other cases, bats might fly straight into a window. Yes, that's happened to me. Late. At night. When it was dark. No lights on outside or inside. Yes, I jumped. No, I didn't faint.)
But there are certain risks with being a part of the Church, and with knowing what the Church teaches--knowing what the Saints have said--knowing the history of that ancient conflict, beginning when Lucifer was cast out of heaven--the conflict between good and evil.
These risks include knowing what does go bump in the night.
It should go without saying that I don't mean that the missing powder-puff is the work of Satan, or that it's obviously a demonic infestation when a teddy-bear gets knocked over. There are two extremes to this issue--the extreme which says that demons do not exist (or do exist but aren't the cause of anything problematic) and the extreme that says every little thing that goes wrong is due to the work of Satan, and obviously if you broke a plate it means that God has abandoned you to the demons and you better repent OR ELSE... (cue Dana Carvey: "Could it be...SATAN?")
Neither of these is a good approach to take. Not every down mood you have is the work of a demon intent on destroying your life, and not every random impulse you have to buy shoes is the result of Satan's fury.
But demons do exist, and they do hate you, and they do want to claim your soul. Leaving aside Linda Blair, demonic activity is real, and is NOT to be trifled with. So--just a note, okay? If you ever suspect you've got an unwanted visitor in your house...even if you think it is a little girl ghost...DO NOT "invite it in". (actually happened. Not to me, obviously, but in a case documented by an exorcist. Bad, bad infestation. Bad. Very, very bad)
So, before I continue my rant, please note:
1. Demonic activity is real.
2. Not everything you don't like is demonic activity.
3. Be sensible about it.
It's not that hard. Too often I notice people going to one extreme or the other, and making themselves look ridiculous.
Now, to continue my rant.
There are, as I recall, four distinct kinds of demonic activity. They are--
1. Infestation. This is a comparatively mild form of activity, wherein it is focused around a place instead of a person (though it affects the person as well). Please note that although I say "comparatively mild", that does not mean it is anything to be trifled with.
2. Obsession. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a person's obsession with the demonic. These are usually concentrated attacks on someone, usually focusing around a sin they are particularly inclined to. Thus, cases of obsession are not always immediately noticeable due to its nature.
3. Oppression. This tends to be where things move out of the spiritual realm and into the physical. The stereotypical plates-flying-off-walls, beds being shaken--that's oppression (though I would imagine that oppression can start off as an infestation). Ironically, there are multiple cases of atheists and agnostics converting after an experience with oppression and infestation--experiences resolved by exorcism. That must really irk the big bad, eh? The good news is that when people encounter something completely, blatantly evil, they recognize that if such tremendous evil exists, and can be defeated, it means that there is not only a good, but a good far greater than this horrendous evil they've experienced.
4. Possession. Here we move into the realm where reality flies out the window and things become terrifying and hollywood-horror like, except ten times worse. With possession, a demon (or demons)can take control of a part (or all) of a person's body. This is the rarest and most serious form of diabolic activity.
The good news is that most of these problems can be solved by a diocesan priest blessing a home or a person. Of course, that's not always the case; it depends on the number of demons, and the strength of those demons involved--i.e are there seven lower-rank demons, or one fallen seraphim?* Just because they've fallen doesn't mean their natural faculties have changed, and as a result some might need an extra dose of holy water (metaphorically and literally).
All this to say--there is a difference between a cat knocking over a broom in the night and demons. And if you ever encounter the latter, then get help. They're real, and they're bad news.
Fortunately, we've got something better. After all, Love conquers all. Especially this love--
No demon can destroy that.
*this is the disclaimer on the entire post. Every case is different. Every demon is different, for that matter. Some cases require nothing more than a priest blessing a house, and that's that. Others need four exorcists and special permission from Rome. It's all variable.
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