Msgr. Stephen Rossetti - Diary of an American Exorcist

Stephen J. Rossetti

Diary of an American Exorcist

Demons, Possession, and
the Modern-Day Battle
against Ancient Evil

SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS
Manchester, New Hampshire

Copyright 2021 by Stephen J. Rossetti

Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright 1997, United States Conference of Catholic BishopsLibreria Editrice Vaticana.

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Nihil obstat : Reverend Monsignor Charles E. Pope, Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur : Very Reverend Daniel B. Carson, Vicar General
and Moderator of the Curia
Archdiocese of Washington, March 16, 2021

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Contents

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A Prayer for You

May the Blessed Virgin spread her mantle of protection over all who read this book, or any part of it, with their loves ones and all they possess. May St. Michael and the holy angels establish a perimeter of protection around you all. May the blood of Christ wash you clean of any evil. May the light of Christ shine through you so brightly that it casts out every darkness. I pray especially that the love, joy, and peace of Christ fill your hearts in this world and the next. Amen.

A Note of Gratitude

I am grateful to many people. I think of our graced and terrific exorcism team members. They are very gifted, dedicated, and faith-filled. It is a grace for me to minister alongside them.

I am grateful for our many prayer warriors scattered around the globe. Your quiet prayers and sacrifices are critical to the success of this ministry.

I am grateful to the Archdiocese of Washington for its unwavering and generous support of our healing ministry.

I am grateful to our many generous donors who make our healing ministry possible.

Introduction

I am often asked how I became an exorcist. The answer is quite simple: the Blessed Virgin picked me.

The journey started with a powerful spiritual experience when I was a seminarian. One night, I had just gone to bed but hadnt fallen asleep yet. Suddenly I was invisibly attacked. It was unbelievably powerful and incredibly fast. With a graced insight, I instantly knew what it was. Satan was attacking me. And I was going to be quickly overwhelmed.

My rosary beads were on the table at the foot of my bed. The moment the attack started, I instantly thought of these beads. I lunged out of bed and thrust out my hand to grab my rosary. The instant I touched the beads, the attack stopped. So I went back to bed and fell quickly asleep.

In those two seconds, I learned about 80 percent of what an exorcist needs to know. Satan is very powerful and moves at lightning speed. Angels, and demons, travel at the speed of thought. I am no match for Satan; even the smallest of demons is exponentially stronger than any human. But the Blessed Virgin casts out the prince of darkness and his minions with ease. If I hold on to her, I will be safe and she will protect me. And when its all over, I can go back to sleep and be at peace.

Twenty-five years later, I was appointed a diocesan exorcist. I have been one now for over a dozen years. Our little exorcism team has a very active caseload. We receive many new calls each week, plus we handle dozens of ongoing cases. So there have been lots of experiences to fuel these diaries! And wherever I go, my rosary beads are always on my person. Even when I sleep, these beads are wrapped around my left hand.

The diary entries are not exaggerated in any way. Some details of individuals have been altered or deleted to protect the individuals identities. But each of the entries is a factual account of my daily experiences or the experiences of our team. They are the truth, without varnish or hype. You may believe them or not. But they are what we exorcists experience and talk about among ourselves. When I speak to other exorcists around the country and in other countries, I find that my experiences are very similar to theirs. There is a common body of exorcism knowledge that is growing, based on our common experiences.

After a number of the diary entries, I have included theological reflections. These are meant to explain in more detail some of the theological truths and realities presupposed in these diary entries. The reflections often include citations from the Scriptures and insights of Church Fathers and other theologians. I hope they will help you to understand the entries more fully. Nevertheless, much of the world of angels and demons remains a mystery to us.

Despite all the demonic antics and the havoc that Satan can cause, it is my hope that the underlying message will come through: there is only one God and one Savior, Jesus Christ. When faced with the infinite power of God, Satan is a dust bunny. His actions are limited, and his time is very short. Soon, he will be cast into the pit forever.

In the meantime, we trust in God, hold fast to the salvation of Jesus, and invoke the protection of the Blessed Virgin, the saints, and the angels. We have no reason to fear. I sleep very well at night (despite the occasional demonic attacks!).

Be at peace. Jesus has already won the battle.

How did I fall asleep so quickly? My first thought is, I was tired! But more concretely, intense spiritual experiences often carry with them a special grace to understand and interpret them. I knew exactly what happened: I was attacked by one of Satans demons, and the Blessed Virgin Mary cast him out. I knew I was in the good hands of a loving Mother. So I slept like a child in his mothers arms.

Exorcist Diary 1

Stop Saying That Name!

In the middle of an exorcism session, out of the mouth of the energumen (a possessed person) came the cry Stop saying that name! We had been saying the holy name of Jesus, and it was really getting to the demons. They hated to hear it. So, realizing they hated it, we said it all the more. Again and again, we chanted, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

The name of Jesus is holy. It should never be used in vain or as a cuss word. This would be like throwing something holy in the mud. At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:10). I often quote this passage in the midst of a session and emphasize the phrase under the earth. Even in Hell, the name of Jesus is all powerful, and every knee should bend.

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