03x19 - The Exorcist

[bunniefuu]

Rule number one; Always perform exorcism on holy ground.

I had no idea where to begin.

Demons lie. Don't believe anything that they tell you.

Demonic possession was something I only thought existed in films.

[Ominous chanting]

I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed.

[Joints cracking]

[Eerie buzzing]

This person is truly possessed.

[Cackling]

[Roaring]

Stay focused on what you are called to do.

[Growls]

[Static hisses]

[Speaking a foreign language]

It was the height of summer when the call came.

I didn't know what to expect.

I was a young priest.

I was extremely nervous. This was the first time that I would be doing this.

I didn't know it yet, but this would be the hardest case of my career.

[Wind chime rattling]

[Door slams]

I wiped my hands on my pants just because of the nerves and the sweat.

I reassured myself... this was only a meeting.

[Wind chimes jingling]

[Knocking]

Hello. I'm Father Lampert.

Good. Come in.

Thank you for coming.

She began to explain her situation to me.

I don't feel...

Like myself.

She would wake up in the middle of the night, husband said...

She starts to speak in a... in a different language.

It all started 15 years ago.

I was trying to help a friend.

She was acting irrational.

And so she said to her friend, what's ever in you, I invite to come into me.

Right after the words came out of my mouth, I felt a change.

My life has literally fallen apart.

You know, they initially thought, well, there must be something physically or mentally wrong.

So you have seen some doctors?

I went to see Neurologists, Psychologists.

I've been through the whole battery of tests.

Only as a last resort did they finally turn to the church.

You're our last hope, Father.

Just before I left, I said, well, let's say a prayer together.

I'll ask God to be with you to give the strength that you need to deal with the situation in your life.

Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[Roars]

It was like flipping a light switch.

[Roaring]

She lunged towards me.

[Roaring]

My heart is racing. I'm shaking.

[Roaring]

This was it. This was the real thing.

[Roaring]

Can I do this?

[Growling]

[Bell tolls]

[Bells tolling]

We beseech thee, O Lord.

Deal mercifully with thy servant departed, that he who aspired to do thy will...

I had known Father John Ryan since I was a boy.

Let thy mercy unite him with the choirs of Angels.

When he d*ed, I took it pretty hard.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

He was kind and inspirational...

One of the reasons I wanted to become a priest.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

Thank you for coming, Father.

The Bishop approached me and said...

I have a favor to ask of you.

I'm not sure exactly what I'm asking you to do, but Father Ryan did it.

Now I need you to do it.

[Bell tolls]

He says, I need you to be the exorcist for Indianapolis.

[Somber music]

I could not believe those words came out of his mouth.

To be honest, I never realized that exorcists actually even existed.

Demonic possession was something I only thought existed in films.

I'm not sure I'm the right person for the job.

I've always been a bookish, introverted sort of person.

He says, the fact that you don't want the job is why you get to keep it.

[Ominous choral music]

Six months later, I found myself on a bus.

Headed for the suburbs of Rome.

Off to meet one of the Vatican's most learned and experienced exorcists.

Who was now going to mentor me, and give me the training I needed to be an exorcist.

The longer the journey went on, the more apprehensive I became.

[Bell tolling]

No one else around.

Have I come to kind of the end of the world?

[Knocking]

Am I in the right place?

This looks like an exorcist.

Carmine De Filippis.

Father Carmine De Filippis is a very robust man.

That's who you want to go up against the demons, not me.

[Ominous music]

Father Carmine took me into the room where he performed the exorcisms.

Sit. Sit. Sit.

What he expected of me was to simply watch and learn.

Rule number one; Always perform exorcism on holy ground, eh?

I was feeling out of my depth.

The Roman ritual... it's your guide, your friend, your w*apon.

Father Carmine escorts a woman into the room.

_.

_.

And then he disappears.

I'm just thinking to myself, this person doesn't seem to be possessed.

Her head's not spinning around.

She seems very pleasant.

Father Carmine places holy water on the table.

He comes back in.

He places paper towels on the table, ties a plastic bag to the radiator on the wall.

And I'm thinking, what is this all about?

[Door slams]

Carmine now has on his robes.

He seems to be a completely different person.

Nome de patri et fili et spiritus sancti.

Nome de patri et fili et spiritus sancti.

[Holy water sizzles]

And then everything changes.

Her eyes roll back in her head.

It's nothing but the whites of her eyes. You can see nothing of her pupils.

[Growls]

This woman is speaking Latin.

[Holy water sizzles]

This is not her voice.

It's much deeper.

My heart is racing.

And there's no rational explanation for what's going on.

It's paranormal.

Page 185.

Exorcizamus te.

So Father Carmine then begins the prayers of exorcism.

Omnis immundus spiritus.

Omnis satanica potestas.

_.

Nome de patri et fili et spiritus sancti.

Exorcizamus te.

The holy water was burning this person.

Omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas.

Now the woman starts foaming at the mouth.

[Coughing]

Vade, satana, inventor et magister.

I then realized why he brought all these things in.

He was prepared.

Omnis fallaciae, hostis humanae salutis.

Humiliare sub potenti manu dei...

Contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto et terribili nomine.

[Phone rings]

Father Carmine immediately goes to answer the phone, and I'm thinking, what is he doing?

He's not leaving me here in this room with this person whose head is just going all over the place.

[Growling]

If this person becomes violent, what will I do?

Don't look the person in the eye.

Putting my head down, trying to continue to pray.

[Joints cracking]

The person is growling, snarling.

I'm just thinking, don't look at me. Don't look at me.

[Growling]

[Roars]

[Whispers]

[Joints cracking]

I have never seen such hatred on the face of a person before.

And then Father Carmine comes back into the room...

And I'm thinking, don't leave me again.

All of a sudden, the person in front of me changes completely.

She just becomes completely calm and relaxed.

And now the woman, in her own voice, is saying...

I feel so much better now.

It's over.

This was pretty quick.

Cessa decipere humanas creaturas.

And I'm thinking, what's going on, why isn't he stopping?

When, obviously, everything's okay now.

Cessa decipere humanas creaturas...

_.

Eisque aeternae.

Omnis congregatio et secta diabolica.

Ergo draco maledicte.

I'd been fooled.

Demons lie.

Don't believe anything that they tell you.

It made me realize how much more I had to learn.

[Spits]

Exorcizamus te.

This woman is ridiculing him.

Omnis satanica potestas.

How is this battle going to end?

Ergo draco maledicte.

Legio diabolica.

_.

In nome de patri...

[Holy water sizzles]

[Roars]

Amen.

And then out of nowhere, Father Carmine just taps the person on the forehead...

And the person's consciousness comes back.

[Exhales deeply]

I was just completely emotionally and mentally drained.

Grazie, Padre.

He would see each person on a regular basis until the demons were cast out.

And then the next person is brought in.

[Speaking italian]

And now here it is, about to begin again.

Nome de patris, filis, spiritus sancti.

[Roars]

I was with Father Carmine for six hours...

And it never got easier.

I'm now on the bus, and I'm watching people going about their normal, everyday lives.

It can't be that way for me anymore.

Everything had now changed.

[Bell dinging]

I realized I really knew nothing about this stuff.

[Ominous music]

So in the mornings, before I would go and see Father Carmine, I would read up on Demonology.

The Fathers of the church teach that there are nine choirs of Angels.

The ones who fell from grace is where we get the demons.

[Demons roaring]

Each one of these demons represents one of the deadly sins.

[People screaming]

Mammon, the demon of gluttony.

Beelzebub brings about jealousies.

Asmodeus, the demon of lust. Belphegor, demon of sloth.

Leviathan, an enormous demon, arrogance and envy.

Father Carmine taught me once a Demon names itself...

It's submitting to the power and the authority of the church.

Satan, cast out of heaven, having great anger.

And Lucifer was thrown down to Earth for his pride.

To live among the men.

I just remember feeling overwhelmed and thinking, what in the world have I gotten myself into now?

[Bell tolling]

[Eerie music]

Some time later, I was arriving at Father Carmine's place...

A very heavy metal swivel-back desk chair...

That's now taken the place of the wooden chair.

[Latch clicks]

[Speaking italian]

This lady then comes in...

Probably in her 70s, very frail elderly woman...

A Grandmother-type figure.

[Speaking italian]

I'm thinking, what a nice, sweet, little old lady.

Nome de patri, fili, spiritus sancti.

[Giggling]

[Forceful laughter]

Vade, satana, inventor.

It was not her.

Omnis fallaciae, hostis humanae salutis.

She's holding that heavy metal chair with one hand.

[Hisses]

She begins to look at me intently.

[Joints cr*ck]

There's no way that this elderly woman has that kind of strength.

[Whispers]

Humiliare sub potenti manu dei.

I couldn't get the chair out of her hands.

[Grunting]

[Laughs]

This is an elderly woman in her 70s, probably didn't weigh 100 pounds.

[Giggling]

I'm finally able to get the chair back on the ground.

The woman is back in the chair.

Terribili nomine, quem inferi tremunt.

[Cackling]

I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed.

[Speaking italian]

Page 169.

Read it.

Signs of possession are the following; A display of powers which are beyond the subject's age and natural condition.

Ability to speak in a strange tongue.

The faculty of divulging future and hidden events.

One of the roles of being an exorcist is to be a skeptic.

You should be the last person to believe someone is possessed.

Explore conventional and medical explanation...

Epilepsy or mental illness...

Before assuming demonic possession.

It was my last week in Rome.

I had sat in on 40 exorcisms.

[Latch clicks]

I thought I had seen it all.

But what I saw in that last session with Father Carmine...

Made me realize that I was still a novice.

[Speaking italian]

This woman had a very troubled childhood, never really felt loved or accepted.

Eventually she found her way being involved into the occult.

[Ominous music]

So Father Carmine began the prayers.

Nome de patri, fili, spiritus sancti.

[Joints cracking]

Once again, everything changes.

Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus.

Omnis satanica potestas...

Omnis incursio infernalis adversarii.

Omnis legio, omnis congregatio.

Foam begins to pour out of her mouth...

More than I've ever seen in any other case.

[Gagging]

Eisque aeternae perditionis venenum propinare.

Vade, satana, inventor et magister.

And then the woman just begins to...

To shake uncontrollably.

[Groans]

Humiliare sub potenti manu dei, contremisce et effuge.

She digs her hands into the arms of the chair so tightly that you can see the whites of her knuckles.

Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, domine.

Ut ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias...

Libertate servire, te rogamus, audi nos.

And then the woman just goes completely limp.

Ut inimicos sanctae ecclesiae humiliare digneris...

Te rogamus, audi nos.

I'm looking in disbelief, and she's now floating in the air.

There is nothing between her and the chair that she had just been sitting in.

I can't believe this is happening.

Ergo draco maledicte et omnis legio.

Father Carmine just continuing to pray.

Cessa decipere humanas creaturas.

Eisque aeternae perditionis.

He simply put the person back in their seat...

Contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto et terribili nomine.

Amen.

And then, like every other exorcism, when he was finished, tapped them on the forehead.

And it was all over.

[Melancholy piano music]

So the person leaves.

I'm in disbelief about what just happened.

But Father Carmine didn't seem fazed at all.

He was tidying up.

Ignore the paranormal stuff. It's just parlor tricks.

He told me the manifestations were just tricks of the Devil.

Stay focused on what you are called to do.

Pray for the person in the name and the authority of Jesus Christ.

So once it was all over, it was time for me to leave.

These past three months had changed my life.

Back in The United States, I got a parcel from Father Ryan's old office.

It was the prayer book that he would use.

It was the stole that he would wear when he did exorcisms.

It was the tools of the trade, if you will.

Every time an older priest passes away...

Younger priests realize that a torch has now been passed on to them.

I tried it on, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

I had the proper tools in front of me...

And yet I did not feel like that I had the skills or the confidence, within me to be able to do this.

The weight of responsibility just seemed to be too great for me.

And then the call came.

I invited what was in her to come into me.

[Roaring]

This woman lunged at me...

[Roaring]

Like a wild dog that was about to devour me.

[Roars]

[Whispers]

Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[Roaring]

This person is truly possessed.

[Roaring]

I didn't know what to do.

I'm silently praying to myself, asking God to help me...

Muster up the strength to take on this situation.

[Roaring]

Then I was able to pick up the prayer book.

[Hisses]

But then in my mind, I had the voice of Father Carmine telling me...

Always to perform exorcisms on holy ground.

[Hisses]

[In a low voice] How dare you?

[Growling]

I knew that I had to subdue the demon until I could face it properly.

[Growling]

And then I recall what Father Carmine had done to end his sessions.

Put her in the chair.

[Growling]

I reached up.

My hands are shaking like a leaf.

[Hisses]

But I knew the demon was only restrained.

It was still within her.

[Melancholy piano music]

Rule number one; Always perform exorcism on holy ground, eh?

I had made a terrible error.

I needed to do battle with that demon on holy ground.

[Bird cawing]

I was able to locate a disused convent in Southern Indiana.

It had a Chapel in it, and we arranged that that's where the exorcism would take place.

I brought an assistant with me, a young training priest.

[Hinges creak]

This old convent was probably built to house about 12 sisters.

It was now completely empty. It was not in use.

[Door crashes]

We go into the Chapel.

I was filled with all kinds of doubts.

I'm not gonna be able to rely on Father Carmine.

He's halfway around the world.

Take a seat.

[Ominous music]

I put on Father Ryan's old stole...

And took out his prayer book.

It was reassuring.

I felt like he was there protecting me in some way.

And then the exorcism began.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

[Growl]

[Holy water sizzles]

I drive you forth...

I was terrified. Trembling. I knew that there was a long battle in front of me.

I drive you forth, unclean spirit.

Every invader, every specter...

_.

Every legion of the enemy in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Stop it...

Now.

She's foaming at the mouth. She's growling.

May he who rules the seasons...

[Laughs]

The demon is laughing at me.

Blah, blah, blah.

It's mocking me.

You're not very good at this, are you?

Blah, blah, blah.

I was doing my best to completely shut her out and focus on my task.

Blah, blah, blah, blah.

I'm continuing to pray, trying to stay focused.

Hear, therefore, and fear, Satan, enemy of faith.

Adversary of the human race, author of death, destroyer of life.

Blah, blah, blah.

The temperature in the room drops.

Even though we're in the dead heat of summer.

The chill just overcomes me.

This isn't normal. This isn't normal at all.

Ignore the paranormal stuff.

It's just parlor tricks.

Kept trying to put all these distractions out of my mind, and I continue to pray.

Why do you stand and resist when you know that Christ the Lord has destroyed your wicked ways?

And out of the corner of her eye, she catches sight of the assistant priest.

And then the demon says...

You're going to get tired before we do.

You're gonna get tired before we do.

[Cackles]

And I'm thinking, aw...

[Laughs]

This is not just a case of one demon being present but many.

[Laughs]

This is gonna be a lot harder than I thought.

[Whispers]

Just as Father Carmine had taught me, I began demanding that the demons name themselves.

I command you, unclean spirits, by the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord our Jesus Christ!

Tell me your name.

[Growls]

Leave us alone.

And I know that I've now hit a raw nerve with these demons.

Tell me your name!

No!

My voice is getting louder.

I'm stepping up to the challenge.

Tell me your name!

And then these different voices inside of her started naming themselves.

Tell me your name!

I have the upper hand.

A lot of those doubts and uncertainty begin to melt.

Tell me your name!

Here, all these voices are just kind of whirling around.

Tell me your name!

[Screaming]

They're leaving. They're departing.

[Groans]

Tell me your name!

I realize this is something I can do.

Tell me your name!

Tell me your name!

But there's one voice that continues to remain.

I don't have to tell you...

Anything.

Anything.

I knew that I had made a mistake.

Father Carmine had warned me, if you ever do an exorcism...

And you start thinking to yourself, wow, look at what you're doing; Look at the powers that you have over the demons, you're in trouble.

[Laughs]

As a human, you don't have the power or the ability...

To go up against a fallen Angel.

On your own.

It's the power of God working through you.

Just stop.

Now!

[Screams]

Hear, therefore, and fear, Satan, enemy of faith...

I continue to pray in a loud and firm voice.

Why do you stand and resist when you know that Christ the Lord has destroyed your wicked ways?

I'm at the point in this exorcism where I want this final demon to reveal itself.

Tell me your name.

And the demon is just resisting incredibly.

I'm repeating over and over again, tell me your name.

Tell me your name!

Tell me your name... [echoing] Tell me your name!

By the power and the authority of the name of Jesus Christ.

Tell me your name.

Tell me your name.

Leviathan.

Leviathan, an enormous demon, arrogance and envy.

This is a big deal, the great sea demon of the book of revelation.

[Joints cr*ck]

What am I going to do?

But I realized it... it's me.

Here's the demon. There is no one else this is a situation that I have to deal with.

I abjure you, ancient serpent.

The later you depart, the greater your punishment grows.

I will not leave.

I have a right to be here.

I was invited.

I was invited.

This is true. The demon was invited in.

This is what this woman told me.

I'm running out of options.

How do I take control of this?

I picked up Father Ryan's stole.

[Screams]

The demon shrieks that it burns.

It burns!

She's thrashing around...

[Screaming]

Hands flying everywhere.

[Screaming]

The woman jumped up out of the chair, and she ran out of the room.

Me and this other priest go out...

To grab her and bring her back into the room.

[Wood creaking]

Obviously this demon was going to use every opportunity...

Not to have to leave but to stay in this woman.

[Ominous music]

I just felt so inadequate for the task at hand.

[Skittering]

In the back of my mind, I'm thinking, can I run away?

But something very profound had changed within me.

I can't just walk away from this situation now.

[Electricity crackling]

[Clattering]

[Roars]

[Whispers]

[Roars]

Even though I'm scared and shaking...

There's a certain sense of confidence that's building up in me.

It's like God has taken over me.

[Holy water sizzles]

[Screaming]

Leave me alone.

The demon's beginning to recoil.

Get out!

[Growls]

[Holy water sizzles]

[Screams]

Get out!

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Get out!

And then I say to the demon, as a sign that you're going to depart...

I command you, repeat these words after me.

And then get out.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Joints cr*ck]

Grace of full.

Jumbling those words, the demon was mocking me.

Grace of full, Mary hail.

It was mocking the church.

It still had the upper hand.

My mind was racing with a million thoughts.

I was conflicted.

Could I really do this?

Stay focused on what you are called to do.

Demons lie.

Don't believe anything that they tell you.

No!

Say the words in the manner I've ordered you to say them, and then get out!

[Hisses]

Hail Mary, full of grace.

[Growls]

Hail Mary, full of grace!

Repeat the words in the manner I've ordered, and then get out!

[Whispering] Hail Mary...

Full...

Of...

Grace.

[Somber music]

Amen.

I'm exhausted.

I'm worn out.

There's a great sense of relief.

I knew at that moment...

That a battle that had gone on for 15 years in this woman's life.

Was now completely over.

Something had changed within me, changed forever.

There is no sense of normalcy anymore.

Because after what I just experienced...

Life will never be the same.

I knew that I was an exorcist.