Evidence of Satan in the Modern World

The Devil's deepest wile is to persuade us that he does not exist. - Baudelaire. _Evidence of Satan in the Modern World_ by the Roman Catholic priest Msgr. Leon Cristiani, written in 1959 and republished by TAN Books, is a profound look at the wiles of the Devil in the modern age from a Roman Catholic perspective. Satan, the fallen angel who rebelled against God out of pride and was cast out of heaven and the source of all evil, is very much a potent force in the world today along with various malignant demons (the fallen angels). This book reveals his presence and the reality of demons through various cases of diabolical temptation, infestation, and outright possession. This book also discusses Satan in the modern world and his role in politics and national antagonisms, materialism, atheism, and scientism, as well as the reality of Satanism and the return of various Gnostic heresies. As evidence for Satan's existence, the author begins by turning to Christ, who most certainly believed in the existence and reality of the Devil as revealed in the Gospels. Indeed, Jesus Christ Our Lord was tempted by Satan, whom he referred to as the "prince of this world" and offered the entire world as his kingdom were he to bow down and worship him. We know of these temptations through the writers of the Gospels because they had been personally informed by Jesus himself of what had occurred. In addition, much of Christ's earthly ministry involved the performance of various healings and exorcisms. Most memorable perhaps is the case of his exorcism of the demon known as Legion, who entered a herd of swine. Msgr. Cristiani suggests that demonic possession may have occurred frequently around the person of Jesus because Christ as the Incarnation of God in the flesh caused Satan to rebel with a satanic anti-incarnation in the form of possession. Following this discussion of Christ, the author turns his attention to the reality of Satan. He notes that it is important not to fall into either of two traps: the first, of making too much of Satan and finding his presence everywhere, and the second, of making too little of Satan and believing that he does not exist. As instances of the first trap, the author brings up examples from history of the witch hunts and the extreme role Satan came to occupy in the popular imagination, especially in Protestant countries. The author notes that Luther came to be obsessed with Satan, seeing his presence everywhere, particularly as he drifted further and further from Catholic orthodoxy. The second chapter of this book is devoted to the case of satanic infestation surrounding the Cure of Ars. The Cure of Ars, a humble servant of God, was plagued by demonic infestation which he came to refer to as the "Grappin" (referring to a pitch-fork). Following this, the author turns his attention to various demonic infestations which took place at Lourdes, where the Blessed Virgin had appeared. Many of the subsequent apparitions

Leon Cristiani has written a revealing book on satans methods. He shows how the Cure of Ars was tempted by the devil; how he mimicked some of the visions of Lourdes. He also tells how Hitler was a medium of satan. This book is one of the most honest and insightful books on diabolism ever written. What I found particulary intresting is the section on lies and contradictions. Cristiani cites scripture where Jesus said: "Let your speech be yes for yes and no for no. Anything else comes from the evil one." With this we can see how the devil operates in the world. Starting with the first lie and contradiction in the garden of eden. Read Genesis 3:1. God told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the tree, they would die. Satan told Eve that they would not die. That is Satan is calling God a liar. We then know what happened to the human race. The lies and contradictions continue to this day. Take the following lies and contradictions: Abortion is positively murder and yet it has the blessing of the Supreme court and others call it a womans right. The Bible condemns theft, yet their are overcharges for most things you buy. This is called a healthy profit by corporations. Jesus said"Woe to you rich, because your consolation is now." Yet you have very rich people and ministers claiming they are going to heaven. The Catholic Church covered up pedophilia for decades and who knows how much longer, and denied it. The lies and contradictions go on and on. The smoke of satan has entered the church,said one Pope. He might have added, it is now pretty thick around the world. Anyone with a discerning eye, can see how the evil one spreads wickedness in the world. He doesnt come out with horror and terror, but as an angel of light bearing in his bloody hands, lies and contradictions.

"The Devil's deepest while is to persuade us that he does not exist " Using Baudelaire's well known phrase as a starting point, Msgr. Cristiani has amassed convincing proof that the Devil does indeed exist and that he continues to manifest his presence in the modern world, no less than in earlier times. Because he documents with scrupulous care the still present phenomena of diabolical infestation, possession and temptation, his book has become one of the best ever written on the subject. Covers Satan's activity during the apparitions at Lourdes and his involvement in tormenting St. John Marie Vianney. No one studying possession, the power of the devil, and exorcism should miss this book. Powerful!

The book though published in the early part of our century looks and well documented cases of demonic possession and infestation particularly describing those who were considered to be holy individuals made to suffer the terrible ordeal of demonic attacks in order to attain sanctification. It is considerably unbiased and also discusses the many instances of the demonic to discredit the apparitions at Lourdes, France. One of the best books depicting actual exorcisms ever written as it compliles something like twenty cases. Also discusses clergy's spiritual responsibility to aid someone afflicted with infestation or possession. States that it is considered a great sanctification and pre-eminent grace by providing exorcism. Describes Canon Law of the R.C. Church as regards the rite of exorcism. However the ruling has recently changed and this information is now not quite accurate.Yolande Suzin, Forest Hills, NY

The book though published in the early part of our century looks and well documented cases of demonic possession and infestation particularly describing those who were considered to be holy individuals made to suffer the terrible ordeal of demonic attacks in order to attain sanctification. It is considerably unbiased and also discusses the many instances of the demonic to discredit the apparitions at Lourdes, France. One of the best books depicting actual exorcisms ever written as it compliles something like twenty cases. Also discusses clergy's spiritual responsibility to aid someone afflicted with infestation or possession. States that it is considered a great sanctification and pre-eminent grace by providing exorcism. Describes Canon Law of the R.C. Church as regards the rite of exorcism. However the Vatican ruling has recently changed in February of 1999 and this information is now not completely accurate.Yolande Suzin, Forest Hills, NY