Interview with an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance

I purchased this book recently more out of an interest to see what the author was going to tell us. I hoped it would not be like several TV programmes that treat the area of spirits and such like as a must view TV Soap. I was delighted that the book was anything but sensational. In fact it is very down to earth and the author tells us, in a clear manner, what Roman Catholic beliefs actually are. He takes the mystery out of exorcisms and puts matters clearly in context. The writer has a very fluid style of writing. It is like having a conversation with someone. I had finished reading the complete book in less than two hours and was delighted with the experience. I have passed the book to some friends who have been impressed with it. I can highly recommend this book to anyone with a genuine interest in the interaction of spirits with humankind. It is not a book to frighten you but to put your mind at rest. For those that do not believe in Jesus Christ it would be an interesting, genuine insight, into the real world of Roman Catholicism.

Fr. Fortea wrote this book in a question and answer style and it's very effective. If you're looking for lurid stuff or thrills and chills you can look elsewhere. This is a serious book about going to spiritual war every day. The book is well written, has dashes of humor and has a comforting warmth. Overall the message is that most of us have nothing to worry about and that help is available for those who have foolishly or with evil intent wandered over to the dark side. I'm glad I bought the book. It should be included in the reading lists of every RCIA class.

With over twenty years experience in the deliverance ministry, performing thousands of exorcisms in Spain and throughout Europe, Fr. José Antonio Fortea of Spain shares his insights and experience in dealing with the demonic, in the form of questions and answers. For those interested in learning more about the nature of evil spirits, this is a delightful little book that is a quick and easy read due to its question-and-answer nature. Fr. Fortea presents a series of 110 questions, to which he provides answers based on his experience, Catholic Catechism, Church teaching, and the Bible. The reader looking for graphic stories will be disappointed, as this book is short on anecdotes and stays clear of any sensationalism. Even though the book is rich with information about the demonic, Fr. Fortea shares very few stories from his own experience in dealing with the demonic. Rather than being a story book or some kind of autobiography, this is clearly meant to be a primer on Church teaching regarding evil spirits, possession and exorcism. [...]

The subject of exorcism is a difficult one, in my opinion, because there are relatively few reliable, accurate, and non-sensationalistic sources of information available. (I make this observation from having worked in Church ministry for the past 28 years. One of my own areas of personal study happens to be the paranormal.) Yet it is an important topic because demons are real and they do possess people. If you are a self-professed Christian, you are obligated to take this issue seriously because the pages of New Testament are quite clear about the reality of demonic spirits and the havoc they can wreak on humans. The strength and appeal of Fr. Fortea's book lie in the fact that it is a credible source of information, and its Question & Answer format makes it very readable. There are 110 questions in total, and they cover a broad range of material (e.g., types of demons, typical symptoms of possession, the nature and knowledge of demons, the various ways demons can affect humans, what happens in an exorcism, possession vs. psychosis, etc.). The answers are typically just a few paragraphs long, and they are written to the level of someone who presumably has no prior knowledge about the subject matter. The combination of these factors means that you can easily reference specific topics without having to read through entire chapters, and while there is a certain progression of thought in the sequence of questions, you still can jump back and forth between them without any significant loss of continuity. The book *is* compelling, and I found it difficult to put down once I started to read it. I submit that you are likely to finish it quickly and find yourself wanting more. And this, perhaps, is the only frustration (criticism is not really the right word) I had with the book: it is more of a general overview on exorcism and related topics rather than a detailed treatment of specific cases and examples. I say frustration only because the book was just too fascinating to read and I reached the end too soon! Fr. Fortea's book will give the reader a good working knowledge of the subject matter, but depending on the extent of the knowledge you seek, you may find yourself still intellectually hungry when you're done with it. Please understand that I do not consider this to be a flaw in the book. It does cover many areas, but they are generally not treated *at length.* For those who do want a more detailed treatment of exorcism and specific case studies, I would highly recommend Fr. Gabriele Amorth's books, _An Exorcist Tells His Story_ and its sequel, _An Exorcist: More Stories_. I have read them both, and they are excellent. Considering the range of material covered, the cost of the book, and the credibility of its author, you simply cannot go wrong making this purchase.

This book is an easy read as its in a Q and A format. Many answers provide us with a better understanding of how the enemy of souls work. It tells us many tools of the the spiritual craft and how we can put on the armour of God for our battle against the adversary. Father gives us many "extras" as he draws from his own professional experience. Very intersting and written well. If you like Fr. Gabriel Amorths books, you will definitely enjoy this. Have a God filled day.