This week on Off the Shelf we take a unique look into the very real world of the demonic. My guest Msgr. Stephen Rosetti is quite familiar with this subject as he himself is an exorcist. Join us as we discuss his book Diary of an American Exorcist: Demons, Possession, and the modern-day Battle Against Evil. Get your copy here.

From the Publisher Sophia Institute Press

Exorcist Msgr. Stephen Rossetti has a very active caseload of demonic possessions, and in each case two vivid lessons consistently emerge: demons possess or harass people in a myriad of ways (even when they do not enter a body), and they are defeated decisively by the power of Christ and His Church―and especially by invocations to the Blessed Mother.

In these pages, Msgr. Rossetti gives us an inside look at the intense experiences of an exorcist. He shares, without hype or varnish, what it is like, on a daily basis, to face demons who revile, threaten, and sometimes spiritually “wound” him. He describes the healing power of Christ for the possessed and for the exorcist, and reveals amazing moments when Christ and His Church visibly triumph over Satan. The reader is afforded a unique glimpse into the world of angels and demons, and the struggles of the possessed and those who minister to them.

In this stunning, edifying, true diary of an American exorcist, you’ll learn:

  • What demonic possession is, and is not
  • The factors and preconditions of possession
  • Common tactics of Satan and his typical lies
  • How God protects exorcists
  • The difference between strong and weak possessions
  • The hierarchy of demons (not all are equal)
  • What it’s like for an exorcist to face Lucifer himself
  • Why demons choke people or at times focus on parts of the body
  • Why God does indeed “put Satan on a short leash”
  • Why humans can be attacked by demons, rare though it is
  • How demons fear and hate one another too
  • Why many devils can possess or infest one person
  • How anger “feeds” demons
  • How to cast out demons of fear
Bio

Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti, Ph.D., is the President of the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal and a research associate professor at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. A licensed psychologist and the author of several books, Msgr. Rossetti has participated in hundreds of exorcisms. During his journey to priesthood, he experienced a spiritual episode in which, “in two seconds I learned 80 percent of what an exorcist needs to know.”

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.