Can Demons Pervert the Conclave? (Exorcist Diary)

Exorcist Diary #342: Can Demons Pervert the Conclave?

By: Msgr Rosetti

Satan will certainly marshal his strongest forces and attempt to pervert the conclave. It is a pivotal moment for the Church and he will try to sow conflict, spiritual pride, disobedience to God, distrust, power-mongering, anger, wilfullness, and more. Should we be worried?

Certainly the Cardinal electors will be discussing potential candidates and I know that some Cardinals will be actively advocating for their personal choice. There are very human elements to the process. But skeptics posit that the Church is all politics and full of power-grabbing dynamics. Will the Holy Ghost have anything to say?

In a recent exorcism, I looked squarely at the manifesting demons and firmly recited the lines in the Rite: "Quia quanto tardius exis, tanto magis tibi supplicium crescit" ("The longer you delay, the heavier your punishment.") At final judgment, Satan and his minions will not only be judged for their original disobedience, but also for every evil action down through the ages, including torturing human beings who are possessed. The demon responded,"I don't care!" I then said, "You are terrified of the final judgment, as well you should be!" The demons said nothing. I added, "Time is short."

Evil is, by its very nature, self-defeating. As I remind the demons, everything they do redounds to their own destruction and the furthering of God's Kingdom. This thought enrages Satan and his demons. No matter what he does, he has been and will be defeated.

Conversely, God takes up every moment and transforms it into the accomplishing of His will. Even the most despicable action ever committed, i.e. the murdering of the Son of God, was transformed into the moment of our salvation. Just when Satan thought he had "won," he suffered his definitive defeat.

Regardless of what happens at the conclave, we Christians ought to have complete confidence that God will inexorably further his Kingdom. At the same time, I know some of the Cardinals who are attending and they are truly good, faith-filled men. They will pray and do their best to discern whom the Holy Spirit chooses to be our next pope.

I recently sent an email to a Cardinal who is already in Rome and getting ready. I wrote: "May the Holy Ghost be with you...I send along my prayers." He immediately responded, "Keep those prayers coming!" We should all do the same. I recommend you say the following prayer to the Holy Ghost for the conclave:

"Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen."