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HOSTAGE TO THE DEVIL: THE POSSESSION AND EXORCISM OF FIVE AMERICANS PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Malachi Martin | 477 pages | 06 Jan 1999 | HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd | 9780060653378 | English | New South Wales, Australia Hostage to the Devil Audiobook | |

Clare of Assisi, the patron of television—who, unable to attend Mass in person, saw a vision of it projected on her wall in the convent. She is your namesake; what do you have in common with her? What does it mean to experience the world—material and spiritual—through a screen, a vision? Or perhaps the determined my fate, and I grew into it. I think visions seen on TV, movie, or computer screens are very different from spiritual visions like St. We become overwhelmed by memories and fantasies and moods, and we spend many hours watching images flicker across screens. Some of us, like St. Clare or William Blake or the poet H. There is something about watching a convincing horror film that is akin to having a terrible vision or a nightmare. But I think it would be an oversimplification to say that films are the same as dreams or delusions, or that witnessing an apparition of a in a horror movie is the same as seeing a ghost appear at the foot of your own bed. The difference is the essence of the thing, which is the hardest part to define and yet the most important. TM: I to see Malachi Martin included in this book! For the uninitiated: could you tell us a little about Father Martin? And how do you see possession relating to ? CC: Yes, thank you, Malachi Martin is fascinating! He was an Irish who left the Jesuits in the mids because of their alleged corruption, then he moved to New York, where he began a writing career and started practicing as an . The effect of that was chilling. Within the world of horror, Martin was in the same circle as other investigators, like , and mentored a few contemporary demonologists who are still working in the field. The stories from these have been used as fodder for fictional horror films for decades. As for the differences between and ghostly hauntings, I think a person can be haunted, literally or figuratively, in such a strong way that it can seem as if they are possessed. What I mean is almost Freudian: that the ghost of a deceased parent or other ancestor can stay with a person and dwell within them, determining their interests, moods, and thoughts. A demonic possession is something totally other. In horror films and paranormal shows, these two kinds of spirits often coexist: a house or a person may be tormented by both and ghosts. Very unlucky! But a demonic possession is much worse; your is at risk. No matter how frightening a ghost may be, they are essentially the same as us. In my book, I think about haunting and possession as different metaphors for the experience of depression and suicidal ideation. Both are states of being overtaken by a negative force. My description of those states gets a little more complicated and nuanced in the manuscript. We do not even believe in the events which happen to us, love, death, as if they only half concerned us. It is not we who make cinema; it is the world which looks to us like a bad film. Possession is real: and real prices are paid. The trailer for the new documentary says is always in danger. Ultimately, Martin said in his best-seller, the exorcist takes the pain for those who are possessed. What can you find? Let us know irishtimes. For more information on subscribing to the archive, see here: www. Dean Ruxton. Undated photograph of Fr Malachi Martin. The image was used in his Irish Times obituary in More from The Irish Times Health. More in Sponsored Brexit bears down on businesses. Helping employers to build resilience at crucial stage in the pandemic. Discover the Dublin 4 renovation project designed for three generations. Commenting on The Irish Times has changed. To comment you must now be an Irish Times subscriber. The account details entered are not currently associated with an Irish Times subscription. Please subscribe to sign in to comment. You should receive instructions for resetting your password. Please choose a screen name. This name will appear beside any comments you post. Your screen name should follow the standards set out in our community standards. Screen Name Selection. Only letters, numbers, periods and hyphens are allowed in screen . Please enter your email address so we can send you a link to reset your password. Your Comments. Sign In Sign Out. We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Standards. We ask that you report content that you in good believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or by filling out this form. New comments are only accepted for 3 days from the date of publication. Lost Leads. Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans by Malachi Martin

Great buffeting gusts of mocking, jeering, Schadenfreude laughter. Laughter pouring from a belly of amused scorn and contemptuous hate. Mundow says cultural, rather than satanic, influences were previously responsible for rises in possession cases. Possession is real: and real prices are paid. The trailer for the new documentary says the exorcist is always in danger. Ultimately, Martin said in his best-seller, the exorcist takes the pain for those who are possessed. What can you find? Let us know irishtimes. For more information on subscribing to the archive, see here: www. Dean Ruxton. Undated photograph of Fr Malachi Martin. The image was used in his Irish Times obituary in More from The Irish Times Health. More in Sponsored Brexit bears down on businesses. Helping employers to build resilience at crucial stage in the pandemic. Discover the Dublin 4 renovation project designed for three generations. Commenting on The Irish Times has changed. To comment you must now be an Irish Times subscriber. The account details entered are not currently associated with an Irish Times subscription. Please subscribe to sign in to comment. TM: I love to see Malachi Martin included in this book! For the uninitiated: could you tell us a little about Father Martin? And how do you see possession relating to ghosts? CC: Yes, thank you, Malachi Martin is fascinating! He was an Irish priest who left the Jesuits in the mids because of their alleged corruption, then he moved to New York, where he began a writing career and started practicing as an exorcist. The effect of that was chilling. Within the world of horror, Martin was in the same circle as other paranormal investigators, like Ed and Lorraine Warren, and mentored a few contemporary demonologists who are still working in the field. The stories from these exorcists have been used as fodder for fictional horror films for decades. As for the differences between demonic possession and ghostly hauntings, I think a person can be haunted, literally or figuratively, in such a strong way that it can seem as if they are possessed. What I mean is almost Freudian: that the ghost of a deceased parent or other ancestor can stay with a person and dwell within them, determining their interests, moods, and thoughts. A demonic possession is something totally other. In horror films and paranormal reality shows, these two kinds of spirits often coexist: a house or a person may be tormented by both demons and ghosts. Very unlucky! But a demonic possession is much worse; your soul is at risk. No matter how frightening a ghost may be, they are essentially the same as us. In my book, I think about haunting and possession as different metaphors for the experience of depression and suicidal ideation. Both are states of being overtaken by a negative force. My description of those states gets a little more complicated and nuanced in the manuscript. We do not even believe in the events which happen to us, love, death, as if they only half concerned us. It is not we who make cinema; it is the world which looks to us like a bad film. Preview — Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin. One On One With A chilling and highly convincing account of possession and exorcism in modern America, hailed by NBC Radio as "one of the most stirring books on the contemporary scene. Get A Copy. Paperback , pages. Published January 6th by HarperOne first published More Details Original Title. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Hostage to the Devil , please sign up. Hello, does anyone know where I can get it in Spanish in physical?? See 1 question about Hostage to the Devil…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Jun 17, T. Whittle rated it really liked it Shelves: reviews. I am not entirely sure what to make of this book, but it's not a cheap-thrills read. It's meticulous, intelligently written, and compassionate towards those who seem to be afflicted by . Martin seeks neither to mock nor to exploit the suffering, and seems to be a sincere and likable fellow. Given their symptoms, I would have diagnosed most of them in a heartbeat and recommended a doctor to prescribe psychiatric medication, accompanied by an appropriate course of . I wonder, would I have been correct to do so? Or, would I have only exacerbated their problems? I can't say but it seems to me that trying standard treatment protocols prior to exorcism might be prudent, since validating a person's belief they are possessed by demons would no doubt cause further trauma and potentially worsen their illness, in the event that you are mistaken. I do wonder how the people who were exorcised turned out, years later, after their life-altering experiences. If they were truly possessed, one might expect a full and lasting recovery. If they were actually suffering from mental illness a relapse would have been inevitable. Given that we don't know their real identities, we can never know how their lives played out, decades on. It is also said in the literature on this topic that a person can be both mentally ill and under demonic influence which would presumably be much harder to sort out. Malachi Martin writes a compelling set of life stories that whisks aside the veil that surrounds our daily lives to reveal an unseen world that he believes has the potential to affect us profoundly, for better or worse. Judging from what I've read before about possession, it seems to me that the people most commonly claiming to be afflicted by demons are those who, firstly, believe such beings exist and, secondly, that they have the power to possess humans. That said, Martin writes that most of the afflicted persons in this handful of cases were either never religious at all or had abandoned the faith of their childhood somewhere along the way. So are we wrong to assume that it all comes down to what you believe? Surely, if you believe you have made a pact with Satan or become dependent on one of his minions, it will no doubt affect you profoundly, whether or not such creatures are actually harassing you. Belief is powerful. But then how to explain these unbelievers who appear possessed and are helped by exorcists? Well, I was not convinced that any of these folks were truly unbelievers in the , deep down, despite what they might have claimed in their daily lives. However, I'm certainly not willing to say such things as possession are definitely unreal just because we cannot explain them from a scientific perspective. I simply do not know. The older I get, the less I feel sure about how the great world spins. What I do know, though, is that communities of faith and the beliefs that support them can be an important part of people's overall health, so I do not scoff at spiritual beliefs. That said, I would think long and hard and exhaust all other efforts before telling someone in my care I thought they were possessed by a . View all 18 comments. Dec 22, J. Bailey rated it it was amazing. There are two books I have read in my brief life that truly frightened me. Galdone, which I read in the third grade scared the absolute crud out of eight-year-old Me, and even still makes me uneasy when I think about that evil little creature watching that man from the foot of his bed in the dark. Whether or not you are a skeptic in There are two books I have read in my brief life that truly frightened me. Whether or not you are a skeptic in demonic matters, this book will probably still send chills up your spine. It's already given me one virtually sleepless night. Martin chronicles the cases of five individuals possessed by evil spirits, including their histories, the histories of their exorcists, and the circumstances as to how they became possessed. Each exorcism was tape recorded, so Martin's descriptions of the exorcisms should be relatively accurate. There is one passage from this book that has really stuck with me. In it, Martin and Father Mark the exorcist in the "Uncle Ponto" case are discussing the fate of exorcists: It was a source of some amazement to [Mark's] close associates and superiors that he did not go the way of most exorcists. A few years' active ministry in exorcism, and the majority paled, as it were: they seemed to wither in a variety of ways; some by illness, others by premature aging; others still because they seemed to have lost the will to live. I knew he was right. You just might not want to read it after the sun has gone down. View all 6 comments. Dec 07, Mike the Paladin rated it it was ok. Okay, my reasons for the low rating here may not be all that important to some. I may also be in the minority today in that I believe in evil and yes an actual Satan. Lewis once observed as have others that the fact that no one believes in him is Satan's greatest advantage. Martin agrees with this and also says it. I find I disagree with certain things said in the book about the nature of possession, the relief of it exorcism if you will and certain other details. I have no problem with Okay, my reasons for the low rating here may not be all that important to some. I have no problem with his views on the dangers extant in our society and society's general rejection of the of "evil", spiritual or otherwise. I don't see any problem with recommending this book in general. Many will approach it as complete skeptics others as thrill seekers I'd the book might serve as a warning to that group , and some with an open mind. If you're a Roman Catholic this may serve as a call to look again at the situation in your . Non-Roman Catholics may have their own beliefs pro or con about the subject. I'm a Christian, I'd suggest any and all beliefs be based in Biblical scripture. If you are not a Christian or find belief in actual spiritual evil to be naive or otherwise contemptible then we of course disagree and I doubt you'd see this book as much more than a diversion. I'm not Roman Catholic, but have experience with reported cases of demonic problems. I personally based on the Biblical accounts believe that evil Satan, demons I began to have serious concerns when it became plain he saw the "struggle" to evict an "evil " as centering on the exorcist and described the exorcist as being put up as a "hostage". He mentions that the exorcist must "pay a price" and that "a bit of him dies" with an exorcism. I can't accept this either from a scriptural point of view nor from what limited personal knowledge I have with those who seem to have or have claimed to have demonic problems. Biblically and I accept Biblical statements when they say evil spirits were "cast out". If you choose not to, as is I believe the more common view today, then I suppose we must simply agree to disagree , when confronted with a situation stated to be demonic the "evil" the "demon" or "demons" were commanded out either by or in Jesus name. To center some struggle on a human reflects some problematic beliefs as far as I can see. The actual act is of and by and of and by faith in and OF God. Note the account in Acts 19 beginning in verse His faith, in us. So, while I have some deep concerns about the things he says about confronting demonic powers his accounts are readable, have been around for a long time now and may be something you want to read. I would suggest getting actual "knowledge" on the subject from the . View all 14 comments. Jul 28, Brian rated it it was amazing. I have done quite a bit of research on possession for a story, and I can honestly say that this book actually scared me. I can list on one hand the amount of things in the world that scare me and this book easily made the list. My sister was so creeped out that she wouldn't even finish the book. Martin delivers on his harrowing tales of true demonic possession. He tackles the book objectively from both sides much like a reporter and lets the reader come to their own conclusions. Although I have done quite a bit of research on possession for a story, and I can honestly say that this book actually scared me. Although published in , this book remains the premier book on demonic possession today. If you're curious, or doing a bit of research, this is one book that you should not overlook. Don't believe me? Here's what the Washington Post Book Review had to say: "In the barrage of books on possession and exorcism, this is undoubtedly the most authoritative and convincing. Stunningly pertinent Will set you thinking-and thingking-and thinking. View 2 comments. Mar 31, Shawn rated it it was amazing. This is a shocking account of possession, deviant psychology, and most importantly: the religious approach to combating it. I found this book in the footnotes to "People of the Lie" and found it to be another intriguing page-turner, but clearly something that I would not recommend just anyone to read. Some of the accounts are so diabolical that they descend into a depth of evil most of us would never even conceive of; and, quite frankly, are better off not even being exposed to, even in a book. Conversely, one benefit of the book is gaining of insight to discern the characteristics often exhibited by those who have fallen sway to very heavy levels of evil enslavement. Another benefit is the unveiling of the immense danger of evil, in any form, and the exposure of the that exists around us. View 1 comment. Oct 11, Nick Imrie rated it liked it Shelves: kindle-unlimited , non-fiction , fortean-demons , , religion- christian , fortean , fortean-history. These 5 true stories of demonic possession all have the flavour of fiction, they're told in a literary style: setting the scene with lyrical descriptions of the scenery and weather. Perhaps we can accept this as a necessary story-tellers aid, a harmless flourish to help us get in the mood? I know that I certainly forgive this sort of thing when authors overstep their bounds in historical non-fiction. More seriously there's plenty of the sort of co-incidence that only occurs in Victorian novels. What are the odds that the exorcist asked to come and help the poor possessed person would just happen to have a personal weakness that the demon is specialised in exploiting? Anway, setting aside any niggling doubts on that front - I still find myself hopelessly confused by . If it is only through Christ that we are saved from evil then why must the victim and the exorcist pay such a terrible price to free themselves? Indeed, if Christ saves then why is the priest necessary at all? Why can't the victim just call on Jesus and be saved on the spot? I suspect I may be rehashing the Reformation here, but I don't know enough to know! Martin is firm on this point multiple times: only Christ saves and the priest acts in Christ's name, not in his own. Nevertheless, it's almost impossible not to read these stories as battles between men and monsters - with the priest giving everything in a titanic battle of wills. One gets the very strong impression that Christ probably wouldn't have saved if the priest hadn't personally fought and won. Malachi Martin - Wikipedia

Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin. Hostage to the Devil Quotes Showing of 9. No horror film can begin to capture the horror of such a vision: a world without spirit. He sat down again and explained. After an exorcism the exorcist hears and sees and thinks and talks as he always did. More seriously there's plenty of the sort of co-incidence that only occurs in Victorian novels. What are the odds that the exorcist asked to come and help the poor possessed person would just happen to have a personal weakness that the demon is specialised in exploiting? Anway, setting aside any niggling doubts on that front - I still find myself hopelessly confused by Christianity. If it is only through Christ that we are saved from evil then why must the victim and the exorcist pay such a terrible price to free themselves? Indeed, if Christ saves then why is the priest necessary at all? Why can't the victim just call on Jesus and be saved on the spot? I suspect I may be rehashing the Reformation here, but I don't know enough to know! Martin is firm on this point multiple times: only Christ saves and the priest acts in Christ's name, not in his own. Nevertheless, it's almost impossible not to read these stories as battles between men and monsters - with the priest giving everything in a titanic battle of wills. One gets the very strong impression that Christ probably wouldn't have saved if the priest hadn't personally fought and won. Another point where my querulous, seculuar mind quibbles: Martin emphasises that possession only occurs when the victim consents - but there is precious little informed consent going on here. None of the victims have a clear idea of just how bad things are going to get. And many of these possessions begin in childhood! Can children give consent? I feel like there should be some spiritual court in which one can obtain an easy and pain-free exorcism for anyone who didn't get a clear definition of the terms of the contract. As soon as I start to get these petty legalistic thoughts in my mind I come over all Pratchett-like, and start to imagine how funny it would be if Corporal Nobby Nobbs had been present at any of these exorcisms. Fat chance of the demon embarrassing him by shouting out his most secret sexual perversions. No way that Granny Weatherwax could be driven to despair by the problem of being and non-being. Okay - so if I stop being silly and take these stories seriously, I find myself deeply troubled by the seemingly small and innocent faults that open these poor people up to demons. One priest subscribes to some bad philosophy about how to reconcile religion and evolution; one boy is confused about his gender; one of these guys gains a familiar just because he's lonely! Can it really be so easy? If I was going to give some advice on avoiding possession, based on what I've read here it would be: 1 If you ever feel like any thought or feeling inside you comes from an alien being then tell that being to bugger off! Stay in touch with your family. Just let it be, eh? Jun 09, Tobin Elliott rated it it was ok Shelves: hard-copy , non-fiction , horror. To be fair, I had to stop about halfway through this book. I simply couldn't read it anymore. It had come highly recommended, and I understand why the subject matter , but the author's hamfisted narrative style, along with the insanely judgemental attitude unless you are straight, god-fearing, and do nothing but missionary sex, then praise Jesus afterward, you are a ripe candidate for possession by the devil , I couldn't hack the endless pages of history of how each person fell slowly under To be fair, I had to stop about halfway through this book. It had come highly recommended, and I understand why the subject matter , but the author's hamfisted narrative style, along with the insanely judgemental attitude unless you are straight, god-fearing, and do nothing but missionary sex, then praise Jesus afterward, you are a ripe candidate for possession by the devil , I couldn't hack the endless pages of history of how each person fell slowly under the spell of Satan and how the man that ultimately exorcised the possessed was a flawed but righteous man that overcame his past. I tried. Simply couldn't. You could say I didn't have enough faith. You could say the debbil made me do it. Or you could say it's just a crappily written book. Jun 16, Sistermagpie rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction. This book really surprised me. I grabbed it from my boss's office to have something to read on the train--tales of five "true" American possessions? I was expecting something a lot less interesting than what I got. I believe the book dates from the 70s. It's interesting to see how the attitudes of that time period clearly inform all the possessions. This being a book about exorcisms the book obviously takes the possession that Christianity is real and everyone really needs to rely on Jesus for to This book really surprised me. This being a book about exorcisms the book obviously takes the possession that Christianity is real and everyone really needs to rely on Jesus for to stray from that path puts you in danger. But where as nowadays I think this type of book would be a lot cruder, probably showing simple tales where the devil tempts people into having abortions, being feminist, environmentalist or in any way liberal, the victims in this book go through much more intersting, subtle struggles with earlier ideas. The seduced by a then popular book about Jesus as the evolutionary pinnacle of nature. The man who appreciates the feminine so much he comes to want to be androgynous I think a reflection of the whole "men should get in touch with their feminine side" ideas of the time. The college with powers. This last story is perhaps the most 70s as the book presents the study of and psychic powers like telekinesis as totally scientific. While many of Carl's powers are illusions from "Tortoise," others are not. I don't really consider the book non-fiction, but I did enjoy it. Jan 02, Anna Janelle rated it it was ok. Here I was thinking that I was comfortable in my retreat from childhood Catholicism into guilt-free adult agnosticism. Silly me. Then, I read this book and literally scared myself so much I was terrified to be in the house alone. Not that being in the same room as someone helped too much. I'm pretty much uncomfortable and filled with terror all the time now. Thanks Malachi Martin. I appreciate that. Five accounts of real Catholic exorcisms that occurred in the United States as late as the Here I was thinking that I was comfortable in my retreat from childhood Catholicism into guilt-free adult agnosticism. Five accounts of real Catholic exorcisms that occurred in the United States as late as the nineteen sixties - exorcisms not officially sanctioned by the church but exorcisms that were performed in the church's name. In writing this review, I If it matters, I think the first exorcism was the worst in terms of profanity and general terror. Think Linda Blair. Think real life. He's an authority on the , and he lays on the Catholic philosophy and belief system complete with the ever popular helping of guilt fairly thick in between the actual accounts of exorcisms. This bore-factor combined with the Catholic guilt combined with the fear of becoming possessed at all times has lead me to give this book a paltry two stars despite some really great moments. Will I be revisiting this book in the future? Hell no. I cannot wait to get it out of my house and back to the library. Was it terrible? Again, hell no but it managed to inspire a fear that I never knew I harbored. Will I be Googling "real exorcisms" anytime soon or watching any scary movies anytime soon? I'm still scared. I'm not sure if I'll be the same ever again. Feb 10, Kimberly rated it it was amazing. Malachi martin, before going into further detail on the cases, gives very useful information that enlightens the reader. The information he gave educated you to understand possession and exorcism. For example, he specifically details the understanding of demonic possession in the beginning of the book in a section called A Brief Handbook of Exorcism. He states, The truth is that all three- the possessed, the possessing spirit, and the exorcist- bear a close relation to the reality of life and Malachi martin, before going into further detail on the cases, gives very useful information that enlightens the reader. I personally do believe in the forces of evil and spirits. Martin was on point describing to us how possession works, and the dangers of it. The cases were so entertaining to read about. I know that demonic possession is not exactly like what they portray in the movies, nor is it something that should be taken lightly, but reading about it gave me a thrill. He heard no word, saw no vision, smelled no odor. It was an amazing, dark, and fascinating book. It really depends on the type of literature you enjoy reading, but I do believe this book will enthrall any type of reader. I recommend this to absolutely anyone. Regardless of what religion you are, you should get educated on this matter. I believed in these matters prior to me reading this novel, however I learned a lot and if I did not believe in it, Malachi Martin would have influenced my belief in it. Never thought I'd ever say I found a book on demons and exorcism boring, but I have. You have to work hard at making stories of supposed real-life possessions and church-sanctioned exorcism mind-numbingly tedious, but Malachi Martin's "Hostage to the Devil" succeeded. This is allegedly a nonfiction book, so recount the facts and quit the purple prose and repetitive elaboration about things that drag the stories down. I understood what you meant the first time; no need to repeat it ten different Never thought I'd ever say I found a book on demons and exorcism boring, but I have. I understood what you meant the first time; no need to repeat it ten different ways. Explain your point in several sentences, not ten pages that ramble in indulgent prose and flowery words plucked from a thesaurus. I want seminal info and case studies that don't read like literary fiction. Gimme the facts! Many people found this book scary, disturbing, and unsettling. I found it frustrating and anything but. Jul 24, Rhonda rated it it was amazing Shelves: theology. Malachi Martin was an exceptional writer and a highly gifted and blessed Catholic theologian. His premature death was a great loss to a world desperately set on detroying itself. As a word of caution, this is not the book on which to start reading Martin. It is better to have an understanding of general spiritual warfare which is going on in the world today, perhaps better illustrated by his novels having to do with John Paul II and his efforts as pope. With that being said, this book is an Malachi Martin was an exceptional writer and a highly gifted and blessed Catholic theologian. With that being said, this book is an astounding look into a very dark spiritual world. One must decide, first, whether one believes such things as Martin writes about are real or fictional. I think that if one did not believe, this book would be a waste of time, but then I may be wrong as there is so much to be gleaned, either in a secular way or in a spiritual way. Certainly anyone who believes that man has a spiritual component should be impressed by this volume. Indeed, these episodes stand on their own merits and ought to speak for themselves. My only word of sincere warning is that these are dark tales indeed. Jan 30, Laura added it Shelves: did-not-finish. Well, the fascination ended. I got stuck around page and found myself picking up other books instead. After months of it sitting on my bedside table, untouched, I think it's time to throw in the towel. It really grabbed me at first, but I just ran out of steam on it. I'm still fascinated by the strong belief people have in demonic possession; if only I didn't have so many other good-looking books on my shelf waiting to be read Jun 29, Del marked it as never-finished. I had high for this, but the writing was drier than a hangover in Hell. I kept going back to it and falling asleep. Sep 20, Anita Dalton rated it really liked it Shelves: books-we-own , religion , possession , exorcism , catholicism. You know, had this book been written by anyone but the late Malachi Martin, I would think it just a cheesy look at bizarre belief. But for some reasons, I like Martin and considered him a sincere believer who may have been a good showman but at least backed his show with some actual insider information and genuine belief. He was also a pretty good writer. I am not a believer in demonic possession but Martin was able to write in such a gripping manner that I was able to suspend disbelief and just You know, had this book been written by anyone but the late Malachi Martin, I would think it just a cheesy look at bizarre belief. I am not a believer in demonic possession but Martin was able to write in such a gripping manner that I was able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the book. Atheists who don't like to wallow in the odd may want to give this a miss but for the rest of us, this book is at the very least a very entertaining read. I think visions seen on TV, movie, or computer screens are very different from spiritual visions like St. We become overwhelmed by memories and fantasies and moods, and we spend many hours watching images flicker across screens. Some of us, like St. Clare or William Blake or the poet H. There is something about watching a convincing horror film that is akin to having a terrible vision or a nightmare. But I think it would be an oversimplification to say that films are the same as dreams or delusions, or that witnessing an apparition of a ghost in a horror movie is the same as seeing a ghost appear at the foot of your own bed. The difference is the essence of the thing, which is the hardest part to define and yet the most important. TM: I love to see Malachi Martin included in this book! For the uninitiated: could you tell us a little about Father Martin? And how do you see possession relating to ghosts? CC: Yes, thank you, Malachi Martin is fascinating! He was an Irish priest who left the Jesuits in the mids because of their alleged corruption, then he moved to New York, where he began a writing career and started practicing as an exorcist. The effect of that was chilling. Within the world of horror, Martin was in the same circle as other paranormal investigators, like Ed and Lorraine Warren, and mentored a few contemporary demonologists who are still working in the field. The stories from these exorcists have been used as fodder for fictional horror films for decades. As for the differences between demonic possession and ghostly hauntings, I think a person can be haunted, literally or figuratively, in such a strong way that it can seem as if they are possessed. What I mean is almost Freudian: that the ghost of a deceased parent or other ancestor can stay with a person and dwell within them, determining their interests, moods, and thoughts. A demonic possession is something totally other. In horror films and paranormal reality shows, these two kinds of spirits often coexist: a house or a person may be tormented by both demons and ghosts. Very unlucky!

Hostage to the Devil The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans Audiobook

Keywords: Fr. Malachi Martin , exorcism , documentary , Hostage to the Devil. Light Your Candle Now. Netflix is releasing a documentary of exorcisms named for Fr. Martin's book, "Hostage to the Devil," in which writer and producer Rachel Lysaght attempts to reveal whether the devil truly exists. According to the Irish Times , the documentary is based on Fr. According to Mirror UK , the feature-length documentary of Fr. Martin, and the dangers of exorcisms, includes interviews with exorcism witnesses. One such witness claimed injuries from an exorcism conducted by Fr. Martin in is what really caused the priest's death. Allegedly, Fr. Martin shared details of his final exorcism to a friend, who explained the series of events. Lysaght explained: "We filmed with one of Malachi Marin's very close friends, a former CIA agent called Marrow, who's an amazing interviewee because he has such excellent recall. Marrow shared how Fr. Martin heard a possessed 4-year-old speak to him during an exorcism, then an invisible force pushed him down. Marrow drove to the girl's home with Fr. Martin and was present when she said, "So you're Malachi Martin and you think you can help her! Marrow may have been a former CIA agent but he admitted it was the most disturbing thing he'd ever witnessed. Copyright Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. Federal Tax Identification Number: Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Toggle navigation. See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin. Hostage to the Devil Quotes Showing of 9. No horror film can begin to capture the horror of such a vision: a world without spirit. He sat down again and explained. After an exorcism the exorcist hears and sees and thinks and talks as he always did. But now he perceives on two planes. Spirit is everywhere. You are now walking with double vision, a second sight, as the old people used to say. In the breakup of our educational system. In the disappearance of publicly accepted norms of decency in language, dress and behavior. In the lives of our youth, everywhere deformed by stunning violence and sudden death; by teenage pregnancy; by drug and alcohol addiction; by disease; by suicide; by fear. America is arguably now the most violent of the so-called developed nations of the world. Nothing has changed, either, in the requirements for successful Exorcism of a Possessed individual. All of that remains as described and summarized in the chapters and cases that follow. What have changed are the conditions of the society in which we all now live. To a far greater degree than most of us could have imagined fifteen or so years ago, a favorable climate for the occurrence of demonic Possession has developed as the normal condition of our lives.

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