An exorcist priest has issued a stern warning about the spiritual dangers associated with activities such as using Ouija boards and attempting to communicate with the dead. Here’s what he said.
The Warnings
Father Dan Reehil, who has received exorcism training in Rome and serves as the exorcist for the Diocese of Nashville, shared the need for people to understand that there is more to the world than what meets the eye, including the existence of angels, demons, spirits, and souls that can influence our lives.
The Exorcisms
Father Reehil’s role as an exorcist involves performing specific forms of prayer, known as exorcisms, to counter the influence of the devil.
He explained that the Catholic Church distinguishes between two types of exorcisms: major and minor.
Possessed by Demons
Major exorcisms are reserved for individuals who are demonstrably possessed by demons and can only be performed by priests with explicit permission from a bishop.
In contrast, minor exorcisms are associated with sacraments and blessings.
Levels of Demonic Involvement
According to Father Reehil, there are three levels of demonic involvement, which include temptation, obsession or oppression, and possession.
Temptation is a common experience for everyone, while obsession occurs when demons torment individuals physically, spiritually, mentally, or emotionally.
Possession, the most well-known level, involves a demon or demon taking physical possession of a person’s body.
Occult Practices
The use of occult practices like Ouija boards is considered a way to open oneself up to demonic activity unintentionally.
Demons Lie and Impersonate Dead People
Father Reehil said, “Demons lie and impersonate dead people. When asking a board for information about a deceased person, or a life decision, they are all too happy to embed themselves into your life.
Using an Ouija board is inviting a demon into your life, whether the person has that intention or not.”
The History of Ouija Boards
Image Credit: Shutterstock / andrea crisante
The Ouija board, originally developed as a parlor game in the late 19th century, was known as a “talking board.”
It consists of an alphabet, the words “yes,” “no,” “goodbye,” and numbers zero through nine.
Users place their hands on a “planchette,” which is supposedly moved by spirits to spell out answers to questions.
The Name
The origins of the Ouija board’s name are unclear, but it is said to have been spelled out during a session in 1890.
The boards were patented in 1891 and have since been mass-produced and marketed by various companies.
Not a Typical Board Game
While the Ouija board is marketed as a way to communicate with the spirit world, Father Reehil strongly disagrees with this characterization.
He believes it should not be viewed as a typical board game and warns against its use.
A Form of Divination
He said, “Ouija boards should not be viewed in the same way as a typical board game. Although it is advertised as a game, it is far from it. Rather, it is a form of divination.”
Stay Close to God
“Whenever we seek to engage demons, we move away from the One True God. Stay away from all forms of occult practices — and stay close to God,” he added.
“The Devil Is Real”
Several social media users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “The devil is real. He roams about seeking whom he may devour. You don’t have to look too far to see him. Evil is all around us.”
Creating Hysteria in Susceptible Users
Another user added, “I’m not sure that an Ouija board is a portal for anything other than creating hysteria in overly dramatic, susceptible users.”
It’s Just Mythology
A third user commented, “I love mythology, be it Greek, Roman, Christian, Muslim, or Jewish, it’s all full of great stories, but in the end, it’s just mythology.”
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The post“Stay Close to God”: Nashville Exorcist Priest Warns Against Using Ouija Board and Claims “Angels, Demons, Spirits and Souls Do Exist first appeared on Mama Say What?!.
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