[.ca] Hostage to the Devil - Reissue: The Possession and ... (ISBN 006065337X)

Real-life cases from the '60s and '70s:
Martin, an experienced exorcist, presents five full true-life accounts of demonic possession from the 1960s and 1970s. The book is made more interesting by the fact that each case has a different exorcist with his own personality, history, and flaws. (Martin's personal career as an exorcist was primarily in the 1940s and 1950s. He is apparently more of a consultant on such matters now.) Interestingly, a Web site claims to quote from a Martin interview that, in his opinion, "Cases of possession and obsession have increased about 750% since the early 1970's." It is therefore doubly unfortunate that so many skeptical bishops have effectively forbidden the use of exorcism in their jurisdictions.

Sobering Book on Good and Evil in the World...:
I highly recommend this book for those who don't believe that there is a God---Who is merciful and loves them. It is also for those who don't believe in the power of evil (the devil) in the our world. I read this book a while back and have not forgotten the images that were imprinted in my mind. It made me keenly aware of what a priest has to be like in order to carry out his priestly duties as a representative of Christ. It is not a pleasant book to read, but indeed a sobering experience. It gives light to what the true meaning of free-will is and of redemptive love. These exorcisms really happened to those 5 Americans..that is what makes this so impressive reading. This is not a Stephen King novel..yet it reads like one. And you almost wished it was--Instead of something that was recorded as though it was from a crime-scene forenics record...which it could be. Once you have read this book, you will not soon forget it... This book however, is not for the faint hearted. So if you have the courage to read it, then do so..you will not be disappointed in Malachi Martin's book.

A CLASSIC, but there is much more...:
This is truly a classic book on the subject of exorcism from the Catholic perspective, but the truth is: Satan, the Prince of Darkness, is much more subtle than generally portrayed here. He \oIt: Evil\c is very much active via demonic elements which find access thru abuse, past pain, and (especially) WRONG CHOICES in relation to forgiveness, bitterness, and morality. Satan is also "The Accuser" and "The Prosecuter" who is always looking for the opportunity to slander and accuse GOD and His servants. Dr.Martin's book is an eye-opener to those who never thought of Evil as being both personal and a real force in the world to be reckoned with. In the end, you will find that the only real protection (and greater power) is Love, Faith, and the atoning, all-powerful Blood of the Crucified Lamb. "...and they over came him (Satan) by the Blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, AND THEY LOVED NOT THEIR OWN LIVES UNTO DEATH." - Revelation 12:11

Please put the thesaurus down:
Well, I am half way in to this book and its becoming difficult to continue. The writing style that Martin takes is excessively painful. The unnecessary use of "Big Words" is really annoying. It seems as if he is trying really hard to come off as credible by amassing a staggering array of words that are rarely used in conventional writing. I understand that in certain circumstances, consulting a thesaurus is necessary. But to do so constantly, for no reason other then to sound sophisticated is a very transparent attempt at compensating for a sense of inadequacy in content on the part of Mr. Martin. Which is completely unnecessary. This coupled with the attempt to describe, to mind-numbing detail, the inner emotions of an individual is very difficult to read. Mr. Martin tried way to hard to get into the heads of the people he writes of and in the processes spent way to much time alliterating that. Ideas that should be a page or two wind up being 10 or 15. If you can get pass the above, Mr. Martin does a nice job in the way he sets up the stories. He is very well researched and lays out the premise in a very captivating manner. But this book could be half the size it is. In all fairness to Mr. Martin, this may be the doing an editor run amok. If so, he needs to find a new one. I am giving it two stars as I have not yet finished it. I don't know if I can take much more of reading fluff and filler. This subject is quite fascinating and it is nothing but my curiosity that keeps me going. In all honesty, I don't think I'm going to make it through.

Why the Catholic Church?:
It always amazes me that people give so much credence to "exorcisms" as relating to the Catholic Church. I heard once that the Catholic Church does about one exorcism per year. Whatever the truth there, that is NOTHING in comparison with the amount of deliverances that are done all over the world every day. How do I know? I have performed them myself. Many, and often. Many have been very, very dramatic. If you read the New Testament from cover to cover, you will see that about 1/3 of Jesus' ministry had to do with deliverance. He called deliverance "the children's bread". He also said that if your house is cleaned (of demons), you had better fill it (with the Holy Spirit) or the demons will come back 7x worse. The point is that you have to be a believer...born-again as John 3 says. If you read the gospel accounts (start with John), Jesus gave his "power of attorney" - His Name - for believers to use. It is ONLY the name of Jesus Christ that will make a demon bow the knee. And firstly, a person must forsake sin and forgive others in his life that have hurt him (her). Only then can one be free from the "tormentors". So, pre-deliverance often involves some ministry with individuals and some turning from things as well as healing/forgiveness. I was called once to do a deliverance where the 250 pound young man had demons of rage that sounded like multiple voices talking at the same time. Extremely loud and like the movies! The neighbors called the police because of the noise coming from the house. I had to do deliverance in front of police officers...who were more than happy to leave us with a violent man and get out of dodge--fast! The person who had been trying to do the deliverance had made the mistake to engage in conversation and "quarrel" with the demon. You must confidently take authority over them in the name of Jesus. They hate to have to look in your eyes...if you are born-again you have the Holy Spirit resident in you and your eyes are the window to your soul. I just commanded the demon to look into my eyes, and "Rage" began to back down and turn into a whimpering coward. Demons generally come out on the breath. They like to make a scene, but you can forbid them from doing so. They like to hurt the person, or make them get worn out. If you like dramatics (like some well-known ministers do), then you let that occur. It is NOT necessary, and the demon should be denied any ability to do so. I make them come out on the breath...some come out with burps, coughs, yawns, moans. Occasionally, people will throw up. People even occasionally cry them out in their tears. They are spirits, so they normally come out on the breath. In the past couple of years, I have started to actually acquire the gift/ability to spiritually know where they are at in the body of the person. They will try to hide - or move around. Or come out slowly. People affirm to me that I am correct, or I will see some manifestation that confirms that the demon is doing what I perceived. All believers should understand deliverance and be able to do deliverance. Jesus sent the 70 out in pairs to minister. We should also. Jesus said, "For this reason I came: to destroy the works of the devil." We are to do His works, in His name--as His followers. There are many other good books on the market, much better than this. Try several books by the author of "Pigs in the Parlor". Their book on Curses is excellent. William Schnoeblen was a Satanist, and they encountered the demonic while dabbling in rituals. In his book, he recounts getting scared, and his Satanist wife (who was raised in the Christian church in her youth), blurts out to the demon to GO! IN THE NAME OF JESUS! Even a Satanist can have authority over demons in the NAME above all names. So can the Catholic church. The Catholic priests can be demonized themselves and still cast demons out in others...no glory to them...only the the ONE who conquered, death, sin and the grave...JESUS! He deserves all glory and praise. And when He returns, there will be many who will come to Him and say, "Did we not do many mighty works in your name? Did we not cast out demons in your name?" And He has said in His Word, "Depart from me...you who practice lawlessness. I NEVER KNEW YOU." So, more importantly than casting out demons, is to KNOW HIM and be KNOWN BY HIM. I hope Malachi Martin got rid of all his "Jesuit" demons...I'm sure he has a bunch from just being involved with that bunch. cheriekoch@hotmail.com