In Philippines, spirituality includes warfare against forces of darkness

BY  SIMONE ORENDAIN, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

MANILA, Philippines – In the months leading up to Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines Jan. 15-19, Church leaders emphasized “spiritual preparation,” such as a special prayer for the Pope at the end of each Mass and a reminder to carry out small acts of kindness toward the less fortunate.

Along with prayerful devotion to Jesus, the Virgin Mary and veneration of the many saints, another aspect of the faith in this overwhelmingly Catholic country is its consideration of the forces of darkness and spiritual warfare.

At the spacious chapel inside the main building of the Manila Archdiocese, Msgr. Jesus-Norriel Bandojo said a prayer as he poured holy water into water bottles and bottles of olive oil and sprinkled it on colourful rosaries, rock salt, a selection of saints’ medallions and icons of various religious figures, all crowding a table on one side of the altar. He said the items had to be “cleansed” of any possible evil spirits hanging around them, waiting to take advantage of their unsuspecting owners.

Bandojo, an exorcist-in-training, had just concluded a Mass for archdiocesan employees; reads the rest of this story at the Catholic News Service

‘Ghost Adventures’ host Zak Bagans sells his Las Vegas home

by The Examiner

“Ghost Adventures” host Zak Bagans recently sold his Las Vegas townhouse for $445,000. The home is allegedly haunted and included its ghosts, demonic activity, and it even has a hidden dungeon, TMZ reported Wednesday.

Zak Bagans is best known for appearing on the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” for ten seasons. The series recently got renewed for an eleventh season. Bagans also hosts “Ghost Adventures Aftershocks” which also airs on the Travel Channel.

Bagans purchased the 4,700 square-foot house a few years ago for $370,000 but he didn’t live in it for long. He told TMZ that he “got the Hell out of the house” because a demonic

Norway care home hired psychic for exorcism

From The Local: Norway’s English Language Newspaper
5 February 2015
A municipal care home in Norway has been slammed for “poor judgement” after managers hired a clairvoyant to drive out evil spirits because staff were spooked by random flickering lights.

Defeating the devil: why exorcism in Australia is on the rise

by Peter Munro for the Sidney Morning Herald
February 7 2015

Exorcism is on the rise worldwide, backed by no less a figure than Pope Francis. In Australia, Peter Munro meets some of our foremost demon wranglers, and people who say they’ve had their