Profile by peter salcido

A demonic Presence

By Peter Salcido

Betty, John, Francis, Mark, and you are having a slumber party at your house. The moon shines through your navy blue window. Stars twinkle in the night sky, contributing to the light glaze on the concrete in your front yard. Pillows, blankets, and zip up sleeping bags: scattered all over the floor of the room. John has a surprise to share with everyone else. Hidden behind his wrinkled clothes in his bag, he pulls out a square with letters printed on its design. Shortly after he pulls out a weird triangle tool and places it atop of the square, John suggests you play with the Ouija Board.

Everyone is super excited and

thinking that it’s going to be a really fun night. The question pops out as John places his hands on the triangle tool: “Is anyone here with us?” John says with a curious tone. The triangle moves slowly to the y, then e, then s.

Playing this game may sound fun and may be the highlight of your night but not knowing or even understanding what you are actually doing may be the worst decision of your life. You see, playing a spiritual game puts yourself in a state where you are inviting other spirits into you.

These kind of spirits aren’t happy spirits like the Tooth Fairy.

These spirits are malicious, due to their rejection of the goodness and light: God. “They are in the state between the Natural

and the supernatural, called the preternatural. They are higher than us, travel faster, and they are pure spirits”(Fr. Thomas).

Don’t think you can outsmart them, and don’t let yourself slip into the mindset of, “oh that won’t happen to me” Think again because possession can happen to anyone at any time, if that person lets the demon in. As long as you don’t open any doors, you’re fine. It doesn’t mean you have to go to church and it doesn’t mean that you have to read the Bible.

It also doesn’t mean that you should just not believe in the Devil or God because that won’t save you either. By staying away from games like the Ouija board you will be better off.

“"Encourage people not to be afraid, be respectful because there is an intelligent being to we prefer to as satan. Satan is an intelligent all consuming creature of evil and he is the real deal. Satan is the prime reason Jesus Christ came to Earth to live, suffer and be crucified all to defeat Satan. Be close to god because we are in a cosmic battle with Satan. And give evil a kind of discerning effect and know that God’s power is great and Satan has already been defeated by Jesus Christ when he died. Know that God is deveined and Satan is a fallen angel."“

at many other Parishes around the South Bay. To learn to be an Exorcist Priest he had to go to Rome in Italy to take classes there and start to be comfortable with the idea of devil creatures.

Father Thomas has a book based off of him. It is called “The Rite”

by Matt Biglio where the movie “ The Rite” is based off of. What is in the movie is not entirely like the book. There are some non factual events in the movie that did not happen to Father

Thomas in real life, for instance his Dad was not portrayed the correct and factual way. Father Thomas had to travel and meet with the star of the movie, “The Rite”. He had to train Colin O’Donoghue on how to be his Character and portray him the correct way. Father Thomas has a very interesting and busy life.

He is a full time pastor at Sacred Heart, which happens to be a school, and travels around the country to spread the word of

Late Pope John the 2nd mandated through the congregation for the doctrine of the Faith, which is the vatican department that deals with the matters of faith, ather Gary Thomas The Pope said that every diocese decided to be a Priest to help around the World should select others and spread the word of and train an Exorcist. The reaGod. When he was only a Priest son is the growing cult activity in and pastored for a church in Europe. Bishop Patrick Mcgraw Los Altos known as St. Nicholas approached a Priest in the DioParish, he met other Priests who cese of San Jose who is close to opened up the opportunity to be me. The other Priest declined to an Exorcist Priest.“In 2004 The be the Exorcist Priest to which

he asked me to do it. The other Priest told the bishop that he had another Priest that could fill his shoes, who was me, Father Thomas. I was already going to a sabbatical in Rome anyways and with the time available I went to this class after locating an exorcist priest already trained. It was for three and a half months, three days a week at a church The Exorcist Priest who put on the class was a pastor at, St. Laurence Inside the Walls.” When

DDealing with evil isn’t

something you think about on a regular basis, but there are people in this world that do and that is Father Gary Thomas, an Exorcist Priest. Being in his profession can be scary, but by keeping God in his life he manages to do his job very well. He has been a pastor and a chaplain

God.

F

of heaven and earth the maker of seen and unseen. I believe. I exorcise you most unclear spirit, creator of agony in the name of Jesus Christ leave this man, in the name of the Virgin Mary, I command you, I who believe in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ be up rooted and expelled nside Sacred Heart from this creature of God. He Parish is a church where not who commands you is he who many churches experience the commands you to the depths ritual of an Exorcism. Here’s a scene taken from the movie The of Hell! Hear there ford feared sake enemy of faith fear him who Rite due to Father Thomas not being able to share any personal was crucified as man and who rose from the dead.” Eye contact, ones. The demon speaking the original tongue of speech; Latin. the most destructing phenomenon, smashing you like a boot Little spider web veins poking to an ant. In this movie The Rite through all over his face. The directed by Mikael Hofstrom deep colors of the black, grey with Anthony Hopkins, exorand red in the eyes of this so cisms are frightening due to the called Devil. Swiftly moving to the pile of ropes, seek out a chair disturbing scenes with heads turning around and climbing on and place this human shaped creature and quickly tie him up. the walls. Speaking with a real Exorcist Priest makes it even Murmuring coming from the evil tongue of the Devil. He slips more daunting because it is real life rather than just what you see out of the binds and rushes to the “soon to be” warrior of God. in the movies, as to where you The Devil inside the man speaks, do not expect it to be as real.

“Feel that digging and screaming Father Thomas did say that real Exorcisms are like the movies, around inside you, like God’s dirty fingernail, do you believe in where eyes roll back and tone and language changes. Although me now?” Michael replies, “Yes starting the process in real life is I believe, I believe in the Devil, a lot longer than what you would I believe in you, so I believe in see say in the movie The Rite.

God. I accept God, I believe The priest has psychologist and a in God the father, the maker he was done he came back to the Bay Area and began to serve as the Exorcist Priest for the Diocese of San Jose at Sacred Heart in Saratoga.

I

clinical psychiatrist and a medical Doctor, all present to decide whether it is demonic or a mental health issue. These Doctors are people who do practice the Catholic faith and do believe in this event. Once declared they either begin the exorcism process or medication is prescribed.

The sun shines peace-

fully through the cracks of the window. A graceful awakening.

Water faucets open and water pops out of the little snake holes. Fresh and clean placing a white robe over his shoulders.

Sunday mornings are peaceful.

Sunday is the Holy Day, preaching the word of the Lord, seeing the many faces of the surrounding community. The sign of the cross many times for an hour, to show your grace for Jesus Christ stating the many prayers Catholics say: “Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name…”

Some may think being a Priest is relaxing, that it’s fun in many ways, but priests have busy lives and hardly receive any breaks.

Not only is Mass on Saturday and Sunday with Reconciliation on Saturday as well, he preaches

for other communities. Father Thomas has many events happening throughout the week.

Sacred Heart in Saratoga, California is not just a Parish, but a Catholic school as well. So putting in a lot of energy towards the school with preaching to the kids and performing a Mass for the kids everyday. While being an Exorcist Priest for the entire Diocese of San Jose. And agreeing to High Schoolers for doing a school project on him, sharing his time for them to interview and take photos as well. All these things running through

Father Thomas’s head. On top of the spiritual weight he has to carry and with hold as the Exorcist Priest of the San Jose Diocese. Meeting with about a dozen cases where so called “demons” have possessed a human being’s soul and showing itself through the human’s body. To which can be very frightening, But Father Thomas says, “I am not scared of anything of which I do.” Father Thomas mentioned that being scared is a weakness and demons feed off of our weaknesses.

Today, Father Thomas is

in Rome once again to fulfill his pilgrimage sightings. A pilgrimage is when you travel around to all the Holy Sites and mingle with other Priests, Bishops, and other holy people. To which you can relate to and or keep building your connection with God. A quote I asked Father Thomas to give was this, “Encourage people not to be afraid, be respectful because there is an intelligent being to we prefer to as Satan. Satan is an intelligent Huwawa:

Ancient Gardian Demon, was appointed by the Sumerian storm god Enlil to watch over the Ceder Mountain Forest, Located in the coastal mountains of Syria. Hawaw is a creature of colossal size.

His massive gorgonlike face is composed of ropy twisted coils of intestine and can strike terror into the heart of the be- holder .

Saint Anthony's Demons Anthony, who's parents had died when he was little, had been disturbed by the devil. Satin sent many Demons his way, but Anthony took all the beatings with the mindset that if his flesh is sufering his soul can grow stronger.. He traveled into the desert, meeting many temptations, and found an abandoned fortress.

He would get harrassed by many demons and soon many people were his followers.

They would camp outside his fortress.

all consuming creature of evil and he is the real deal. Satan is the prime reason Jesus Christ came to Earth to live, suffer and be crucified all to defeat Satan.

Be close to God because we are in a cosmic battle with Satan.

And give evil a kind of discerning effect and know that God’s power is great and Satan has already been defeated by Jesus Christ when he died. Know that

God is deveined and Satan is a fallen angel.” These words are to give people a sense of hope and inspire people to live with God and to rebuke the Devil.when he died. Know that God is deveined and Satan is a fallen angel.”

Words to give a sense of hope and inspire people to live with God and to rebuke the Devil.