The Exorcist Files - S2-Case #09 -The Ties That Bind, Pt 1

Episode Date: August 7, 2024

Father John Szada who holds a PhD in Psychology , guest hosts a case from his own ministry. When a young girl begins experiencing demonic manifestations the culprit looks to be closer to home than anyone could have realized. SPONSORSExodus90- the premier spiritual formation curriculum for men. Join Father Martins as he hosts this years St. Michael's lent. FountofGrace- premier, custom made catholic jewelry. Exorcist Files Listeners get a special discount.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you crave more Exorcist Files content? Do you want to go deeper into theology and spiritual warfare? Well, you're going to want to subscribe to The Vault, our new premium subscriber program. The Vault is our way of ensuring we bring you content all year long. Subscribers will get access to exclusive once a month, Ask Me Anything episodes with Father Martins, where you can submit questions and vote on the ones you want him to answer most. You'll also get access to a very special case behind the case series,

where we relisten to past episodes and cases, and father reflects back on insights and anecdotes he just didn't have time to get into in the podcast. To subscribe, head on over to exorcistfiles.tv and sign up. Or just click the link in the show notes. Again, that's exorcistfiles.tv to get access to the vault. I thought you fixed this. How many times do I have to tell him?

Just call a professional. Maria, Tomas, can you come here and help me sit the table? Tomas! I swear we are going to blow a circuit. Mom! Quick! Come see this! Now what?

Look at this! The TV keeps turning on by itself. Yeah. It has to be the power, honey. It's... Some sort of surge. Mom? This isn't...

Ma? What's going on with the appliances? Unplug everything. Actually, forget this. Get your shoes on. We're going out. One of the things people often don't realize is that Christianity, while being the truth, does not have a monopoly on all expressions of spiritual power. There is certainly power in the occult, which is why it can be alluring for so many. It is, of course, nothing compared to Jesus.

Jesus is Lord of all and has authority over all. But the other side has part of it. tricks. These temptations are cheap imitations and bait used by our adversary to try and ensnare people into bondage. We must remind ourselves that since the fall, the world is under the rule of our adversary. But it is only for a time. Until that time, though, we must be on guard and fight the good fight. Welcome back to the Exorcist Files, where possession is not nine-tenths the law. Today we have a special treat for you. A colleague and dear friend of Father Martins, an exorcist for the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Father John Zeta, a man whose bearded

Gandalf was said to envy, is here with us to share one of his own harrowing experiences. Regular listeners will remember that in addition to his ecclesiastical and bearded authority, he also has some serious academic credentials. My name is Father John Zeta. I am a priest of the Catholic Church, an exorcist, and perhaps of particular interest to the listeners of the story, I am also a student of mental health, having earned my PhD in psychology. I have always been fascinated with the interplay between mental and spiritual health. I have known Father Carlos for years, and we've collaborated on some cases.

When he asked me if I'd be willing to share a case, I was happy to contribute, as I share his mission to wait. the world up to the reality of our adversary. We need not fear him, but we must be aware. Evil is real. The case I'm going to share today remains one of the most formative of my ministry. Not only was it incredibly challenging, and at times quite harrowing, it was also my very first case. And as I've heard Ryan joke on this show, let me assure you, it is true. You never forget. forget your first exorcism. As a general reminder, the content of this show is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.

We also would discourage listening right before bed. We don't know why, but some people insist on listening just before they try and not off to sleep. Good luck with that. Oh, and we do recommend headphones for the full exorcistic 3D audio experience. So with that, let's get to the case. We present you with part one of The Ties That Bind, as told in his own words by your guest exorcist, Father John Zeta. Like Father Martens does, I've changed the names and some details

to protect the identities of the family and those involved in this case. But I am grateful that they have given me permission to share this story in the hopes it blesses and encourages everyone. I pray it does. As many exorcism cases start, one day I received a call from a woman named Christina who asked me to calm bless her home. As Father Martens I shared on this show, this is a common practice for Catholics. However, in the case of Christina, she was troubled by what she described as eerie disturbances.

Objects would move. There was the sense of a presence in the house, and of course some rooms would turn instantly cold. While I hate to reduce it to such terms, it was what one might call a typical haunting. I drove out to the house to perform the blessing and met with Christina and her daughter. He's here. Maria. Do you honestly think this is going to do anything? Really. Hush.

Have a little faith, Maria. Father, hello. Please, please come in. Thank you so much for seeing us. This is my daughter. Maria. My pleasure. Maria, it's nice to meet you.

Hi. Please, have a seat. Can I get you some water or coffee? No, no, I'm fine. Thank you. Wow, I've never seen so many statues on one mantle. You must really appreciate the saints. Is that St. Catherine of Sienna?

Oh, maybe? My husband's the one to ask. Those are his. He does stuff with them. Her husband was noticeably absent, and I noticed the inquiry into the statues made her uncomfortable. I thought she might be hiding something.

Interesting. I was hoping you'd be willing to elaborate on what made you reach out to the church the other day. You mentioned some strange activity in the home. Could you tell me a little bit more about that? What she should have said was that our house is frigging creepy, and we've tried everything to fix it, but it just keeps getting worse. Maria, language.

It's okay. I'd like to understand. Tell me everything. Well, okay. The lights in our house. They flicker constantly and we have these really bizarre power searches. Sometimes they are so strong, they short-circuit appliances, or they just turn on all by themselves. And I may be crazy here, but I swear the lights are flickering in a pattern. And I assume you've had electricians or their power. company here? Yeah. We've had the electricity checked and they can't figure it out. Mom, tell them about the necklace. Maria, I don't think. Mom, I swear it's not me. She has this really pretty necklace and one day it completely disappeared. She thought I borrowed it

or something even though I told her I didn't. Like three weeks go by and then one day I got out of the shower and the thing was just hanging on the towel rack right there. And it wasn't there before I got in the shower. I see. Well, I'm more than happy to bless your home, and that's a good place to start. Is there anything else I should know about the house or your family?

If you don't mind my prying, are you active in church right now? We could probably stand to go to Mass more often, but we're doing the best we can, you know? I mean, no one is perfect, right? But we do say our prayers, and try to be good people. I understand.

Thank you. Let's bless your home. I conducted what is known as a chapter three, or a minor exorcism. In the Catholic Church, there are essentially two types of exorcism, major and minor. Major exorcisms require the bishop's approval, a medical evaluation, and is what you have probably been exposed to in popular cinema, although normally far less dramatic. I blessed the home and left.

It was fairly uneventful. I didn't see or hear anything like what they had described. The family claimed to be practicing Catholics, but I was unconvinced. I also detected traces of Sinteria, particularly with the extensive collection of statues. Santeria can be tricky to identify sometimes because it often uses Catholic saints as a front for demon worship. Santaria, often known as the Way of the Saints, is a blended religion that emerged in the Caribbean,

particularly in Cuba, where African slaves amalgamated their traditional Yoruba beliefs with the Roman Catholicism of their Spanish colonizers. This fusion was partly a survival tactic. Slaves were forced to adopt the religion of their masters, but they were able to preserve their own beliefs by, identifying their deities known as Orishas with Catholic saints. For example, the powerful Orisha Sango is synchronized with St. Barbara, allowing practitioners to worship their deities under the guise of Catholic veneration.

Santeria's origins can be traced back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, evolving over time as it absorbed elements of other religions, including spiritism and Native American traditions. Santeria's practices are characterized by rituals known as tokes, where drumming, singing, and dancing are used to communicate with the Ereches. These ceremonies often take place in a Casa de Santos, a house of saints, or someone's home, and can include offerings, divination, and animal sacrifice. The religion places a strong emphasis on the concept of Achi,

a power or energy that is believed to be the force of life and can be harnessed for healing, protection, and success. Santaria also teaches that these Ereches can physically inhabit certain objects, among them, stones and cowrie shells, which are deemed sacred. These are often made into brightly colored necklaces that are used to honor the Erescia they represent. For our case, it may be that the story Maria shared about her mother's necklace, along with the presence of so many statues of Catholic saints, raised father's suspicions of Sontaria being practiced in the home.

Santeria is very dangerous and particularly insidious because it has the appearance of genuine Catholic religion. Unfortunately, many individuals are completely unaware of the risks and countless victims that have been lured into the trap of believing they are honoring Jesus, when in fact they are serving his enemy. One of Satan's great victories on earth is the muddying of the waters of worship of God by helping engineer so much confusion. It really is sad.

Many good people are serving God's enemy and have no idea. Sadly, it turned out my intuition was correct, and it wasn't long before I received another call from Christina, this time about her daughter, Maria. Is this Father Zeta? Yes. My name is Christina. He came and performed a blessing in my home a few weeks ago. That's why I'm calling.

See, After you left, things definitely got better. We had a couple weeks of peace, but my daughter Maria, she's really unwell. I'm sorry to hear that. Her dad, he left recently? For good? He was always in and out of her life, but this time it's different. I haven't heard from him in weeks.

That's hard-breaking. Everything. night terrors, waking up drenched in sweat. She's talking in her sleep now, but I don't know what language she's speaking. This isn't sleep talking. She's saying something and I'm no linguist, but it's something, father, and it's creepy. She's talking to something. Look, she's had mental health issues in the past. And we've seen doctors. We've been to therapists. But since her death left, we're getting nowhere, and it feels like things are spiraling out of control. I didn't know who else to call. I'm glad you called. I can be there

first thing tomorrow. Thank you, Father. The next morning, I returned to the house. Christina escorted me in, and we all sat in her kitchen at a long dining table. I met Maria and her brother Thomas. Maria was quiet, but nothing seemed wildly out of place. Christina put on a pot of tea, and I began with my questions. Father, you've met Maria. This is my son, Thomas. Hello, Father. It's nice to meet you. A pleasure, Thomas. And Maria, it's nice to see you again. Hello, father. Tea? Yes, thank you very much. Hmm, that's great. Thank you, Christina. Okay, if you don't mind, Maria, I'd love to get right into some questions.

When your mom initially contacted the church for a blessing, it was a strange phenomena occurring in the home. But these nightmares, these are new? Yeah, they started happening a few weeks ago. Honestly, I think since my husband left, they've really ramped up. No one's getting a full night of sleep right now. Okay, and Maria, Could you tell me more about these 90s? Maria!

Maria had completely transformed, zero to 60. Her eyes had rolled back into her head, and she, the best way to describe it is she almost teleported across the table, flew across like a lion pouncing. It was terrifying. Thankfully, her brother Thomas was there and tackled her mid-air before she could hit me. At that point, I had seen enough, and I knew we were. were dealing with something beyond the physical. I prayed over her, and we managed to calm her down. Christina was simply stunned. She sat there in a daze. I tried to stabilize things as best I could,

and after Maria was calm again, I picked up my bag and left. I wanted to move as quickly as possible to get her help. Amen. Father Martin's here. I want to do a quick plug for one of the most powerful tools I've seen for breaking free and growing closer to Christ. Exodus 90. The Exodus 90 challenge begins this year on January 20th, but this isn't just a 90-day program. Exodus 90 is a spirituality for modern men that is built on three ancient pillars, prayer, self-sacrifice, and fraternity. We all long for something more. We long to be the men God created us to be, sons of a loving father. It's time to turn away from our idols. It's time to break free from the pharaohs that hold us in bondage. If you're ready to make a fresh start and embark

on a journey to uncommon freedom in Jesus Christ, then download the Exodus 90 app today. This is your chance to break free, refocus, and rediscover who God is calling you to be in the new year. It starts January 20th. So go to Exodus 90.com slash X-Files to learn more about Exodus 90. That's Exodus 90.com slash E-X-Files

to join tens of thousands of men from all over the world for Exodus 90. Again, it begins Monday, January 20th. God bless you. com and use our promo code X-Files, that is E-X-Files, to get $15 off your first order.

Now, for those wondering why Father Zeta didn't just roll up his sleeves and go straight into exorcism mode, regular listeners will remember that a formal exorcism requires Bishop approval, and it's a lengthy approval process. Given that Christina had shared that Maria experienced a history of mental health issues, Father Zeta certainly had some homework to do, even if he was already convinced by Maria's sudden lack of hospitality. As I began the process of pursuing an exorcism for Maria, I learned that she had spent months in a mental institution prior. As as usual, normal psychological evaluations are conducted.

Now, to the skeptics who may doubt the veracity of some of this, let me be clear. Maria was diagnosed with pseudo-seizures because of deep anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and dissociative disorders. She had a full suite of mental health psychoses, but even with conventional treatment, her situation did not improve. It was, within this context, the current inability of our psychiatric tools and medications to bring her relief that the decision was made

to request permission for a formal right of exorcism. I appreciated Father Zeta's point. Like in the movie The Exorcist, when the medical team recommends Chris get an expert, exorcism for Regan due to its potential placebo benefits, Father Zeta seemed justified in moving forward given the lack of results from conventional medical treatments. A doctor's first priority, of course, is to do no harm, and then to do whatever is best for patients. So if nothing is working, why not try the exorcism route? While her sudden outburst at the table was certainly enough

to convince Father Zeta something supernatural was going on, it should be noted that he did not have the quote proof of all the classic signs as symptomatic of satanic possession as mentioned in the right. Father Zeta was primarily going off the inability of current medical treatments to provide relief. After meeting with Christina and consulting another psychologist, I met with my bishop and presented the case. Having secured the permission from my bishop, we set a date. When the day came, I had a team presence, including her local pastor, holding her local pastor, holding her. holders, intercessors, and a veteran priest. As I mentioned, it was my first exorcism, and I wanted to take no chances. Christ ties the victory, but with such a serious matter, one must take every precaution

for the safety of everyone. Now that you've met the entire team and understand what will happen, Christina, you and Thomas should remain here. Do not come into the room. Whatever you hear, Our enemy is the father of lies. You may hear disturbing things. Don't be alarmed. Christ is in control. Is there anything we can do? Pray for us.

It makes all the difference. An exorcist will often employ family members when an exorcism is being conducted. Father Martins, for example, will frequently have spouses or relatives in the room praying. They can oftentimes provide crucial insights or support to help assist in the liberation of the victim. Of course, one might ask, do you really want family members to see the person in a demonized state? Remember, though, by the time it gets to Father Zeta or Father Martins, they've probably seen a lot. Understandably, Father rarely lets any children in the room, as he does not want them to see their parents in a state of demonization. Demons can play games, and it's not

worth the risk, which I actually very much appreciate, though I couldn't help but laugh at the irony. Most parents have probably seen plenty of children manifest like demons. You should have seen me and Toys or Us at four years old. Not pretty. Now, as to Father Zeta's decision to not have Christina and Tomas in the room, it could be for a variety of reasons. Every exorcist will use their best judgment on what is appropriate for that case. It may have been because of Maria's violent outbursts and psychotic behaviors that he chose to have the family in another room. More likely, though, Father Zeta may have been extra cautious considering the potential for Santa Ria being practiced in the home. And of course, both Father Martins and Father Zeta have shared that anyone who goes into

the room must be prepared, as demons will spare no one from their harassment. Maria, it's going to be okay. Are you ready? Ready, Father. Let us begin. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. We began the rite, which includes blessings, readings, etc. Sure enough, Maria manifested.

I adjure you, ancient sermons. We must be, priest. This is our cozy home with our little piglets. While the severity of the cases vary, generally the experience in the room is not what you see in the movies. While that stuff can and does happen, it is generally not as dramatic. manifestations come and go, and the process is quite draining.

People don't realize how grueling an exorcism can be. Imagine being a holder, and for hours, just holding someone down. It's not for the faint of heart. As the Wright proceeded with Maria, occasionally the veteran expert on our team would come over and whisper something in my ear, or often an insight. Remember, during an exorcism, we are always watching for clues, clues that will give us insight into how the demon gained access in the first place.

I was grateful to have a veteran like Father McGuigan with me. It was my first formal exorcism after all, and of course, the enemy was aware of that. Exorcis amosé. Amnis immune de spiritus, Omnis satanic potestas. Omnis incursio.

Infernalis adversi. Omnis legio. Omis congrazio. No, no. Omnis congregatio. Get it right, fucking breach. Ignore them.

It's a distraction. Their prolific use of four-letter words aside, we're making progress. You can see it. Keep going, Father. Christina! Christina! This one has no idea what he's doing!

Oh, come on, priest! At least pretend like you've done this before. Jesus Christi! Erradicale! And defugare! Defugare! Adia! DeCrisia!

Have animabus. Adi Jinnas! Die Konditius. Dei Conditius. No matter how much you prepare, no matter your level of faith, sometimes demons say things that can get to you. As this was my first exorcism, the demons seemed to be aware of this and would taunt me, ridicule me,

and ask why I needed help. It's so important to not listen to what these things are saying. While they cannot read our thoughts, They are observing us constantly. They talk to each other. They are aware of what is happening. As Father Martins has shared, they know their scripture, and they are smarter than us. Even if they made the stupidest decision of all time by turning away from God, it's a strange dichotomy.

We continued the ritual, and I began my questioning. Demon, I shall command you and you will answer by the, the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. No answer. You literate as stain. Wisted your life with your filthy cloth. Silence, demon. It is this cloth and the authority of Christ's church that represents your downfall.

And it is by the authority of Christ and his church. I command you. Now, tell me your name. Which one? The regular phallent. Yes. Demon in the name of Christ, you will answer me truthfully. How many of you are there?

Read well within. Breathe well within. Breathe well within. We dwell within. It's not uncommon. In fact, it's usually the case that there is more than one demon present. In this particular instance, the demon claimed to have two other demons present. It's important to know how many are present because you want to make sure and eradicate all legal strongholds,

and each demon might have a different stronghold or right to be there. While not much is known on this exactly, there is a demonic hierarchy, and there will be present in times a lead demon who may speak for the rest. I continued. I command you now. Bring your leader forth. I speak in the authority of Christ and you will answer me. Tell me your name.

I am desecration. I desecrate this swine which is our prize given to us. Demon, you will tell me what I ask and nothing more. What rights do you have? We can help all with that one. From first breath since her first crime. She was our gift given to us. A gift from her father will remain that way.

Our little swine to have and two. Tragically at that moment, we learned that Maria's father had dedicated her to demons from the first moment of her birth. If this sounds ludicrous, let me assure you it happens far more than people realize. Why would someone do this? In Maria's father's case, I cannot say. but generally people who are steeped in the occult, in this case Santoria, the father most likely thought he was invoking spiritual power, and we can only hope was unaware of the damage it would do to his daughter. There is a silver lining, though, in cases such as this, when it is not the individual's sin, but rather the fault of their guardian and their curse, sometimes we can free them as soon as the curse is broken. Monterea teaches that each person is inherently connected to a specific orisha, a deity that

governs their personality and fate, which is believed to be determined before birth. This connection, known as the owner of the head, shapes their identity and influences their life's path, manifesting as a spiritual father or mother depending on the orisha's gender. In the case of Maria's father, he might have dedicated her to a specific orisha at birth, believing it to be a protective or guiding force. Adherence to Sontaria may try to garner protection and favor from Eresha by making offerings, sponsoring ceremonies, and living according to the deity's wishes, as revealed through divination.

Prayers, dancing, and ceremonies are used to communicate and to try and ascertain the will of the deity. It is also believed that these Eretias will make appearances and reveal themselves in events in a person's life. For example, if one receives a source of a soul, surprise word of wisdom from an elder or say a grandparent, one might assume that it is the deity Obatala, the deity of wisdom and compassion speaking to them. Now, in regards to what father said about curses being broken instantly when it's no fault of the victim, listeners will remember

Tammy Comer's testimony from season one and how after 20 years of chronic illness, she was freed in one session. The same goes for Joseph and our season opener. Why God permits these generational curses to enact such damage is a mystery. But until that gets solved on the other side of eternity, it seems appropriate to just celebrate the liberation and victories that seem to come quickly in cases like these. Now let's get back to Maria, now that the pernicious permissions have been uncovered. With this information now in hand, I began to lead her in the renunciations. Maria, repeat after me. I am a child of God who belongs to Jesus. Jesus Christ. I am a child of God who...

...to the father below! Silence, desecration. You and the two others will be silent in the name of Christ and interrupt no further. Maria, please continue. I am a child of God who belongs... I am a child of God who belongs to Jesus. I renounce and break all generational curses attached to my earthly father. I renounce and break all general surral curses attached to my earthly father. And ask that Jesus be my Lord and Savior. And ask that Jesus be my Lord and Savior.

I forgive my earthly father just as Jesus has forgiven me. I forgive my earthly father, just as Jesus has forgiven me. Very good. Desecration, I speak to you now as the leader. Do you or your accompanying demons have any more rights to this woman? I do not. Then as a servant of God, a priest of his church, and by the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,

by his authority, I cast you out and command you to depart from this child of God. We led her through the renunciations, and she was delivered. I was even a bit surprised at how quickly they left. The three were cast out, and immediately she improved. Christina and Thomas were overjoyed, and there was a real sense of peace in the home. You could feel it. We all celebrated. It's a profound thing to see someone rescued from the clutches of the enemy. I would never call it fun, but it is profoundly gratifying to see Christ crushed the enemy. Christina, you can see her now.

Thank you, Father. Maria, honey, how do you feel? Wider. It's hard to explain. I just feel good again. Oh, thank you, father. I can't thank you enough. It is my joy.

Praise God. Christina, before we go, may I have a word in private? We knew the father clearly had been involved in some demonic activity, and it appeared Christina wasn't aware of the sordid pact her husband had made. I admonished her. She had to ensure not to dabble in anything in the occult and to keep going to church, staying close to God, participating in the sacraments.

Father Zeta, well done, my friend. First exorcism in the books. So how do you feel? Good, I suppose. It's a strange. thing. I mean, it's all theory until you get in the room. You can't prepare enough for that. I'm just glad it's over. And I, I sense that's kind of a measured joy. You're worried about the girl, aren't you? Is it that obvious? Christina said she had no knowledge of her husband's deal, but I don't know if they get it, you know? Father, I've heard they always try to come back. Has that been your experience? Wise beyond your years. Our enemy will try and slither back into her life.

But my guess is, it'll be even more subtle the next time. They may even try and convince them that this was all just an elaborate ceremony. A ceremony? Who could experience this and forget? You'd be surprised, Father, but it works out. How do you mean? Well, it's almost comical. These demonic pests, in their eternal rebellion, despite all their shenanigans and poetic cursing,

they usually just end up bringing people to Christ. Evil always overextends itself. Some of the most powerful voices for the kingdom are those who are set free from darkness. But enough talk of evil spirits. Why don't we celebrate with some of the good spirits God gave us? Let's get a drink. Only if you let me by. Absolutely.

We can practice your Latin. It really needs it. We all rejoiced that day. I was grateful to have had the experience of my first exorcism under my belt and was in no rush to do it again. It's work. It's grueling. After an exorcism, we always try to emphasize the importance of staying close to God.

It's right there in Scripture. The enemy is removed. And then he tries to come back. And unfortunately for Maria, she let the enemy back into her life. And it got worse, much worse. And so like Sylvester Stallone on a mountain in the 90s, we leave you with that optimistic cliffhanger. And please, keep this sublime information on hand. Don't practice Santoria.

Do not have a crystal ball. When it comes to that stuff, just Zeta no. Okay, that was like three jokes in one. awesome, right? We hope you enjoyed part one of Maria's case. We do want to end on a bright note, but we won't. You're going to want to come back for the rest of this story. Thank you again for listening. To keep in touch with us and get some of our anointed merchandise or access some of our very special bonus content, visit our website at exorcistfiles.tv. All cases except this one are recounted by Father Carlos Martens from his personal archives. This one today comes courtesy of

Father John Zeta. The role of Maria was played by Vanessa Carmela. Christina by Alexi Flores. Father Zeta by Tim Davis. Domas by Bobby Hernandez, Father McGuigan, by an unknown but talented actor who wish to remain anonymous. Additional demonic voice assistance provided by Brandon Collins and Jack Kelly. It takes a legion of people to make this show possible. So thank you sound designers, editors and mixers, Dan Blessinger and Michelle Martinez, music and scoring by James Cabell and Tom Staley. This case was adapted and written for the show by Ryan Bethay. The episode also features a guest writer and script doctorist, the wonderfully talented Melissa Geverete, executive producers, our father Carlos Martins and Ryan Bithay. We'll see you next time, folks.