The Exorcist Files - S2- Case #16 "A Mother's Love", PT 2

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

Clarissa and Fr. Martins square off against the adversary in the climactic finale.Warning: This episode contains mature content. Listener discretion is advised.FountofGrace.com- use our promo... code EXFILES for free domestic shipping through 12/20.Go to https://trymiracle.com/EXFILES and use the code EXFILES to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF.”Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/EXFILES. Promo Code EXFILESGet $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/EXFILESFloriani.org - this is where we get the beautiful sacred music from!Follow us on the Gram!@TheBethea, @ExorcistFilesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Starting point is 00:00:10 I'm staying with you until this passes. You're the best. I just want this nightmare to end. It will. Get some asleep. Claire? Claire, are you okay? Jesus, I don't know what's going on, but please set my room.
Starting point is 00:00:47 Back to the Exorcist Files, the podcast of redemptive horror that leaves you wanting more. I'm your co-host Rhime De Thee, and today we bring you part two of A Mother's Love. Now, if you're just tuning in and haven't heard part one, go back, make peace in your heart, know that there is forgiveness, and listen, then come back. Okay, you're read in if you're still listening, we can proceed. Where we last left you, a young college girl, Clarissa, with a troubled past in the foster care system, had a profound and beautiful conversion to the Christian faith. Upon joining God's team, she received countless blessings, including amazing,
Starting point is 00:02:28 friends and a new sense of belonging. But the joy was short-lived, as she suddenly became ill, subject to bouts of uncontrollable rage, and found that every step she tried to take towards God was met with some unseen resistance that grew stronger by the day. When she finally met with Father Martens, things came to a head, well, in the actual head, that is the bathroom, and she stormed out, leaving Father a mess for the ages. Buckle up, and let's head now to the office of Dr. Robertson, a friend and colleague of Father Martins, as they discuss Clarice's case. Okay, doc, tell me I'm wrong. Okay, you're wrong.
Starting point is 00:03:16 You know what I'll say. Father, it could be bipolar, temporal lobe, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Tourette's. Look at her childhood. I have trauma just reading about it. Yes, I mean, she's been through it for sure. Does she have any reason to fake it? That's just the thing. None that I can see.
Starting point is 00:03:36 She's made friends. She's found peace with Christ. She's all in. But I will say the timing of all this. It's strange. Mm-hmm. Well, as a medical doctor, I'm obligated to tell you that, in my opinion, there are many possible medical explanations for what she's experiencing.
Starting point is 00:03:58 And as a Catholic who's seen what we've seen, what do you say, Doc? Go for the exorcism. Get her free. At the time of Clarissa's case, I had on my team a psychiatrist who was an excellent doctor and a devout Christian. He understood medicine, but he also understood medicine's limitations. We could have spent the next two years, even more, putting Clarissa through endless tests, looking for one medical explanation or another, and at the end of it, be no further ahead than when we started.
Starting point is 00:04:40 How would pursuing such a course benefit, Clarissa? It wouldn't. There is a common misconception of the Catholic Church's requirement for exorcism. Many believe that for an exorcism to proceed, all possible medical explanations must be definitively exhausted. This is simply not the case. What the church requires is that medical and psychological experts be consulted when necessary, but the decision to proceed with exorcism is left up to the exorcist, who makes the call,
Starting point is 00:05:17 taking into consideration all the facts of the case and his own past experiences. In the case of Clarissa, an exorcism session would take only a couple of hours, and if needed, several could be conducted within a two-week period. What would occur or not occur during the session would supply immediate information. Therefore, proceeding with such a strategy, testing for the presence of the demonic through exorcism, was by far the most prudent way of proceeding, rather than waiting several months for the completion of specialized medical tests and scans. People tend to imagine exorcists being confronted with spinning heads and levitation, the Hollywood kind of spectacle.
Starting point is 00:06:07 But that's not the type of evidence most exorcists encounter. Interestingly, all the the church requires to proceed with an exorcism is something called moral certitude. The term sounds technical and like something you hear when your local politician denies his knowledge of any wrongdoing, but it's actually a very practical term. Moral certitude means that before a possible demon is confronted directly, the exorcist must have reasonable enough indicators that one is present. The church does not require absolute conviction on his part, say the same conviction that 2 plus 2 is 4, for example.
Starting point is 00:06:40 Rather, moral certitude implies that there is enough evidence to believe something is true, but still falling short of the absolute certainty available through math or scientific proof. To reach moral certitude, an exorcist doesn't rely on hunches or feelings, but on a process of careful discernment. He looks for signs. Obviously, the most famous of these being knowledge of hidden things, speech and languages never learned, and strength beyond the person's nature. However, most exorcists state that they have never seen such signs.
Starting point is 00:07:10 prior to beginning an actual exorcism. The most common signs are much more subtle and consist of things like an aversion to the sacred, compulsive and obsessive behavior, resistance to deliverance, physical phenomena, such as scratches, bruises,
Starting point is 00:07:25 or marks that appear and vanish within minutes, or that remain, but whose origin is unknown and mysterious. An inability for the afflicted person to pray? And lastly, the fact that symptoms began only after a sin was committed, such as engagement with the occult.
Starting point is 00:07:42 Each of these signs standing alone could have other explanations, but when they appear together and consistently, the evidence begins to take shape. Of course, the exorcist also consults medical and psychological experts when needed. The devil is real, but so are trauma and mental illness.
Starting point is 00:07:59 So when you hear father talk about moral certitude concerning science, you start to realize how different this is from the Hollywood version of demonic signs. The usual signs of the devil's presence are rarely impulsive or spectacular. They're quiet, deliberate, and insidious. Therefore, the discernment to which an exorcist must subject them
Starting point is 00:08:17 is deliberate, cautious, even scientific, and yet it is still rooted in faith. Remember, the devil's primary goal isn't to make someone levitate. It's to make that person lose hope. The exorcist is there to put an end to that, and in the process, add a whole lot of hope. When Clarissa sat down for her first exorcism, the atmosphere was heavy.
Starting point is 00:08:44 No exorcism is fun, but there was a thick sense of tragedy from her woundedness that everyone in the room felt. Clarissa was only 20 years old, yet already bore the wounds of a lifetime. Her mother's death when she was still a baby, the absence of a father,
Starting point is 00:09:02 and the endless instability of moving from one foster home to another. Some placements were painful when she was in them. Others became pain. only when she had to leave. Every move meant losing friends, leaving behind a school, and starting over in a strange place with no one to lean on.
Starting point is 00:09:22 Those repeated disruptions left deep scars, and it was precisely within those scars that the demon waged his war, whispering the same poisonous lie, that Clarissa was a mistake who should have never been born. So, Clarissa, we're going to begin with prayer. Okay. There's no need to be nervous. Christ is with you and he's with us. Okay. This is really happening. I'm sorry for making everyone go through all this. Hey, no, that's what the darkness wants you to believe this is no trouble at all. What is going to happen?
Starting point is 00:10:07 Whatever God wants. He's in charge and he is a good father. Now, what do you say? We invite heaven to invade Earth. Okay, let's do this. 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.
Starting point is 00:10:44 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.
Starting point is 00:11:18 If you're ready to make a fresh start and embark on a journey to unthink, common 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 EX-Files. files to join tens of thousands of men from all over the world for Exodus 90. Again, it begins Monday, January 20th.
Starting point is 00:12:04 God bless you. Around this time of year, we do something called the Feast of the Seven Fishes. And for that, you need some good fish, which, of course, is a great segue and leads me to recommend wild Alaskan coat. Now, it's incredible seafood sent straight to your door. It's healthy, it's delicious, and, well, you should give it a try, just for for the halibut. Now, why wild Alaskan? Wild Alaskan fish is frozen right off the boat to lock in taste, texture, and nutrients like Omega-3s. It's sustainably sourced, wild caught from Alaska.
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Starting point is 00:13:10 That's X files for $35 off your first box of premium wildcut seafood. That's wildelaskin.com slash X files for $35 off your first order. Thanks to Wild Alaskan Company for sponsoring this episode. So we'll begin with the litany of the saints. Is everyone ready? Yep. Yes. Lord, have mercy.
Starting point is 00:14:23 Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Christ, hear us. When she praise the litany of the saints, the church is in her glory. The act of invoking its glorious, holy men and women is united.
Starting point is 00:14:44 of heaven and earth. Not just a tedious reciting of names, the act is an acknowledgement that we are part of a grand communion, a family that spans heaven and earth, and the intercession of its members is a manifestation of God's victorious church. Yet the invocation of the saints is not simply a reminder that they exist, it is a summons. By calling on them, the church rallies her champions, surrounding herself with a cloud of muscle against evil. And these citizens of heaven, each of whom overcame the world with Christ's grace, rush forward with their presence and prayers. The litany is not a hymn of memory, but a battle cry of the church
Starting point is 00:15:32 as she summons the citizens of heaven to lend help in the battle against the darkness. For our Protestant listeners out there, the notion of asking people in heaven to join in a battle against the demonic may at first seem like a clear violation of what is contained in scripture, specifically the Levitical laws which state in no uncertain terms that necromancy, sorcery and divination, especially with dead spirits, is strictly prohibited. Essentially, conjuring the dead is a huge no-no. But here's the difference. The church teaches that these saints are alive in heaven. In Revelation 5-8, we are told of a vision John had of the throne room of God, which states, and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down
Starting point is 00:16:34 before the lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Scholars can and do have different interpretations of this verse. But put simply, the church believes that people in heaven do intercede and pray for us, and that they, because of their presence with God, they are in a unique position to cheer us on. Is it really that crazy to assume that in heaven we might be able to talk to God about what goes on on earth? I don't think. I don't think. think so. I don't know how this all works. And as I've wrestled through this in my own spiritual journey, I have settled on one cool idea. I think it would be awesome. If, as part of my eternal calling, God said, Ryan, we got an exorcism going on and we need to get you in the game.
Starting point is 00:17:14 Suit up. Maybe Father Saban needs you. I'd say, oh yeah, here I am, Lord, send me. St. Mary Magdalene. Pray for us. St. Agatha. Pray for us. St. Lucie. Pray for us. St. St. Lucie. Pray for us. St. St. St. Agnes. Pray for us. St. Cecilia. Pray for us. All holy virgins and widows.
Starting point is 00:17:40 Pray for us. But something prompted me to add an invocation that is not in the official text of the litany. It was an addition prompted by Clarissa's own story and by the deep sorrow I felt, knowing she had lived her entire life without ever truly having a family. And Holy Family of Nenay. Nazareth, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, loving family to all. Whatever was inside Clarissa didn't like that one bit. When the enemy doesn't like something, you give him more of it. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, come to the aid of your servant.
Starting point is 00:18:29 Holy family of Nazareth. Come to our aid. In the name of Jesus Christ. I command you, reveal yourself. You don't belong here. You have no idea who you are facing. So I have Christ to face on my judgment day. Disappointing him is the only thing that I fear.
Starting point is 00:18:54 So in the name of Jesus, tell me your name. You have no rights, priests, and no right to my name. I represent the Church of the Most High God. I have every right to protect this child of God. And I have a right to your name. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph force this demon to give me his name. She was discarded, never wanted. She is garbage.
Starting point is 00:19:23 Refuse, utter shit. No one wanted her and no one does. Not by her mother, not by her families. Passed around like trash. Your garbage prayers won't change that. In the name of Jesus, tell me your name. Where is her father now? Gone and dead.
Starting point is 00:19:45 This piece of shit can't even remember what she looked like. Six homes, six betrayals, dirty little rat. They didn't even love her. No one ever did and no one ever will. Filthy liar, she is the daughter of the Most High God. God has never abandoned her. He loves her. Then why did he take the mother?
Starting point is 00:20:08 leaving her to scream herself to sleep in strange beds night after night but i was there i kept her company gave her some nice dreams can't you see priest she belongs to me it was your god priest who gift wrapped her just for me to play with died on the cross for her he never gave her to you she belongs to christ who gave his blood for her you have no Claim on her. Your cruel, heartless God was the only one that could help her. And he just ignored her. Hate her more than me. Even I didn't torture that bitch as much as he did. You serve one cruel master priest.
Starting point is 00:21:01 More lies. Because he gave his life for her. You have no claim on her. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph forced this demon to give me his name. Oh, for you. She will never be free. She is mine. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, force this demon to give me his name.
Starting point is 00:21:26 Oh, stop! Oh, stop! Our longtime listeners know that one of the questions that I always ask a demon, is, who is your nemesis in heaven? Knowing this information can reveal a demon's underlying weakness. Demons by their nature are opposed to holiness. When a demon identifies his nemesis, he's effectively admitting that this saint has power over him.
Starting point is 00:22:04 The exorcist can then invoke that saint and unleash his or her authority upon the demon. It is an effective way to call down a heavenly backup up in the effort to expel the evil spirit. In this case, I never got to ask the demon who his nemesis is. It was obvious merely from the spontaneous invocation that it was the Holy Family as a group. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph force this demon to give me his name. Oh, you clerical piece of shit.
Starting point is 00:22:42 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph force this demon. To give me his name. Isolation! Isolation? That's your name? Can't you hear bull-hooks? Or did the cries of all the children we've murdered drown it out? Your God gave her to me on a silver flutter to have him to hold.
Starting point is 00:23:06 And a lot of sickness, he left her alone for me to play with. She's always alone, so alone. It made sense. The demon's name was isolation. A loneliness, isolation, was the only thing that Clarissa had ever experienced in abundance. The name said it all. His mission was precise.
Starting point is 00:23:39 To weaponize Clarissa's wounds. Her mother's death, her father's absence, the chaos and rejection of her foster years. It was the perfect agent of hell, tailored for someone exactly like Clarissa. The next question I wanted answered was how the demon got in. What door had been opened to him? Was it through the wound formed by constant rejection and loneliness
Starting point is 00:24:06 when that formed a distorted belief within Clarissa that she was unlovable and unwanted, a conviction in effect that she was a mistake and should have never been born? Or was it through something else? something deeper, like a generational curse passed down through her maternal or paternal line. Since Clarissa had no living relatives and no personal knowledge of her family history, it would be impossible to find recurring patterns across family members to determine whether such a wound existed. Clarissa had also denied ever participating in occult activities, which allowed us to eliminate that
Starting point is 00:24:48 as a possible cause. Demons can also gain entry through unrepentant sin, but in this case, I knew that couldn't be a factor. Clarissa had just been recently baptized. Normally, converts are received into the Catholic Church at Easter, but because of her need for exorcism, she received expedited one-on-one instruction, and she was baptized within six weeks.
Starting point is 00:25:16 I had the demon's name, but did not have the doorway that had been opened yet. Now, last episode, there was a beautiful and heartwarming scene about a necklace that mercy gave to Clarissa. That was the sacred heart. And if that's something you might be interested in, well, you can grab one from Pound of Grace. Now, our regular listeners know that Fount of Grace offers incredible handmade Catholic jewelry made right here in the USA. Every metal, pendant, and rosary is meticulously made, elegantly gift-wrapped,
Starting point is 00:26:00 and meant to help deepen your prayer life and walk with God. it's the perfect gift for that faith-minded person in your life. And one of the beauties of the Christian faith is that God uses matter. He uses physical items to bring about blessing, inspiration, and just a loving reminder that he's with us, always. So check out Fountivegrace.com and use code X-Files for free priority domestic shipping through December 20th. That's Fountivegrace.com and use code EX files for free priority domestic shipping through December 20th. Before we head back into the room, there is a really interesting. interesting parallel between the process of joining the Catholic Church and the foster care and adoption
Starting point is 00:26:48 system. The Catholic Church requires that adults who seek baptism first receive instruction in the faith, make a profession of belief, and express the intention to live as disciples of Christ. In baptism, the church teaches that the soul is wiped clean of all its sins, both original and personal, and filled with something called sanctifying grace. The baptized are made children of God and receive the saints as their family. At baptism, something perfectly. found takes place. In the pouring of water and the invocation of the Trinity, the soul is washed clean of all sin and filled with a stupendously powerful reality, what Catholics call sanctifying grace. In that moment, a person is not simply forgiven, but recreated as a son or a daughter of God.
Starting point is 00:27:32 Now, the divine adoption is not figurative. It's not like human adoption where two parents adopt a child who become legally theirs, but who nevertheless remains biologically distinct in his genes and DNA. This kind of adoption that occurs at baptism infuses the recipient with God's divine spirit, makes him a member of this mystical body, and actually recreates him as his actual child with all the rights and privileges of being part of his family. In a word, once you are baptized, you are given the DNA of God. Pretty cool, right? Now, of course, I had a question,
Starting point is 00:28:05 what about Christians baptized in other traditions outside the Catholic Church? Well, as long as they're done in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit with the intention to, quote, do what the church does when it baptizes, the Catholic Church recognizes them. Baptism is a one-time thing. Now, of course, this brought up another question. In my Christian tradition, I have seen many people go through multiple baptisms as a sort of, quote, rededication to Christ. It's beautiful, and of course, very well intention, but it does make you wonder, does such repeated baptisms actually inadvertently undermine the consequence and power of it? If baptism is this mysterious and awe-inspiring transformation?
Starting point is 00:28:42 then it must be recognized for what it is, a one-time transference from darkness to light. Lastly, the question I know on everyone's mind, is it necessary for someone to be baptized in order to receive an exorcism? No, Jesus and the Apostles liberated, possessed persons who had never been baptized, but his father says, neither is it necessary for someone to receive anesthetic to receive major surgery. But it sure helps. In the case of Clarissa, her being baptized would be immensely helpful, not only because it was the decisive act by which she would pass from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of light, but also because she was now part of a new family, in every way, with God the most high as her father. Let's get back to Father Martens now as he continues with this
Starting point is 00:29:27 divine surgery. We had urged Clarissa to be baptized before any formal attempt at exorcism, because the prayers of exorcism are not magic formulas. They rely, among other things, upon the disposition and stuff of the person seeking liberation. Being baptized entitles a soul to the divine assistance that is due to a son or daughter of God. I'll say something that will sound shocking to some listeners. All of us are God's creation. All of us are loved by God. All of us are equal in value before God. But only the baptized are God's children. This may seem harsh, but it is the reality. Through baptism, we are reborn. This rebirth is often described as being born of water and the spirit, John 315. And it expresses a real transformation
Starting point is 00:30:26 in our relationship with God and his relationship with us. The fact that Clarissa was now baptized would give us a significant edge against the demon that we would otherwise not have. I'm here. Insolation, in the name of Jesus Christ, I command you. Tell me how you gained entry into this child of God. A child of God. God didn't want her. Her first whore mother died.
Starting point is 00:31:03 So sad. And then he put her up with another five whores. Ha! Your God left her all alone. There, fuck you Sherlock. That's how I got in. Lies. Lies and more lies. God never abandoned her. He loved her with an everlasting love, and he still does. By his authority, invested in the church and delegated to me, I command you disclose how you obtained your rights to possess.
Starting point is 00:31:32 Actually, it's a secret. Come closer and I'll whisper it to you. As muncher. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph compel this spirit to speak the truth. Stop! Do not bring them into this! Holy family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I call on you again, reveal this demon's origin and claim over Clarissa. No, no, no, no, no! Make them stop! Again, Holy Family, crush this demon and make it talk.
Starting point is 00:32:09 Her mother didn't want her. She wanted the pig dead before it was born. carry the fetus like a curse, cursed it. She even wanted to abort it, but didn't have the cash. She never wanted her. Her mother wished she had her slid right out. I have heard terrible things in the exorcism room. Awful, profane, dark, and evil things. This was among the worst. A heavy silence filled the room as we all processed what we just heard. But, demons lie, even more than politicians. And we had to be sure. Again, I called on the Holy family. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, compel this demon to tell the truth. That is the truth, you dickless,
Starting point is 00:33:07 spineless, fat. Her mother had murder in her heart. She wanted to crush her bones, spill her entrails. Jesus, help us. No one wanted this bastard pig, so I claimed her. Heartless cruel God threw her to me. He abandoned her. She's mine, and I won't leave. That's how I got in. Okay, we'll see about that. Father, mercies.
Starting point is 00:33:32 You use Clarissa's mother and father to give her a body, but it was you who gave her life. Her father gave the spark that ignited the egg, but it was your touch that started life. Her mother carried her in the womb, but it was you who knit her in that. One. You who are full beyond measure, reveal your love for a clear son now. Punish this blasphemer who tortures your daughter. Make known your choice, your delight, your claim. Let the spirit taste
Starting point is 00:34:05 the truth he cannot endure. Exorcism is heavy. It's rarely light or cheerful. It's a spiritual battle. But when I prayed that prayer, it was a dramatic shift in that room. The air was different. Everything became light, calm, and peaceful. The demon began to writhe, shrieking and shaking, his voice twisting from mockery into terror. It was like a straggler after his army had fled, seeing his fate approaching quickly. The father, no! She is not his! She was never! His. If he loved her, he would have spared her, but he left her to me. Isolation, I think this is going to hurt a lot. Father, convince this demon of the value Clarissa has to you, paralyzing with the truth.
Starting point is 00:35:21 What followed was not a sound that anyone could hear. Not everyone at the exorcism perceived it. God the Father spoke. His voice didn't come out as a sound we could perceive, but it was absolute and definitive, leaving no room for doubt. Whatever God the Father said to the demon filled him with sheer terror, and we had a front row seat. I'm certain the Father didn't come with arguments or proofs against the demon's claims. He also didn't come with violence or sheer power,
Starting point is 00:35:57 although as God, he is capable of both. He came as presence, the presence of the most high, the nearness of the mighty God. And that nearness was unbearable to the demon. It pressed in on him like fire, searing through every lie and sordid claim that came from that cruel rebel. What isolation had manipulated for years, the abandonment, rejection, and soul, experienced by Clarissa was shattered by the very presence of he who called Clarissa into existence. I confess, I confess. She was always yours.
Starting point is 00:36:53 She was never mine. I wanted her to be unwanted, but you always wanted her. I have abandoned, I have isolated, I am nothing. Thank you, Lord. You are the most high. You are the Lord. Ah, I hear you, I hear you. She is your beloved daughter, your beloved daughter, your daughter, she is yours.
Starting point is 00:37:19 Daughter of the most time. Resolation. Colissa is a baptized child of God, making her a daughter of God the Father, a fact that you just confessed. I hate her. I hate. Do you still have any rights that enable you? you to possess her. No!
Starting point is 00:37:43 Then in the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her now. No! You will be destroyed for this! The demon led out a cry so raw, it resonated through the skull bones of everyone in the room. And then, silence. Stillness. not the silence of absence, but the stillness of peace after a storm. Clarissa's breathing was deep and steady.
Starting point is 00:38:29 When the demon left her body, she slouched. But now she lifted her head and opened her eyes. What happened? Where am I? You're a church. You're safe. What? Guys, can we get her some water, please?
Starting point is 00:38:50 Did it work? Clarissa, yes. Amy's gone. You're free now. Hey, how do you feel? I'm a little woozy, but good. I feel like I'm home. That is the father's love.
Starting point is 00:39:24 Not sentiment, not theory. It is fire. It is delight. It is adoption. To the demon, the father's love is torment. To his children, it is life. There is no doubt that Clarissa's exorcism was made much easier,
Starting point is 00:39:43 and the expulsion of the demon occurred much more quickly because she had been baptized before him. In fact, Christianity views baptism as an act so profoundly exorcistic that it calls it the great exorcism. In baptism, Clarissa was transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ, as St. Paul teaches in Collosions, Chapter 1. Nevertheless, stories like Clarissa's can sometimes leave people disturbed and confused. Some will be scandalized at how a good God can allow an innocent child like Clarissa to be subject to such evil. While it is true that
Starting point is 00:40:30 God has constructed the universe so as to allow evil to exist, it is not true that he remains distant and disinterested, standing off in a corner with his arms folded in apathy. God has a plan to win, and he is executing that plan even when we don't see it. Reflecting on Clarissa's journey, you can see God's fingerprints. Clarissa's foster mother, Mercy, was a significant part of that plan. Aside from treating Clarissa with love, when she placed a metal of the sacred heart of Jesus around her neck, it forged a special bond between Clarissa and Christ, a bond which we later discovered. What even Mercy did not know was that this simple act set the stage for a profound act of God's providence. Clarissa's conversion, baptism, and eventual exorcism all unfolded
Starting point is 00:41:29 through the Catholic Church located on the university campus. Only later did we learn something remarkable. The year before Clarissa enrolled in the school, the pastor had consecrated the campus to the sacred heart of Jesus, inviting Jesus to reign in a special way, both in the physical space and within the lives of its students. Providentially, Clarissa was walking into a spiritual shelter are already prepared for her by Christ. Her discovering a Christian community, her baptism in the
Starting point is 00:42:07 faith, and her liberation from evil all unfolded under the auspices of that consecration. Mercy's gift of a simple medal ended up setting the stage for Clarissa's liberation from a demon. And so Clarissa said yes, and went from the owner of a woman. And so, Clarissa said, yes, and went from the owner of lonely heart to one that was full of the father's love. If you didn't get that joke, don't worry, it doesn't mean you're out of it. It just means you're not old. One final point of reflection for us all. Clarissa's story is still unfolding. Yes, what happened to her was wrong. It was evil. No one will disagree with that. But before we accuse God for permitting it, we must see how the story unfolds. And given the promise in Genesis 5020 that God uses what was meant for evil
Starting point is 00:43:01 for good. We can rest assured that all the horrors of Clarissa's childhood, God will resurrect for something awesome and wield it against the enemy. As humans, we always face the temptation to judge the immediate. But God plays the long game, and we owe it to him to let it play out. If God is good, then we got to give him a chance. Now, before we go, we have one final note from Father Martins. One final pastoral note for you listeners. We touched on something, very near and dear to my heart today, and a tragedy that so many have dealt with, abortion. If you made that decision and are overwhelmed by guilt, shame, and a sense that God is done with you, I want to say unequivocally that you are not beyond the reach of God's love and forgiveness.
Starting point is 00:43:58 The Lord sees not only the pain of the past, but your ache for healing. I also want to acknowledge that you may have made the decision, because you were panicked, pressured, or coerced. However it came about, if you have not already done so, you need to bring this decision to God, who is quick to forgive and abounding in love. Jesus died for every sin, including yours. You are not loved any less by God for having made that decision,
Starting point is 00:44:29 and your unborn child is not lost to God. There is hope, there is healing, but you must bring it to God and turn it over to him. The entire theme of today's episode was Genesis 50-20. What was meant for evil God will use for good. This is no different. Well, that is all the time we have today, folks. Thank you for listening to The Exorcist Files.
Starting point is 00:45:00 And in the words of the other Holy Family, the Golden Girls, we just want to say, thank you for being. our friend. Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Exorcist Files. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a five-star review and share it with someone who might need to hear this story. To keep in touch with us and get some of our anointed merchandise, you can visit our website atexercistfiles.com. You can also email us absurd and overly specific criticisms at ExorcistFiles at gmail.com. All cases are recounted by Father Carlos Martens from his personal archives. A shout out to our cast. The role of Clarissa was played by Julie Valen, the role of Megan,
Starting point is 00:45:37 by Sonne of Burnett, the role of Father Martins by Paul Leach, and the role of The Good Doctor by Jack Kelly. Mixing, editing, and mastering by the wonderfully talented Dan Blesinger and Michelle Martinez at the Hunt recording studio, and music and scoring by Jim Cavell and Tom Straitly. Script written by Jonathan Langley, Ryan Bethay, and Father Carlos Martins. Executive producers are Ryan Bethay and Father Carlos Martins.

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