The First Day

It was the first day of school, so some students were understandably nervous. But then again, they were not taking just any course, but one run by a Vatican university to teach aspiring demonologists and exorcists.

าThere is no doubt that the devil is intervening more in manีs life these days,ำ Father Paolo Scarafoni told the students, most of them priests who want to learn how to tackle the demon if they should ever encounter him.
าNot all of you will become exorcists but it is indispensable that every priest knows how to discern between demonic possession and psychological problems,ำ he said.

About 120 students from around the world will hear lectures on topics such as the pastoral, spiritual, theological, liturgical, medical, legal and criminological aspects of Satanism and demonic possession.

Interest in the devil and the occult has been boosted by films such as this yearีs าThe Exorcism of Emily Rose,ำ and last yearีs าExorcist: The Beginningำ.

But letีs leave aside such films. The students will have several real-life and well-known exorcists to teach them.

One is Father Gabriele Nanni, who attended Thursdayีs opening class.
าFirst, the priest has to know if the devil is at work in a person or if the problem is somewhere else,ำ he said.

Nanni said there are four clear signs that point to demonic possession rather than psychological problems.

He listed them as:
าWhen someone speaks or understands a language they normally do not speak; when their physical strength is disproportionate to their body size or age; when they are suddenly knowledgeable about occult practices; when they have a physical aversion to sacred things, such as the communion host or prayersำ.

According to some estimates, as many as 5,000 people are thought to be members of satanic cults in Italy with 17 to 25-year-olds making up three quarters of this group.