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The Devil Is Alive and Well
In The Dark Sacrament, coauthors David M. Kiely and Christina McKenna faithfully recount ten contemporary cases of demon possession, haunted houses, and exorcisms, and profile the work of two living, active exorcists. The authors serve as trustworthy guides on this suspense-filled journey into the bizarre, offering concrete advice on how to avoid falling prey to the dark side.
David M. Kiely's long career as a freelance writer has included biographies, short stories, crime novels, mysteries, and several works of nonfiction. When his spouse and coauthor, Christina McKenna, was eleven, a paranormal "visitor" tormented her home for six weeks. Only through the intervention of an exorcist could the spirit be expelled. The authors live in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
65 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Books Available on Demonic Possession and Exorcism,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Dark Sacrament: True Stories of Modern-Day Demon Possession and Exorcism (Hardcover)
During more than 40 years as an ordained minister and pastor I have read and studied scores of books about the devil, demons and exorcism. "The Dark Sacrament" is definitely one of the best available on the subject and a most welcome addition to my library.
Speaking from my own experience in exorcism and deliverance, the stories which are reported ring true and authentic. Although the accounts of demonic possession may seem bizarre to the uninitiated, they are reported in a balanced manner, without being sensationalized. Also, the authors give the facts without imposing their own theological interpretations or pre-conceptions. I personally found the profiles of the exorcists involved in these cases, both Protestant and Catholic, very interesting and revealing, giving insight into the kinds of people God uses to cast out demons. If you have already read many books on the subject, you'll still find new things to discover in this well-researched and easy-to-read volume. If demonic possession is an area about which you know very little, I cannot think of a better book that gives an understandable and accurate overview of this enormously fascinating subject. J. Stephen Conn, Author The Devil Called Collect: The Exorcism of Jessica Leek
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and revealing case reports,
By Battersea (Georgia) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Dark Sacrament: True Stories of Modern-Day Demon Possession and Exorcism (Hardcover)
This book is an extremely valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in demonic oppression, possession, and exorcism. At a length of 338 pages, the ten case studies offer detailed personal accounts in a variety of demonic manifestations: "generational" evil, oppressive human spirits, demonic use of the occult as leverage for oppression and possession, ancient dwelling of a powerful demon disturbed by a modern dwelling, puzzling and tragic possessions of children at early ages, the inevitable ouija board tragedies, plus others. Essentially, the cases are differing scenarios with the common thread of pastoral assistance. Some of the accounts are truly disturbing, and many don't have a "happy" or even a satisfying ending; like other books on this subject (Malachi Martin, Gerald Brittle/Ed and Lorraine Warren, John Zaffis), this is not for children. The case reports are well written and lead the reader through a process of discovery similar to that taken by the exorcists as they unravel the role of both humans and the demonic. One case study has some twists based upon the Irish tradition of prayer to help souls of the dead move on from the chains of their earthly sins, yet another fresh and challenging perspective. The dedication and personal beliefs of the exorcists also come through the text, which adds to the richness of the case studies. Never preachy or condescending, the authors and people who have shared their experiences have given us a true gift in illustrating the cold cruelty of the demonic as well as the greater power of God's love.
The book: an introduction and 338 pages in 10 case studies divided into those supervised by Anglican Canon William Lendrum and Catholic Father Ignatious McCarthy, plus appendices (history of exorcism, prayers to the archangel Michael, a prayer attributed to St. Patrick, and prayers of exorcism), a bibiography, and relevant notes for each case.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
New and unnerving,
By
This review is from: The Dark Sacrament: True Stories of Modern-Day Demon Possession and Exorcism (Hardcover)
This book is more than just a collection of "scary stories." The authors have divided it into two parts: one includes the exorcisms performed by an Anglican minister and the other by a Catholic monk. All the instances of demonic possession are from Ireland and almost all are very recent (some instances started decades ago but written of only recently).
The most intriguing part is the stories are not just a quick narrative about what happened. We get the story, but we also get a kind of recap from the minister who performed the exorcism, or deliverance. This latter part provides an explanation of what the minister's thoughts were of the case. More unsettling that a minister's description of a particular spirit is that minister refusing to describe exactly what he saw. Included with the stories (where the names have been changed to protect the victims' privacy) are some prayers at the back of the book. There are also notes on the text as well as an introduction talking about exorcism historically and recently. This is where I wish there was more. In the introduction, the authors mention the Mason murders and state "evidently the crime was satanically motivated." In reading transcripts from the trial, I see no mention of Satan. Granted, the crimes were heinous and depraved, but what is the evidence that shows this was satanic? Or, what does the author define as "satanic"? The notes don't tell us. The book can be unnerving. The authors make a connection between materialism and an increase in demonic possession. This book does provide new material for readers on the subject.
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