talk about the devil

Was writing the blog this morning when Shukri the computer guy came to redo my internet line. I had to turn off my computer hence I lost my text before I could publish it. Well actually I think it was saved automatically by the blog programme but I don't know how to search for it.

Anyway the "Tiger Medicated Plaster" that Cecilia Cavero left me has worked wonders. They're pretty big pieces but I cut them in quarters and use two to wrap my ankle. I had no pain last night nor today. Will wrap another two this evening.

After lunch i went to the Holy Sepulchre as promised to help clean the muck but I found the workers had thought of a temporary solution ; locked the toilet door, stuffed paper and towels around the edges so the muck wouldn't flow out. Well the sacristy floor was dry and they poured nard (like biblical nard? you know, Mary Magdalene and nard? it's real stuff you know!) to make the place smell a little better. My only question is: what will happen when they open the door a week from now to repair the tubes? Avalanche!!!!!!!! Tsunami!!!!!!!! Aiya, local logic ...

Well I had lots of time because no cleaning was needed, so I sat and prayed the Office. Someone came for confession; then Fr John came to take over listening to confessions. He's a young, huge american with a beard. Looks more like a bouncer. But he's very humorous and friendly. We had a good chat and he brought up the topic of his apostolate before he was sent to Jerusalem: he was an exorcist in Rome. WOW! Werewolf night, remember?

He was assistant exorcist in Rome for a while, and then became official exorcist. And he told some cases he had! Man, my hairs were standing on end! I asked how he could know if it wasn't merely a psychological problem. He said it takes time to find out, but when people start climbing walls with their bare hands and heads turning 180 degrees, there's no doubt! He also said that the possessed could spit out nails, chains, clips and other stuff from their tongues (remember what i told you guys about the documentary I saw?). Then he opened his prayer book, took out a folded piece of paper and there was a black nail an inch long. There was no rust, it was smooth but very very black. He said this was one of the nails that formed from the tongue of a woman he was exorcising. Anyway he spoke alot and I thought I'd better go home, it's 4pm and getting dark! (stop laughing you guys!) But one thing he said struck me, something that i also told you guys in my lessons: the demon is full of lies and half-truths. So all of you, go to confession, and avoid lies. It's one gateway for the devil to enter your lives. He also spoke of Hasmodeos, the devil from the Book of Tobit who destroys marriages; something that Fr Marcello, our former member of the Studium in Hong Kong, also said because he is the exorcist for Malta. So when you're having difficulties in marriage life, first pray that God cast away Hasmodeos from your houses. Apparently from Fr John's experience, the possessed person is innocent and is a victim of a curse, jealousy or that someone in his/her family has played with black magic. So people, keep your homes pure: no idols, superstitions, etc... it's another gateway. OK enough of creeping you out - but it's a timely warning now as Advent is beginning. We await the coming of the Messiah who will save us: God who became man. Our darkness will turn to light at Christmas.

Well in an hour's time we'll all go down to the Garden of Gethsemani where all the friars will renew their vows (we do it once a year) and the Custos (finally I get to see him; probably for 2 seconds) will give each one of us the Rule of St. Francis - like, hey...he wants to remind us of something, so it's serious here. I'm not concelebrating the Mass with vespers as I already celebrated Mass at the Holy Sepulchre. Then its a walk up from the Kidron valley (check Gospel of John) back to the Flagellation monastery for dinner. But I think I'll skip that as I'm very tired. I want to sleep early. Tomorrow morning at 6am Fr Vincenzo will say Mass on Mt. Calvary and I want to surprise him by showing up as a concelebrant. I saw his name listed on the Mass schedule in the sacristy. Oh I forgot to ask the sacristans when they'll repair the sewage system: I want to make sure I'm not around for the tsunami!