Last night I heard the story of Michael Gagliardo through George Noory's interview of him on his program Coast to Coast AM. While the story is convincing in some ways I have to confess that I end up with some doubts about its authenticity and ultimately haven't come to a certain conclusion about its realityu. This is the story of a young boy whose mother became demon possessed when he was very yuoung and how he managed to survive it despite suffering many emotional effecdcts from it that he says are getting worse and won't ever leave him.
I'll have to come back and flesh out the story, I'm really not up to it right now, but I think I'll nust sketch out the bare bones and hope to write more later.
He mentions that after his experience he did a lot of research into demon possession and in particular refers to the case of Annaliese Michel whose symptoms were in many ways similar to those of his mother.
Although Galiardo is Italian and would be expected to have been raised Catholicd he doesn't refer to any experien ces with church as a child that I've run across. But annaliese who was raised in Bavaria lived a devoted Catholic life and her demon possession is explained at least by some as her wsillingness to suffer for the sins of the world through that possession. In one caccount it was the "virgin Maryh" who offered her that means of geing of service.
Annaliese underwent over sixty exporcisms in her short life, none of which freed her from her possession. Gagliardo on the other hand says that although he himself wasn't possessed he became abeliever in Jesus Christ and found that the name of Jesus is powerful against his emotional symptoms such as PTSD, nightmares and the experiences of demon ic activity in his home, banding on walls and that sort of thing. So he seems to know the power of Christ. But Annaliese and her woujldbe rescuers apparently do not.
The Name of Jesus is powerful against demons. I've personally experineced the power of His name. But if you fiddle around with the "virgin Mary" and the Rosary and all that Catholic nonesense you can't possibly ever be freed from the world of demons.
that's all I'm going to be able to write for now. But other names are on You Tube for anyone who wants to know the detils about the experiences of Gagliardo and Annaliese.
Later: It was the demon apparition that calls itself The Virgin Mary who suggested to Annaliese that she suffer through demon possession for the sins of the world. This is blasphemy, as Christ died for the sins of the world and no further suffering is needed to expaiate the sins of believers and keep people from Hell. This alone would guarantee the continued and probable deepening of Annaliese's possession.
Thinking of why I doubt the account given by Michael Gagliardi I compare it with that of Annaliese who had multiple witnesses to her condition and even a tape recording of her demonic speesh and screams. There isn't a shred of evidence of any objective sort for the claims of Gagliardi that I know of. If it's in his book I'd miss that of course, but if it is there is no good reason not to refer to it in these interviews he has given. Since there apparently isn't anything at all it casts much doubt on his story. There are features of it that souns quite a bit like the accounts of Annaliese and it's possible he just put it all together form that sort of description. His mother is described as sitting all day in a chair and talking to herself as well as screaming and sounding like the gutteral voice of Annaliese. No he didn't mention Annaliese in that connection, I just mean that the description of her vocalizations fits the recording of Annaliese.
Is there a photo of his mother anywhere? Not that I know of. Why is it that absolutely notoby else seems to know about her condition that will testify to it? He says all the family are "estranged." Does that really account for the total silence? His sister who suffered from the same abuse and supposedly was almost murdered by her mother won't speak up for her brother? Seems odd. Over nineteen years no neighbors witnessed enough to come forward with a testimony to her condition? Well, apparently one called the authorities when she threatened the daughter. How about that neightbor? Nother? Something is wrong here. No dobtors at the hospital? No paramedics? No hostpiral staff? Sure if this story is real here are witnesses somewhere and it's hard to imagine all of them being totally silent and unavaialble.
BBut the story also lacks uite a bit of convincing detail. How did the household function at all when the children were very young if the mother was sitting in a chair all day long? Who fed the children? Did the older daughter take a role and why not? He says she locked herself in her room and he hardly ever saw her. Really? If she wouldn't come out how as it that he dared to?
Perhaps it's true but if it is it needs a lot more evidence.
In any case I have no reason to doubt the story of Annaliese. And her probablenm appears to be predominantly her Catholicism itself.
Oh I forgot a datail whose absense does seem very odd. The story starts with his supposed memory of his mother pouring scalding soup over his shoulder when he was only three. She took him to the hosptial where he was treated and released and his focus is completely on her lack of motherly concern for his despite his great pain. Is it odd or not that he never mentions that if he was badly burnded by scalding soup he would have had deep burns that would have taken a long time to heal and no doubt required many trips to the octror. If not then the soup wasn't that hot or the story isn't real.
lATER: yES THE cATHOLIC PRIESTS DO USE THE NAME OF jESUS IN THEIR EXORCISMS BUT SINCE AT LEAST IN THE CASE OF aNNALIESE mICHEL THEY COULDN'T FREE HER OF HER DEMONS THERE MUST BE SOME WAY THEY USE IT WRONG. iF YOU MINGLE IT WITH SUCH PAGAN NONSENSE AS HOLY WATER AND CRUCIFIXES AND THE ROSARY AND INCLUDE THE
VIRGIN mARY" IN THE FORMULA, THE NAME OF jESUS BECOMES MEANINGLESS. hE IS NOT SOVEREIGN GOD IN THAT CONTEXT.
