Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 47.djvu/788

770, however healthy, are, from the very nature of their sex, subject to various bodily indispositions from which men are wholly free, and are therefore more liable to demoniac affections; hence the vast number of unfortunate women who have suffered as witches in times past, not necessarily because they were wicked or morally corrupt, but because they were weak, the devil taking advantage of their physical infirmities to get possession of their persons and to make them the agents of his will.

The theory that "sin is the source of demoniac infestations" is accepted by Dr. Bischofberger only in its general application to the human race; if applied to individuals and families, he thinks it often works great injustice. He censures the conduct of many guardians of souls, who say to those afflicted by demons: "It serves you right; you ought to lead a different life; Satan has power only over bad people." Such remarks betray a lamentable ignorance of the devil's devious ways and cunning devices. Equally reprehensible is it to tell mothers who seek help from the Church for their suffering children: "Your child has been baptized and is in a state of saving and sanctifying grace and inaccessible to devils. You must consult a physician." The truth is, adds our author, little children are very frequently demoniacally possessed for the same reason that women are; on this account the old diocesan benedictionals contained a special exorcismus parvulorum a dæmone infestatorum, which has now been in a great measure superseded by the equally effective formula benedictio puerorum ægroiantium of the Romish benedictional.

In illustration of his views on this subject Dr. Bischofberger asserts that a place where a murder or other heinous crime has been committed, if the offense remains undetected and unexpiated, is sure to become the haunt of evil spirits and the scene of all sorts of diabolic orgies, such as are so frequently described in the annals of witchcraft. This state of things may continue for centuries, and a house or barn built upon such a spot will be demoniacally infested, to the great annoyance of the indwellers, whether men or cattle. The same is true of houses whose inhabitants have been guilty of gross iniquities, murder, brutality, blasphemy, caricature of sacred rites, mockery of holy things, necromancy, etc. Satan, having once got possession, is a tenacious tenant and can not be easily dislodged; and a subsequent proprietor, however pure and pious he may be, will have to suffer the consequences of these sins. Indeed, it is a noteworthy fact that, so long as such a dwelling is occupied by godless persons, the demons are comparatively quiet, the devil recognizing them as his allies and letting them alone; but no sooner does it pass into the possession of a good Christian than "the long-repressed flame of demoniac