If you thought The Exorcist was just Hollywood taking creative liberties, you might want to grab some holy water and leave a nightlight on tonight. Father Carlos Martins, a Catholic priest who has performed exorcisms all across the globe, recently opened up about his chilling real life exorcist experiences—and let’s just say, the reality is way more sinister than any horror movie jumpscare.
On his incredibly popular podcast, The Exorcist Files, Father Martins doesn’t hold back about the realities of his intense line of work. Before discovering his faith and eventually being called to the priesthood, he was actually a complete atheist. But his path took a wild turn, and encountering the supernatural completely flipped his worldview.
“It just became obvious that the devil is real,” he explained. During his very first exorcism, he recalled a demon chillingly telling him, “You were supposed to be one of us.” Cue the full-body shivers.
The Mind Games Are So Much Worse Than The Flying Chairs
When we think of exorcisms, our minds instantly jump to spinning heads, levitating furniture, and shattered windows. But according to Father Martins, the dramatic physical manifestations aren’t actually the scariest part of the job. In fact, those parlor tricks are usually reserved for intimidating the rookies.
He revealed that demons use physical intimidation—like a levitating chair—because it easily terrifies younger, greener priests who think it’s “too crazy.” But once you’ve been in the game for a while? The shock value totally wears off. “What about the 89th time you see it? You’re going to care less and less and less each time,” he shared.
So, what actually shakes a seasoned veteran? When you analyze these real life exorcist experiences, the profound psychological warfare is what truly stands out. “What was much more fearsome than the physical phenomena… is the mind of the devil, the evil he’s capable of, the mind games he will play,” Father Martins confessed.
The Demon That Followed Him
Demons are apparently master manipulators and pathological liars. Father Martins shared a particularly disturbing detail about a demon that seemed to follow him over the course of his life. It confidently referred to itself as “Confusion,” but the priest was quick to clarify that demons rarely show their true cards.
How The Devil Learns Your Exact Weaknesses
“Normally, a demon hides its name, and if you wear them down enough and he concedes to give you a name, 99 times out of 100 it’s not his real name,” he noted. They hand over a fake identity just to maintain control of the room.
But here is the detail that will actually keep you up at night: demons are allegedly doing their homework on you. According to this real-life ghostbuster, the devil spends your entire life watching you, perceiving your habits, and literally taking notes on your deepest weaknesses.
They don’t just throw random, generic temptations your way; they customize the manipulation to your specific desires. “It’s so he knows how to present a really tantalizing temptation to you,” the priest explained. “So if it’s redheads you like, he’s got the perfect redhead. If it’s money, if it’s power, if it’s an opportunity, he will offer those.”
The Ultimate Takeaway
Whether you’re a total skeptic, a spiritual girlie, or a paranormal junkie, reading about these real life exorcist experiences offers a fascinatingly dark perspective on human nature and temptation. The idea that pure evil isn’t necessarily a monster hiding under the bed, but rather a deeply manipulative force quietly studying your every vulnerability, is genuinely terrifying.
So, the next time you feel a bizarrely specific temptation pulling you toward a situation you know is toxic, you might just want to pause and ask yourself who—or what—is actually pulling the strings. Stay safe out there, besties.
