“Devils hate bells,” claims a Catholic exorcist.
In a recent interview with Patti Armstrong of the National Catholic Register, Father Theophilus (who doesn’t publicly reveal his real name because exorcists have to keep their identities secret) explained why the sound of bells triggers Satan and his demons.
“I use them in sessions all the time,” Father Theophilus (which means “loved of God”) said.
“Satan is always attacking us through our senses,” he explained. “So the liturgy itself needs to be a holy assault on our senses: our sight, our touch, our smells and hearing.”
Incorporating movement (such as kneeling as a congregation), music, smells, and yes, bells, into holy worship “repels the enemy” by directing our senses toward God. Knowing this, Fr. Theophilus said that in addition to the prayers and holy water required for the Rite of Exorcism, he uses tools such as music, chants, sacred art, and blessed bells “to overwhelm the devil.”
Satan and his demons hate everything beautiful and holy, so the more of these holy weapons that can be included in an exorcism, the better.
“We are moved by beauty,” Fr. Theophilus said. “It stirs our souls—beautiful music, beautiful prayers, flowers, beautiful tones… the devil hates everything beautiful and the bells are specifically used to draw attention to the divine worship of God.”
The Catholic priest shared that the devil has screamed, “Knock it off!” at the sound of bells during exorcisms, and even tried to knock them out of his hand.
“When these consecrated bells are used at Mass it is to say, ‘Look at him, the Word made Flesh!’” he said. “The bell humiliates the devil because it’s a non-rational object that is doing what they were made to do. They don’t want to adore God.”