Michael Salerno – Catholic Demonologist
If you’re like me, one of your first questions was, What is a Catholic Demonologist? According to Michael, there is no authorized position of Demonologists in the Catholic church.
Michael, a Navy Veteran, explains that “the term Demonologist is more of a trade name in the field. There are different kinds of demonologists, for instance, a religious demonologist, which is what I do. There are scholarly demonologists as well that study the actual demons.”
“I was trained by Kenneth Deel, a Franciscan demonologist, who passed away a couple of years ago, and it was a big loss to this field. I currently work with a catholic priest from the traditional catholic church, Pre Vatican II Catholic Church. It is the old way, the old mass, entirely Latin.” Michael explained.
When asked how he felt about the paranormal field and investigating, Michael says, “I am not a Ghost Hunter; let’s get that out of the way. Most of my clients are ghost hunters who bring something back after an investigation. My tool kit includes a voice recorder, religious tools, the client interview, and prayer. I can help resolve hauntings through my faith. But I can’t do it alone. I need the client’s help. I can help get the demon out, but they have to keep that thing away once I’m gone! So much of this is education and teaching them how to keep it away.”
Starting from the beginning about 16 years ago, Michael had an accident at work and broke his finger. They put a pin in it, and it got infected. At the time, many people were dying from Antibiotic Resistant MRSA infection. After receiving medication through an IV, it got infected as well. Twelve hours from death, Michael sat prepared for his life to be over; God played no part in Michael’s life, apart from holidays. Raised as a Protestant through childhood, he felt relief not having to go to church anymore after he turned 18. So, his view of religion was very skewed.
One day during his recovery, his wife came in. He remembers being surrounded by IV tubes and medical devices, and introduced him to a TV show called “A Haunting.” His first episode was about an investigator who got possessed. One scene in particular hit him hard. During that scene, a possessed woman looked at the catholic sister and said what is it about the God that you love so much? What has he ever done for you? She grabbed the cross and said, “well, he’s my protector”, and the demon-possessed woman fled. That Scene was Michael Salerno’s calling from God.
After wathching and rewatching that episode, Michael went to the downtown bookstore and bought every paranormal book he could find, finally landing on one called The Demonologist, a book about the Warrens. When he finished the book, he knew he needed to do that. Michael recalled 2 things that stuck out to him while reading aboue Ed Warren, the first is that Ed Warren died the same year Michael received his calling. The second is that Ed Warren was also in the Navy, and just Like Michael, they were both Gunners Mates.
During Michael’s humble beginnings his quest for knowledge led him to needing to know more about ghost hunting, so he joined a local ghost-hunting team. He was scoffed at after trying to implement a cleansing prayer before and after the investigation. This part for Michael was an important issue, so after a short lived team membership, Michael wanted to try and do his own thing.
Within a year of his calling, Michael Salerno was working with Lorraine Warren. About a week after a meet and greet with Lorrain, Michael penned her a handwritten letter and mailed it to her. About a month later, he received a call from Lorraine, who appreciated the letter and agreed to help him if needed.
Under the mentorship of Lorraine Warren, Michael found his footing and eventually met his current mentor, a priest who does not want to be named. Under his tutelage Michael learned Latin to understand and speak the prayers properly, first reciting it on a case with Steve Shippy on the Brockway Street case in Michigan.
According to Michael, “Demons react to hearing the prayers in Latin. Sure, the English prayer is the same thing, but the Latin really has an effect, and now I won’t use anything else.”
Michael only takes cases where a demon is involved and only a few times per year. The only ways to contact him are via social media or email. There are no charges for his services.
When asked if he agreed with the sentiment that demonic possessions or interactions are rare, he had this to say, “No. Honestly, no. Saint Michael’s prayer ends with, cast into hell, Satan and all evil spirits who wander the earth seeking the ruin of souls. That is their whole purpose of existence. Now, I’m not saying there’s a demonic everywhere you go. But every time you send an invitation saying, is there anything here that wants to communicate with me. That’s all a demonic entity needs to enter your life. So if there is a demon there, you just gave an open invitation. I believe that most demons are impersonating human spirits because they want you to trust them just to get the invitation. There has been a lot more demonic activity since ghost hunting has gone mainstream because people don’t take it as a serious thing with serious consequences; they take it as a hobby. They see people on TV and mimic it. So, to answer your original question, yes and no. Sure, it can be rare, but you’re playing Russian roulette. Is there one around every corner? No. But there could be.”
You can reach Michael on his Facebook
www.facebook.com/michael.salerno.73594
or email him at ecangels@yahoo.com
Michael Salerno is a Catholic Demonologist, and a Spiritual Warfare Counselor. Michael Has worked with Lorraine Warren, Kenneth Deel, Tony Spera, Steve Shippy, and continues his work today.
Michael has been featured in media, Television Shows, and even in The Blu-ray Special features Section of the Blockbuster ‘The Conjuring”.
Credits: “The Conjouring” Blue Ray release Special features, “A Life In Demonolgy”.
My Ghost Story Season 2 “The Grim Rapper”.
A Haunting, “Living Nightmare”
Haunting in the Heartland ep.6 “Come Play”
SHOCK DOCKS Discovery + “The Devil Made Me Do it” “Scream. The True Story” “The Devil’s Academy”
Conjuring Kesha S1 ep1 “Not Today Satan”
Documentry Movies Steve Shippy’s “A Haunting On Adam’s Street” “A Haunting On Brockway Street 2”