Exorcism in the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church authorizes the use of exorcism for those who are believed to be the victims of demonic possession. In Roman Catholicism, exorcism is a sacramental[1][2] but not a sacrament, unlike baptism or confession. Unlike a sacrament, exorcism's "integrity and efficacy do not depend ... on the rigid use of an unchanging formula or on the ordered sequence of prescribed actions. Its efficacy depends on two elements: authorization from valid and licit Church authorities, and the faith of the exorcist."[3] The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism."[2]

Further information: Exorcism in Christianity
Painting in the Valencia Cathedral by Francisco Goya of Saint Francis Borgia performing an exorcism.

The Catholic Church revised the Rite of Exorcism in January 1999, though the traditional Rite of Exorcism in Latin is allowed as an option. The ritual assumes that possessed persons retain their free will, though the demon may hold control over their physical body, and involves prayers, blessings, and invocations with the use of the document Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications.

Solemn exorcisms, according to the Canon law of the Church, can be exercised only by an ordained priest (or higher prelate), with the express permission of the local bishop, and only after a careful medical examination to exclude the possibility of mental illness.[4] The Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) enjoined: "Superstition ought not to be confounded with religion, however much their history may be interwoven, nor magic, however white it may be, with a legitimate religious rite." Things listed in the Roman Ritual as being indicators of possible demonic possession include: speaking foreign or ancient languages of which the possessed has no prior knowledge; supernatural abilities and strength; knowledge of hidden or remote things which the possessed has no way of knowing; an aversion to anything holy; and profuse blasphemy and/or sacrilege.

The first official guidelines for exorcism were established in 1614,[5] whereas grimoires were widely known and used since the Ancient period. Those guidelines were later revised by the Vatican in 1999 as the demand for exorcisms increased. In the 15th century, Catholic exorcists were both priestly and lay, since every Christian was considered as having the power to command demons and drive them out in the name of Christ. These exorcists used the Order of Saint Benedict's formula "Vade retro satana" ("Step back, Satan") around this time (this prayer is inscribed on the Saint Benedict Medal sacramental). By the late 1960s, Roman Catholic exorcisms were seldom performed in the United States, but by the mid-1970s, popular film and literature revived interest in the ritual, with thousands claiming demonic possession. Maverick priests who belonged to fringes took advantage of the increase in demand and performed exorcisms with little or no official sanction. The exorcisms that they performed were, according to Contemporary American Religion, “clandestine, underground affairs, undertaken without the approval of the Catholic Church and without the rigorous psychological screening that the church required." In subsequent years, the Church took more aggressive action on the demon-expulsion front. The practice of exorcism without consent from the Catholic Church is what prompted the official guidelines from 1614 to be amended. The amendment established the procedure that clergy members and each individual who claims to be impacted by demonic possession must follow. This includes the rule that the potentially possessed individual must be evaluated by a medical professional before any other acts are taken. The primary reason for this action is to eliminate any suspicion of mental illness, before the next steps of the procedure are taken. Since demonic possession, according to Roman Catholic teachings, is extremely rare, and mental health issues are often mistaken for demonic possession, the Vatican requires that each diocese have a specially trained priest who is able to diagnose demonic possession and perform exorcisms when necessary.”[6]

Necessity
Exorcism of St Benedict by Spinello Aretino, 1387.

According to the Vatican's guidelines issued in 1999, "the person who claims to be possessed must be evaluated by doctors to rule out a mental or physical illness".[7] Most reported cases do not require an exorcism because twentieth-century Catholic officials regard genuine demonic possession as an extremely rare phenomenon that is easily confused with mental illness. As the demand for exorcisms has increased over the past few decades, the number of trained exorcists has also risen. In prior times, exorcists were kept fairly anonymous, and the performance of exorcisms remained a secret. Some exorcists attribute the rise in demand of exorcisms to the rise in drug abuse and violence, which leads to the suggestion that such things might work hand in hand. Many times a person just needs spiritual or medical help, especially if drugs or other addictions are present. The specially trained priest and medical professionals will be able to work together to address the patient, and be able to determine what type of illness the patient is suffering from. After the need of the person has been determined then the appropriate help will be met. In the circumstance of spiritual help, prayers may be offered, or the laying on of hands or a counseling session may be prescribed. Particular sacramentals, such as the wearing of a cross necklace or usage of blessed salt, are believed to offer protection against Satan when used with faith. Certain theologians have held that the wearing of a headcovering by Christian females confers protection against fallen angels, which they teach are referenced in 1 Corinthians 11:3–10.[8]

Symptoms
Saint Philip of Agira with the Gospel in his left hand, the symbol of the exorcists, in the May celebrations in his honor at Limina, Sicily

Signs of demonic invasion vary depending on the type of demon and its purpose, including: [9]

  • Using languages unknown to the person or people around them.
  • Having extraordinary strength or resistance to physical restraint.
  • Knowledge of events or people that the person could not have possibly known.
  • An aversion to holy objects or places, such as holy water or churches.
  • Self-harming and displaying violent or aggressive behavior.
  • Ailments or conditions that cannot be diagnosed or treated medically.
  • Having hallucinations or hearing voices.
  • An abrupt change in behavior or personality.
  • Sudden spiritual dryness

Process of the exorcism

In the process of an exorcism the person possessed may be restrained so that they do not harm themselves or any person present. The exorcist then prays and commands for the demons to retreat. The Catholic priest recites certain prayers – the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed. Exorcists use a cross and holy water and follow procedures listed in the Roman Ritual of the exorcism revised by the Vatican in 1999. Seasoned exorcists use the Rituale Romanum as a starting point, not always following the prescribed formula exactly.[10] Official practice of exorcism is governed by the Vatican document De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam. The Vatican offers a course on exorcism, which in 2019 for the first time was opened to members of other Christian denominations.[11] The course is called "Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation" and is offered by the Sacerdos Institute at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Atheneum.[12] The Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained describes that an exorcism was a confrontation and not simply a prayer and once it has begun it has to finish no matter how long it takes. If the exorcist stops the rite, then the demon will pursue him which is why the process being finished is so essential.[13] After the exorcism has been finished the person possessed feels a "kind of release of guilt and feels reborn and freed of sin."[14] Not all exorcisms are successful the first time; it could take days, weeks, or even months and years of constant prayer and exorcisms.

Literature

On this subject, there is the book by journalist Matt Baglio[15] called The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist, first edited in 2009 and then in 2010, which inspired the 2011 film The Rite[16][17][18][19] and which mentions Psychiatrist Dr. Richard E. Gallagher, who has also written a book on the subject, published in 2020 by HarperCollins, called Demonic Foes, A Psychiatrist Investigates Demonic Possession in the Modern United States.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

An Exorcist Tells His Story (published on March 1, 1999),[26] An Exorcist: More Stories (published on February 1, 2002),[27] An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels (published on October 20, 2016),[28] Father Amorth: My Battle Against Satan (published on November 15, 2018)[29] and The Devil is Afraid of Me: The Life and Work of the World's Most Popular Exorcist (published on January 19, 2020)[30] were some of the books written by Father Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of the Vatican from 1986 until his death in 2016 (aged 91) which describes his experiences as an exorcist.

By country

Germany

Following the 1976 death of Anneliese Michel as a result of exorcism, for which two priests were convicted of negligent homicide,[31] German bishops banned exorcism.[32]

Poland

In 2008, the Catholic Church approved plans to establish an exorcism centre in Poczernin.[31] In 2018, Poland had 150 exorcists. Their role was seen as fighting the "demons of homosexuality" and the "demons of esoterism.[32] Piotr Glas is one of the most famous Polish exorcists, however he is not officialy recognized as one.

Notable examples
  • A book written by Father Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of the Vatican from 1986 until he died in 2016 (aged 91), describes his experiences as an exorcist. The film The Pope's Exorcist was inspired by Amorth's works.[33]
  • 1928 — Emma Schmidt (pseudonym Anna Ecklund) underwent a 14-day exorcism in Earling, Iowa, performed by a Catholic priest. This is the most well-documented case of alleged demonic possession in history and a minor inspiration for The Exorcist. The priest who led this exorcism was Fr. Theophilus Riesinger.
  • 1949 — Roland Doe was allegedly possessed and underwent an exorcism. The events later inspired the novel and film The Exorcist.
  • 1975–1976 — Anneliese Michel was a woman from Germany who underwent 67 exorcisms, which inspired the films The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Requiem. In a conference several years later, German bishops retracted the claim that she had been possessed.[31]

Films about Catholic exorcists
Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
The Devils July 16, 1971 (1971-07-16) Ken Russell Ken Russell John Whiting and Aldous Huxley Robert H. Solo and Ken Russell
The Exorcist December 26, 1973 (1973-12-26) William Friedkin William Peter Blatty William Peter Blatty William Peter Blatty
Exorcist II: The Heretic June 17, 1977 (1977-06-17) John Boorman William Goodhart William Peter Blatty John Boorman and Richard Lederer
Amityville II: The Possession September 24, 1982 (1982-09-24) Damiano Damiani Tommy Lee Wallace and Dardano Sacchetti Hans Holzer Ira N. Smith, Stephen R. Greenwald, and José López Rodero
The Exorcist III August 17, 1990 (1990-08-17) William Peter Blatty William Peter Blatty William Peter Blatty Carter DeHaven and James G. Robinson
Repossessed September 14, 1990 (1990-09-14) Bob Logan Bob Logan Bob Logan Steve Wizan and Mario Kassar
Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes May 12, 1999 (1999-05-12) Sandor Stern Sandor Stern John G. Jones Steve White
Possessed October 22, 2000 (2000-10-22) Steven E. de Souza Michael Lazarou and Steven E. de Souza Thomas B. Allen Barbara Title
Exorcist: The Beginning August 20, 2004 (2004-08-20) Renny Harlin Alexi Hawley William Wisher and Caleb Carr James G. Robinson
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist May 20, 2005 (2005-05-20) Paul Schrader William Wisher Jr. and Caleb Carr James G. Robinson
The Exorcism of Emily Rose September 9, 2005 (2005-09-09) Scott Derrickson Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Paul Harris Boardman, Tripp Vinson, and Beau Flynn
The Rite January 28, 2011 (2011-01-28) Mikael Håfström Michael Petroni Matt Baglio Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson
Deliver Us / Libera Nos September 7, 2016 (2016-09-07) Federica Di Giacomo Federica Di Giacomo
Amityville Exorcism January 3, 2017 (2017-01-03) Mark Polonia Billy D'Amato Mark Polonia
The Devil and Father Amorth April 20, 2018 (2018-04-20) William Friedkin William Friedkin and Mark Kermode Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, and Francesco Zippel
Prey for the Devil October 28, 2022 (2022-10-28) Daniel Stamm Robert Zappia Robert Zappia, Earl Richey Jones, and Todd R. Jones Paul Brooks, Earl Richey Jones, Todd R. Jones, and Jessica Malanaphy
The Pope's Exorcist April 6, 2023 (2023-04-06) Julius Avery Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos R. Dean McCreary, Chester Hastings, Jeff Katz, and Father Gabriele Amorth Doug Belgrad, Michael Patrick Kaczmarek, and Jeff Katz
The Exorcist: Believer October 13, 2023 (2023-10-13) David Gordon Green David Gordon Green and Peter Sattler Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green Jason Blum, David Robinson, and James G. Robinson

See also

References
  1. p.43 An Exorcist Tells His Story by Fr. Gabriele Amorth; Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1999.
  2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1673
  3. Martin M. (1976) Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans. Harper San Francisco. Appendix one "The Roman Ritual of Exorcism" p.459 ISBN 0-06-065337-X
  4. "THE ROMAN RITUAL Translated by PHILIP T. WELLER, S.T.D." Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  5. Radford, Benjamin (7 March 2013). "Exorcism: Facts and Fiction About Demonic Possession". LiveScience. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  6. Cuneo, Michael W. (Jan 1999). "Exorcism". Contemporary American Religion. 1 (New York: Macmillan Reference USA): 243.
  7. Goodstein, Laurie (Nov 13, 2010). "For Catholics, Interest in Exorcism is Revised". New York Times.
  8. Richmond, Raymond Lloyd (11 November 2018). The Veil of Purity: The Supernatural Purpose of the Chapel Veil. pp. 3–6. ISBN 978-0-9831171-6-2.
  9. Church, Catholic (2000-01-27). "Paragraph 1673". Catechism Of The Catholic Church Popular Revised Edition (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-86012-327-9.
  10. The Rite, by Matt Baglio; Doubleday, New York, 2009.
  11. Vyse, Stuart (2019). "The New Wave of Exorcism". Skeptical Inquirer. Vol. 43, no. 5. Center for Inquiry. pp. 22–24.
  12. "Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation Course". Sacerdos Institute. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  13. Steiger, Brad (2003). "Exorcism". The Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained. 1: 204–209.
  14. Steiger, Brad (2003). "Demonic Invasions". The Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained. 1: 179.
  15. "Matt Baglio". www.mattbaglio.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  16. Cruz, Gilbert (2009-03-16). "The Story of a Modern-Day Exorcist". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  17. "CS#125: Matt Baglio the Rite | Catholic Spotlight". Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  18. "Interview with an exorcist". Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  19. "The Rite (2011)". Chasing the Frog. 2009-03-16. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  20. "Demonic possession is real and victims seeking exorcism should not be ignored': Prominent psychiatrist on the world beyond". yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  21. "Psychiatrist: Demonic possession is real". Churchmilitant.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  22. "Psychiatrist says demonic possession is real, recalls encounter with cult priestess". Christiantoday.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  23. "Dr. Richard Gallagher, Demonic Possession Expert, Isn't Trying to Convince You". Esquire.com. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  24. "When exorcists need help, they call him". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  25. "As a psychiatrist, I diagnose mental illness. Also, I help spot demonic possession". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  26. Amorth, Fr Gabriele (2015-07-20). An Exorcist Tells His Story. Ignatius Press. ISBN 978-1-68149-669-6.
  27. Amorth, Fr Gabriele (2015-09-14). An Exorcist: More Stories. Ignatius Press. ISBN 978-1-68149-670-2.
  28. Amorth, Gabriele (2016). An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels. Sophia Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-62282-345-1.
  29. Amorth, Fr Gabriele (2018-10-31). Father Amorth: My Battle Against Satan. Sophia Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-62282-609-4.
  30. Amorth, Fr Gabriele (2020-02-20). The Devil is Afraid of Me: The Life and Work of the World's Most Popular Exorcist. Sophia Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-62282-625-4.
  31. "Planned Polish Exorcism Center Sparks Interest in Germany". DW. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  32. Artur Nowak (27 December 2018). "Krucyfiksem w gardło. Media katolickie promują egzorcyzmy, przemoc i religijny analfabetyzm". OKO.press (in Polish). Wikidata Q117207250. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023.
  33. Hagler, Carolyn (21 April 2023). "Who Was the Real Pope's Exorcist?". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2023.

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