The Encyclopedia Of Demons And Demonology

exorcism 77
the name of Christ to leave the body of a person who is
possessed. Lesser rites of exorcism expel demons from a
place (see INFESTATION) and relieve a person who is suffering
from OPPRESSION. However powerful the demon may
be, he ultimately must yield to the power of the Lord. The
EXORCIST also calls upon all the saints, the Virgin Mary,
and the angels, especially the archangel Michael, an ancient
foe of the DEVIL.
Exorcisms are performed once it is determined that a
victim is genuinely under the influence of demons. The
discernment of an exorcist priest is important. In addition,
the church may ask physicians and other medical
professionals to rule out natural causes; a psychiatric examination
may be desirable but is not necessary. Lesser
rites of exorcism, including deliverance, can be carried
out by a priest or even a lay demonologist who has been
trained by a priest, but the solemn rite of exorcism for
possession can be carried out only by a priest, and upon
approval by a bishop. The solemn rite is part of the RIT-
UALE ROMANUM, which dates to 1614. Minor revisions were
made in 1952. As of the Second Vatican Council (1962–
65), it underwent a series of revisions. Since 1999, the exorcism
portion was reissued in a new 90-page document,
De Exorcismus et Supplicationibus Quibusdam (Concerning
exorcisms and certain supplications). The rite includes
prayers and passages from the Bible and calls upon the
demons, in powerful Latin, to depart in the name of Jesus
Christ.
The new version eliminates some of the rough medieval
language used to describe the Devil. Instead of having
the exorcist command the demons or Devil to leave
the victim, the exorcist now calls on God to command the
demons to leave.
Some contemporary exorcists prefer to use exorcism
as a diagnosis of possession and to use more traditional
versions of the rites (see AMORTH, FATHER GABRIELE).
Outside Catholicism, priests and ministers perform
most demonic exorcisms, but clairvoyants and spiritualists
also expel evil spirits. In non-Western traditions,
shamans, adepts, and other members of priestly classes
perform exorcisms. In occult traditions, exorcisms are
performed according to magical rites.
Beating and whipping the possessed in order to expel
demons are a common practice and were undertaken
in European exorcisms in centuries past. The practice is
still in use privately. In 2007, police in Phoenix, Arizona,
responded to a report of violence during an exorcism
and found a 49-year-old grandfather choking his allegedly
possessed three-year-old granddaughter. Police used
a stun gun to subdue the man, who lapsed into unconsciousness
and died later in a hospital.
The Setting of an Exorcism
According to the Rituale Romanum, an exorcism should
be carried out in an oratory, chapel, or small room for
devotional prayers in a church. There should be few witnesses.
Images of the crucifix and the Virgin Mary should
dominate the setting. The exorcist should be vested in
cassock, surplice, and violet stole. The rite begins with
the aspersion of holy water, and the showing of the crucifix
to the victim.
In fact, throughout history, exorcisms have been performed
in a variety of settings, and some of the more famous
cases, such as the LOUDUN POSSESSIONS, were witnessed
by thousands of people. In contemporary times,
exorcists might perform the rites in the home of the
victim.
A special connection exists between the demon and
its possessing location, most often the victim’s bedroom
or personal place. Anything that can be moved is taken
out, such as rugs, lamps, dressers, curtains, tables, and
trunks, to minimize flying objects. Only a bed or couch
remains, accompanied by a small side table to hold a
crucifix, candle, holy water, and prayer book. Doors and
windows are closed but cannot be nailed shut because
air must be allowed to enter the room. Doorways must
be kept covered, even if the door is open, lest the evil
forces inside the room affect the area outside. Modern exorcists
also employ a small tape recorder to validate the
procedure. The church forbids the filming of exorcisms
to protect privacy.
The exorcist is assisted by one or two other priests,
who monitor the exorcist, trying to keep him to the business
at hand and not be misguided by the perversions of
the demons. They also provide physical aid if necessary.
If the exorcist collapses or even dies during the ritual, an
assistant takes over.
Other assistants include a medical doctor and perhaps
family members. Each must be physically strong
and be relatively guiltless at the time of the exorcism,
so that the Devil cannot use his or her secret sins as a
weapon against the exorcism. The assistants should not
be weakened or overcome by obscene behavior and language,
blood, excrement, and urine. They must be able to
disregard personal insults and be prepared to have their
darkest personal secrets revealed.
In non-Catholic exorcisms, rites may be performed in
a victim’s home, a church, or a sacred setting. In some
Pentecostal and charismatic exorcisms, entire congregations
participate in the expulsion of demons.
Characteristics of an Exorcism
Prayer and commands are central features of exorcism.
Catholic rites are among the most formal. Other rites include
a laying on of hands and the use of strong fumes
to drive out demons. Hindu priests may blow cow-dung
smoke, burn pig excreta, pull their or the victim’s hair,
press rock salt between their fingers, use copper coins,
recite mantras or prayers, cut the victim’s hair and burn
it, or place a blue band around the victim’s neck to exorcise
the demonic spirits. Trying another tack, the exorcist
may offer bribes of candy or other gifts if the spirit
leaves the victim. Early Puritans relied solely on prayer
and fasting.